Without a shadow of a doubt, the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V is one of the most powerful sedans currently available on the market. Its luxurious styling easily draws comparisons to fighter jets, but all of the brute force doesn’t win it the best in its category. Why? Well, because it lacks the refinement that others – think Mercedes-AMG E63 S and BMW M5 – have nailed down.
However, all of the amazing aspects of the car definitely outweigh its downfalls, which is why the 2018 version is worth a look at. Yes, it may not share the reputation of some of the bigger brands, but Cadillac consistently produces menacing cars with plenty of character, so you certainly can’t rule the CTS-V out.
It’s difficult to look at the CTS-V and not be mesmerized. It’s everything that you search for in a sport sedan; the aggression reflects its power, the sexiness shines bright on the road and the elegance gives you a sense of luxury when driving. Moreover, the muscular aesthetics reinforce the dominating culture that Cadillac has built over the years.
With 19-inch wheels and thick tyres, you won’t miss them gliding through the streets. In addition, dark gold Brembo brake callipers are available if you want to enhance the appearance even further. But, if you want to go all out and coat the front splitter, rear spoiler, hood vent and rear diffuser in carbon fiber, choose the Carbon Fiber package.
Of course, this is the exciting part; it’s the area where the Cadillac CTS-V really comes alive. As soon as you touch the gas pedal you’ll feel the adrenaline and thrill rush through your body. The 620 horses and 630 pound-feet of torque generated from the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine is readily available at any moment.
All of that power is distributed mainly to the rear wheels through a responsive eight-speed automatic gearbox that shifts instantaneously. To manage all of that power effectively, Cadillac have integrated their excellent Magnetic Ride Control system. As you whizzing across the tarmac, you’ll find that the handling is smooth and the traction when cornering is awesome.
Step inside the vehicle, and you’ll find an interior that is decent, but nothing out of this world. The Recaro sport seats are encased in faux Alcantara suede and engineers have constructed them so they’re extremely adjustable, catering for all shapes, sizes and preferences. But, they aren’t the most comfortable seats around. Skim your eyes across the dash, and you’ll notice that there’s an abundance of plastic which is a touch on the cheap side.
However, we’ve got to admit, your eyes are more drawn to the soft leathers which is a good sign. In the center console, you have an eight-inch touchscreen which contains an infotainment system including advanced map technology, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 4G LTE Wi-Fi. Sadly, though, the layout of the screen is still rather cluttered despite receiving an upgrade.
If you’re scouring the market for a high-performance sedan on a shoestring budget, the CTS-V probably isn’t an ideal car for you, considering the base price is around $86,495. But, for those that have the cash to splash and want something aggressive to drive, this 2018 model would be a brilliant purchase.
Plus, it’s still cheaper than its rivals, with the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and BMW M5 both exceeding the $100,000 mark. With that in mind, you’ve also got to consider that the Cadillac is more powerful than both of them.
Tags: Cadillac CTS, Cadillac, Cadillac CTS-V, Cadillac CTS-V Sedan, Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, Reviews, Specs