CADILLAC CTS ROARS INTO TOWN

Now that Cadillac is becoming more of a household name in the premium sector here in Mzansi, we are getting more and more product from this iconic American brand which came into life in 1902. First it was the dismal BLS, then the excellent SRX SUV, and then the luxurious large STS. With the new CTS we are reminded why Caddy, as it is known to its millions of fans around the world, has been regarded in such high esteem for all these years. The CTS is now available at specialised dealers.

In fact, Mzansi is one of the first countries in the world to be offered CTS for public consumption, underlying the seriousness with which parent General Motors is taking this market.

For your R399 000 you get a 3.6-litre V6 engine, naturally aspirated for this purpose, pushing out a high-performance 229kW and 374Nm of torque, more than the previous generation BMW M3. They tell us it will get from 0 – 100km/h in 6.3 seconds, a bit ambitious in my experience but nevertheless, so much fun trying out for. It’s a car with good driving credentials as I found out on twisty hills and mountain passes in the Cape after being let loose with the sedan. Anyone who knows a bit about cars will automatically rubbish them for their abysmal handling. Not the CTS.

Its 6-speed auto box with semi-auto change either on the lever itself or behind the steering wheel is exceptionally quick on the change, giving instant access to those kiloWatts when needed. Around bends and corners it handles itself well, communicating essential feedback to the driver on road and directional changes. This car drives really well and you keep wanting to drive it.

The CTS looks aggressive, that’s probably the first thing you notice, especially in black and red where the sharp grille lines are accentuated, where the V-shape so typical of Cadillac is in your face. Wearing nicely-shod 18-inch tyres on chrome wheels the car takes a wide stance, muscular even, especially with the wide wheel arches prodding out on the sides. Inside I was impressed with the leather interior, the stitching as well as steering wheel feel. Interior plastics are not so good though, el cheapo style. The features make up for that and I quite like the new thing of installing USB ports into cars where we are able to upload music into our memory sticks then putting them into those USB ports and playing music directly from there. No expensive iPod needed here! Other things include satellite navigation, touch-screen access, air con, heated seats, electrically adjustable steering wheel and seats.

While we are a country mad about three Germans (Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz), and rightly so, Cadillac is keen to show us another way of doing things. And while the BLS was/is a good car, it just simply fails as a proper Cadillac on so many fronts. The CTS on the other hand, wins on many and is just as good, sometimes better, than those Germans.