When it comes to originality and distinctiveness, the Cadillac CTS Coupe is a winner. The brand’s chiseled in-your-face presence has been heightened and refined through several model changes, and made even more dramatic in the coupe body style.
There are simply no other cars like the Coupe. In its stance, proportions, and details, it is unique.
But don’t mistake the CTS for a sports coupe. Like the accessories in a Ralph Lauren store, the style is there to create an impression that isn’t necessarily identical to the substance.
The Coupe may look like it’s going fast while standing still. Its manners, however, don’t stray far from its roots in the CTS sedan.
The reason is weight. Although the Coupe has two fewer doors and less room in the back seat, it has the same wheelbase, is only two inches shorter, and actually weighs 35 pounds more than the sedan.
So the Coupe is really a sedan in a sporty coupe’s clothing.
Nothing wrong with that: the Coupe runs, corners, and stops just the way it should. It just lacks that combination of sensory inputs, say in the exhaust note or the responsiveness of the engine, that urge you to get more involved with the car than you would ordinarily.
The Coupe’s design is a daring combination of angular forms and sharp creases, combined with oversized elements like the two-piece grille and vertical tail lamps
But be forewarned: The out-there styling of the Coupe makes it a real attention-getter. It fits some landscapes better than others. Any Cadillac would stand out in southern New England where Audis and Subarus seem to be the native species, but the Coupe really draws stares.
With those caveats in mind, the CTS coupe is a finely-executed machine. The interior is particularly well laid out, with the instrument panel free of the flash and dazzle that afflicts some recent GM models (Buick LaCrosse, we’re talking about you).
The radiant silver metallic test car came with a full complement of standard equipment, including a navigation system with a hideaway screen, attractive wood trim, and power tilt sunroof.
I do wonder, though, about the need for a rear vision camera in a coupe. Blame it on the chunky c-pillars and gun-slit rear window that block any decent sight-lines. Worse, the Cadillac’s display lacks those handy yellow lines to guide you while you are backing up.
The MSRP for Coupe came to a reasonable $47,010. The addition of the summer tire performance package with 19” polished aluminum wheels and summer-only tires added another $2,090, bringing the as-tested price to $50,035.
Cadillac’s unspoken credo these days is to provide more for less. And by that standard, the CTS delivers.
If it is two-door thrills you crave, try a Chevy Camaro.
