2017 Cadillac ATS

Cadillac's ATS product line features key improvements in core aspects for 2017 models, including new and more streamlined trim levels that further provide more choices to the consumer, helping them find the best model suited for their needs and budgets. The 2017 Cadillac ATS Sedan is also the fastest in its class, owing to the most powerful turbo-4 engine in the class.

For 2017, the Cadillac ATS Sedan is available in four distinct trims. These are all available in either rear-wheel drive version or all-wheel drive version, except for the Premium Performance trim, which is only available in rear-wheel drive mode, available for $46,995.

The cheapest trim, the base ATS model, retails for $34,595 for the rear-wheel drive version, and for $2,000 more for the all-wheel-drive version. The ATS Luxury trim adds more equipment on board, along with $3,800 on the corresponding base model. The next is the Premium Luxury trim, which has even more equipment and adds $9,500 to the consequent base model.

Trim	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Cadillac ATS Sedan Luxury	Cadillac ATS Sedan Premium Luxury	Cadillac ATS Sedan Premium performance
MSRP (RWD)	$34,595	$38,395	$43,995	$46,995
MSRP (AWD)	$36,595	$40,395	$45,995	-
Key Features	ZF premium steering	Heated front seats and steering wheel	3.6-Liter V6 engine	Additional features to Premium Luxury Sedan
	Fully independent sport suspension	Front and Rear Park Assist	Illuminating exterior door handles	Power tilt and telescoping steering column
	Bose Premium Surround Sound Audio system	Leather seating surfaces with 8-way adjustable power front seats, plus 2-way power lumbar and 4-way headrest adjustment	HID headlamps/Adaptive Forward Lighting/LED vertical light signatures/IntelliBeam	Full-color, reconfigurable Head-Up Display (HUD)
	Rear Vision Camera	Universal Home Remote	Rain sense automatic wipers	High-capacity engine cooling
	Keyless Access, Passive Entry and Push-Button Start		Forward Collision Alert and Following Distance Indicator	Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
	Natural Voice Recognition		Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	Safety Alert Seat

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If affordable is what you seek, then the base trim suits you just fine. If you have a bigger budget and want a performance-oriented ATS, choose the Premium Luxury AWD trim. It comes feature-loaded and that V6 under-the-hood performs excellently.

"Luxury sport coupes have long been dominated by BMW and Mercedes. But Cadillac has quietly closed the gap, especially in terms of dynamics. The 3.6-liter ATS Coupe is competitive on the test track and around town compared to rivals, and it isn't even the range-topping version"-Edmunds

Engine and Transmission 

The Cadillac ATS Sedan is powered by a surprisingly powerful turbocharged 2 liter inline 4 engine, maximum power and torque figures at 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Both the power and torque are class-leading, and the Cadillac also has the exhaust note to boot.

The transmission is an 8-speed automatic, which isn't as quick or smooth as its German rivals. It performs decently well though, and if you were to calculate the price to performance ratio, the Cadillac would emerge at the top.

Models	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
MSRP	$34,595	$39,500	$38,750	$37,300
Engine	2.0L Turbo, I4, DI, DOHC	2.0L Turbo I4	2.0L DOHC 16-Valve 4-Cylinder Turbocharged	2.0L TFSI I4 DOHC
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	7-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	7-speed automatic
Horsepower	272 hp @ 5,500 rpm	241 hp @ 5,500 rpm	248 hp @ 5,200 rpm	252 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque	295 lb.-ft. @ 3,000 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1,300 rpm	258 lb-ft @ 1,450 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm

Only Audi A4 comes a little closer to the ATS in terms of performance. Mercedes C300 and BMW 330i have pretty low power to offer. Clearly, the 2017 Cadillac ATS Sedan is the most powerful car in this segment.

Acceleration 

The performance of a car can make a huge difference in its perception to the public. Even the simplest looking car can become desirable if its quick. As such, the Cadillac ticks all the right boxes when it comes to performance. It goes from a standstill to 60 mph in just under 5 and a half seconds, while quarter-mile comes up in just under 14 seconds.

Models	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
0-60 MPH	5.4 sec	5.8 sec	5.5 sec	5.7
Quarter mile	13.9 sec	14.8 sec	14.4 sec	13.8 sec
Engine	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.1	6.3	6.6	6.3

The competition loses out again to the Cadillac here, being slower in both the 0 to 60 mph and the quarter-mile run. This could solely be brought down to the gap in horsepower, however, the ATS Sedan pays for it in the emissions, where it is the most harmful to the environment.

Ride and handling

Although American cars have come a long way in handling, there is still some way to go. That doesn't mean the Cadillac is like an old muscle car which wallows in the corners, it doesn't. The car is quite stable in the corners, especially the all-wheel-drive version, but it doesn't have the fun factor that the rivals offer.

The German rivals have plenty of electronics on board to check on everything, and then even more electronics to check on these electronics. This causes them to be heavy, and consequently slow, even in the braking department. All the cars use stainless steel disc brake setup all around, just like the ATS Sedan.

Braking

Braking duties in the Cadillac ATS are handled by stainless steel discs at all the wheels, 12.6 inches at the front and 12.4 inches at the rear. These powerful brakes give the car a surprisingly strong deceleration. The Cadillac comes to a halt in only 115 feet, once again the best in class. The handling leaves something to be desired though, especially compared to its German rivals.

Model	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	13.0	12.3	13.0
Brake Rear (in.)	12.4	11.8	11.8	13.3
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3,373	3,417	3,541	3,483
60-0 MPH (ft.)	115	131	123	126

 

Fuel economy has recently become one of the main concerns while buying a car, especially for affordable cars. Cadillac understands that, and that is why they engineered the ATS to be quite efficient. It gives 22 Mpg in the city, and 31 mpg on the highway, which brings the total economy figures to an impressive 25 miles per gallon.

Model	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
MPG (city)	22	24	23	25
MPG (highway)	31	34	34	33
MPG (combined)	25	28	27	28

Mercedes-Benz C300, even though it is the heaviest car in this comparison, has the best fuel economy figures in this comparison, which is all due to its clever gearing. The Audi A4 ties with Mercedes, but with better economy within the city, losing out in the highway. The BMW 330i runs very close, only losing by one mpg.

"The downside to the ATS' focus on handling and performance is a stiff ride that comes at the expense of comfort. Despite their firmness, the all-important front seats are still supportive over the long haul. But it's on the loud side"- Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Cadillac offers a generous amount of space in the front seats of the ATS Sedan, and even the rear seats are also not cramped. There is plenty of headroom all around, and only tall passengers might have a bit of discomfort in the rear seats. The legroom is great in the front, and acceptable in the rear.

Model	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.60/55.20/42.50	37.1/54.7/41.7	40.3/55.1/42.0	38.9/55.9/41.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.80/53.90/33.50	36.9/55.0/33.4	37.7/55.1/35.1	37.4/54.5/35.7

BMW Engineers have cleverly designed the 3-series sedan in such a way as to offer the maximum space on the inside, while taking up a less real estate on the outside, offering best in class space all around. The A4 comes quite close but falls slightly behind, followed closely by the C300.

Infotainment 

Cadillac has given the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system a major update for 2017, and this system seems to be more fluid and informative. Even after that, the CUE interface is quite difficult to use. The standard feature on offer are:

• 8-inch Touchscreen
• Sat-Nav
• 4G LTE connectivity
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 12-month OnStar Subscription

Cargo

Cadillac ATS Sedan does a lot of things nicely but asking it to carry your entire luggage in the trunk would be a little too much. The cargo space is a disappointing 10.4 cubic feet, which means you can carry a maximum of two bags in it. The rest of the luggage for your road trips will have to be adjusted on the rear seats.

Model	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
Volume (ft. cube)	10.4	12.6	13.0	13.0

The BMW and the Audi tie for the first place in the cargo space category, offering a moderate 13 cubic feet of storage, which actually works well enough for cars this size. The Merc follows a close second, which isn't too bad either.

"Angular bodywork set off with Cadillac's signature LED-infused vertical lighting elements gives the ATS an edge. The 2017 Cadillac ATS Coupe has the same 109.3-inch wheelbase as the sedan, but overall is slightly wider, lower and longer"-KBB

Dimensions and Weight 

As previously stated, the ATS Sedan is the lightest amongst all cars in this comparison, weighing under 3,400 pounds. It also has quite moderate dimensions and a low roof height too. The ground clearance is fine, but anything more than pebbles will have the car struggling.

Model	Cadillac ATS Sedan	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	BMW 330i Sedan	Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Premium
Curb weight (lbs.)	3,373	3,417	3,541	3,483
Length(in)	182.80	184.5	182.8	186.1
Width(in)	71.10	71.3	71.3	72.5
Height(in)	55.90	56.8	56.3	56.2
Ground clearance (in)	5.4	4.1	5.5	5.7
Wheelbase (in)	109.30	111.8	110.6	111.0
Track width (in) F/R	59.50/60.90	61.5/60.9	60.3/61.9	61.9/61.2

The Audi is the largest car here, with the longest, and also the widest dimensions. It also has the highest ground clearance, although it is still best suited for city roads. The Merc has the largest wheelbase, probably in order to free up space for the rear passengers. The BMW uses the middle ground approach, with its moderate dimensions.

Exterior Features

There are plenty of features, even on the outside of the car. These features include:

• Daylight running lights
• Chrome-accented front grille
• Power-adjustable outside mirrors
• Projector Headlamp
• 17-inch alloy wheels

 

The ATS sedan comes loaded with excellent safety features. The base trim might not be well equipped but as you go higher up the trims, the safety features increase. Premium trims of the ATS get blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The NHTSA and IIIHS have not crash tested the ATS Sedan yet.

Safety Features

Cadillac has made sure that the ATS Sedan is safe for all the people who buy or travel in it. Some of the Standard Safety Features are listed below

• 8 airbags
• Rear child security door locks
• Airbags, rear side for outboard seating positions
• Automatic Safety Belt Tightening
• Cadillac Edition First Aid Kit
• Traction control, all-speed, brake and engine controlled
• StabiliTrak, electronic stability control system
• LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Top tethers for Children), for child safety seats
• Safety belts, 3-point, driver and front passenger

Mercedes Benz C300 vs Cadillac ATS

Mercedes-Benz has been the most recognizable brand all around the world, so much so that having a three-point star in the front and back of a car can increase the value of the car ten-folds. The Mercedes is also a bit more efficient than the Cadillac.

The ATS, however, has better performance and has more power too. It is also quite cheaper, which makes for great value.

BMW 330i vs Cadillac ATS

BMW offers the best in class space inside the cabin, and also has the most engaging drive, with a great fun to drive character and quite a powerful engine. Not to mention the premium brand image and also the reliability, which are all off the charts.

The Cadillac, however, is much more affordable and can hold its own in a race too. The handling is fine, and the performance is a little better than the BMW.

Audi A4 vs Cadillac ATS

The Audi A4 is the most luxurious and comfortable car in this comparison, offering the best and the most comfortable interiors on this bunch. The engine packs a healthy punch, while the handling is also great, owing to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The Cadillac still has the price and performance advantage on its side. Additionally, the Audi lacks steering feel, which the ATS offers in spades.

The 2017 Cadillac ATS Sedan is one of the better cars in the affordable urban commuter segment and does a lot of things right. The infotainment could be a little bit better, and so can the interiors, but those are just some small nit-picks in the overall wonderful package.

The powerful engine, the comfy ride, the fun to drive factor, all make this car a very compelling choice. Then there is the price, which is just the cherry on the cake. Honestly, you just cannot go wrong with this car.