30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Gas Mileage, So Far
As we roll through our 30-day road test of the 2013 Ram 1500, we're ready to file our first report... Read More
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FEATURES | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
“This is the best iPod integration I've ever used, and it makes the one in Mercedes-Benz models seem like a junior high programming project”
Edmunds
“The music navigation interface is everything we would expect”
CNET
“the amenities are useful for real drivers, not just technophiles”
Cars.com
Several reviewers noted the availability of all-wheel drive in the 2008 Cadillac CTS, a new feature for 2008. ForbesAutos.com said that the option makes the CTS more competitive in its class, as AWD “is fast becoming a must-have in parts of the country that see snow.”
Two new features were mentioned by nearly all reviewers: the Advanced Navigation System, and the so-called Infotainment system with Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound, a $3,145 option. Adaptive forward lighting is another noteworthy feature. Edmunds singled out the 2008 Cadillac CTS’s integrated XM real-time traffic service as one of the most useful features, while also complimenting the hard-drive-based navigation system, with its three-dimensional renderings of buildings when closely zoomed.
Kelley Blue Book noted that the sound system “will download and store your CD collection and operate your iPod from the pop-up touch screen,” and CNET lauded the “tabbed structure” and improved screen resolution of the Infotainment system, commenting that the 40GB built-in hard drive was the largest they’d seen in a car to date. Edmunds was also wowed by the capabilities of the CTS’s optional ($3,145) surround sound system, which has a USB port, iPod integration, and MP3 playback capabilities and can record and replay 60 minutes of traditional or satellite radio, on a rolling basis, in case you want to rewind to a section of a show you missed. Several reviewers likened the standout feature to TiVo.
CNET criticized the CTS for lacking a Bluetooth hands-free interface, as most cars in its class now have. On the 2008 Cadillac CTS, it’s only available as a visor-attached (rather than sound-system-integrated, dealer-installed) option.
Taking a close look at interior features, the ForbesAutos.com reviewer asked, “Why are the door pockets so small? Why is the manual-mode shift gate for the automatic toward the passenger's thigh rather than the driver's? Why are there no shift paddles on the steering wheel?”
Conclusion
The 2008 Cadillac CTS can be packed with leading-edge, gee-whiz features, yet depending on your size and needs, it might not deliver on the basics.
