2013 Cadillac CTS-V - Performance Review

The 2013 Cadillac CTS-V shines when it comes to on-road and on-track performance, for a handful of rather simple and obvious reasons: the 556-horsepower, 551-pound-feet of torque generated by its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine; the magnetic ride suspension; and its incredibly capable brakes.

All three feel--and truly, are--track-capable. But despite this very sharp edge of performance on tap, the CTS-V is tractable, even docile, when driven easily. It saves its Hulk transformation for the driver's request.

Handling is beyond impressive for such a large car--the CTS-V weighs about 4,200 pounds depending on body style--with ample grip, quick transitional ability, and very good chassis feel. The steering is somewhat less impressive, with a numbed sensation taking away some of the details you'll want in hard driving. On the flip side, that slight numbness makes driving on the street less overwhelming than it might be.

And on the street, the CTS-V range is immensely comfortable as well as fast. The Magnetic Ride Control suspension deserves much of the credit here, using dampers filled with magnetically-sensitive fluid to dynamically respond to road conditions, instantaneously firming or softening the suspension as needed. In Sport mode, the magnetic suspension puts a sharper edge on its behavior, while the Competitive Driving Mode for the StabiliTrack stability control system makes the most of available grip at the tires.

With 0-60 mph times in the 4.0-second and under range for Coupe, Sedan, and Sport Wagon, and top speeds as high as 191 mph, the CTS-V range is undeniably among the most impressive, capable luxury cars on the road--or the track.