2018 Cadillac CT6

One of the Sportiest and most Luxurious sedans popular among the masses, the Cadillac CT6 has always been the choice for many connoisseurs of American Luxury.The Exteriors have an Aesthetic Feel to them and the Interiors have been well laid out with a lot of Functional and Sporty touches all over the Cabin. The ride and handling quality of the sedan is athletic and comfy as and when you want the ride to be.

This Luxurious sedan comes with a variety of engines ranging from 265hp-404hp all starting at $55,090. All the engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic. The standard drivetrain for the 2.0L engines is RWD, whereas if you go for the 3.0L or 3.6L engines, you get all-wheel drive. The car is available in 4 trims with the price of the top trim going up to $85290.

Available with a wide engine range to choose from, the Cadillac CT6 is offered in 4 trims, viz. Standard, Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. There is a vast difference in price and features as you move up the trim tree. The Standard and Luxury trims come in RWD paired with a 2.0L engine that generates 265hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Trims	Standard	Luxury	Premium Luxury	Platinum
MSRP	$54,095	$60,190	$66,290	$85,290
Features	Power-assist, electric-variable steering Cadillac user experience Teen Driver Bose 8-speaker premium audio system OnStar with 4G LTE and built-in Wi-Fi hotspot Sirius satellite radio Bluetooth phone connectivity USB and auxiliary connectivity Leather Seating Surfaces Front and Rear Park Assist	Cadillac user experience and Navigation and Collection Bose 10-speaker surround sound system Forward Collision Alert Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning Surround Vision Heated driver and front passenger seats Heated steering wheel	Surround Vision Recorder 12″ Reconfigurable full-color gauge cluster Full-Color Reconfigurable Head-Up Display UltraView Sunroof Available Super Cruise Package – includes Driver Attention System	Rear Seat Infotainment Quad-Zone automatic climate control Night Vision Front seats are heated, ventilated, massaging, and include 20-way adjustments for the driver and front passenger 20″ aluminum wheels with Manoogian Silver premium painted finish and chrome inserts

The Premium Luxury and Platinum offers two engine options, a 335hp 3.6L V6 engine, and a mightier 404hp 3.0L V6 engine. Both the trims are available in AWD only. Premium Luxury has upgraded features like a power sunroof, head up display, 12-inch gauge cluster. Going for the Platinum trim upgrades the car to a maximum level as all the feature and packages come as standard in the top trim.

We Recommend

We’d recommend you to go for the top Platinum trim; the reason being the abundance of features and packages available in the Platinum is way more than its competitors within the same price range. Massaging seats, night vision, quad-zone climate control are some of the few features of the Platinum trim.

“In city traffic and on the freeway, the regular suspension is acceptable, but if you want to go out and push the car into corners, the $3300 Active Chassis Package is pretty much mandatory. Without it, the car has significant roll that passengers will find discomfiting. The package nets you one of the best features that GM has ever devised: magnetorheological shocks. As in the CTS, Caddy’s Magnetic Ride Control rides over big bumps beautifully, even while turning quickly.” – Road and Track

Engine and Transmission

The CT6 comes with a diverse engine lineup. The 4-cylinder 2.0L engine is the smallest among the available engine options and it generates 265hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Moving up, the V6 3.6L engine churns out 335hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. Sitting at the top, we have the mighty twin turbo, 6-cylinder 3.0L engine capable of producing a massive 404hp and 400lb-ft of torque.

The 6-cylinder engines deliver quick and strong power without any lags. Even though it’s a luxury sedan, the CT6 revs up like a performance sports car. All the trims are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly for uninterrupted performance.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
MSRP	$55,090	$45,160	$47,390	$49,900
Engine	2.0L Turbo I4 DI DOHC	3.7L Ti-VCT V6	3.6L SIDI DOHC V6	3.8L GDI DOHC V6
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
Power	265 hp	305 hp	304 hp	311 hp
Torque	295 lb-ft	280 lb-ft	264 lb-ft	293 lb-ft

The base engines of the competition are bigger than the CT6. The biggest and most powerful of the lot, the Kia K900 V6 Premium delivers 311hp and 293lb-ft of torque from a 3.8L V6 engine.

Acceleration

The CT6 features a swift acceleration owing to its lightweight. The car takes 6.1 seconds to go from 0-60mph and is surpassed only by the Kia K900 V6 Premium (5.7 seconds). The CT6 performs the best in the quarter mile drag, taking only 14.6 seconds. Its rival, the Cadillac XTS Standard is the slowest and takes 15.3 seconds to finish a quarter mile.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
0–60 mph	6.1 sec	6.8 sec	6.9 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.9 sec	15.3 sec	14.7 sec
Engine	2.0L	3.7L	3.6L	3.8L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.1	8.8	8.0	8.8

Ride and Handling

The CT6, even with its large size, drives with great agility and might; while maintaining the comfort you’d expect from a luxury sedan. The steering is communicative. However, the steering might feel heavy when driving in the sports mode. The company promises a hands-free driving experience on the freeway when equipped with the Super Cruise package.

The vehicle is available in both RWD and AWD. Body lean is reasonable and the suspension system feels robust and energetic when driving over uneven terrain. The large wheelbase (122.4 inches) makes sure that you don’t feel much discomfort when driving over bumps.  However, the rivals offer a smoother riding experience.

Braking

The car is equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes and has a sturdy brake pedal. The car goes from 60-0mph in 123ft which is decent for a car of its size but the rivals offer a better braking performance. Lincoln Continental Premier has the best brakes in the lot, stopping the car from 60mph in just 110ft.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
60 – 0 mph	123	110	116	115
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3666	4224	4021	4297
Brake (Front)	12.6	13.9	13.6	13.6
Brake (Rear)	12.4	13.6	12.4	12.4

“The 2.0-liter has the best fuel efficiency of the three conventional engines, at 22 mpg city, 30 highway, 25 combined. The 335-hp 3.6-liter V-6, likely to be the most popular engine, comes in at 18/27/21 mpg. Buyers who opt for the high-performance turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive will see 18/26/21 mpg, according to the EPA.” – TheCarconnection

The base trim of the CT6 overshadows its rivals in terms of fuel economy. The car is rated at 22/30/25 mpg with RWD. The Kia K900 V6 Premium is the least economical of the lot and it is rated at 17mpg for city, 25 mpg for highway with a combined mileage of 20mpg.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
MPG (City)	22	17	19	17
MPG (Hwy)	30	26	18	25
MPG (Combined)	25	20	22	20

Going for AWD in the Standard trim will have a major drop in fuel economy (18 City/27 Hwy) as the engine size also increases when opting for AWD. The fuel ratings, for both RWD and AWD (equipped with 3.6L engine), for the luxury trim are the same as that of the base trim. The Platinum trim, which has the mightiest 3.0L engine, is rated at 18 City/26 Hwy.

“Engineers sweated every clearance-related millimeter, and ingress and egress is outstanding. Once seated, there is none of the “can you move your seat up a little bit?” back-and-forth like you’ll find in a 5 Series or Audi A6. It is cathedral quiet, and almost totally without vibrations transmitting into the cabin.” – Road and Track

Seating and Comfort

The Cadillac has a roomy and quiet cabin. You’ll feel like a king sitting in the top trim with all its premium leather surroundings and shiny chrome trims. Some of the standard features in the top trim include quad-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, rear-view mirror camera and rear-seat entertainment package.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume (Ft.3)	106.0	106.4	104.2	110.8
Headroom (Front/Rear) (in.)	40.2/38.0	39.3/37.7	39.0/37.8	40.2/37.6
Legroom (Front/Rear) (in.)	46.4/40.4	44.4/41.3	42.1/40.0	45.6/38.2
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear) (in.)	58.3/56.2	58.3/55.9	57.9/56.3	59.1/57.2

The car has a seating capacity of 5 people. The seats are large and feel plush and comfortable thanks to the high-end leather upholstery combined with lumbar support. There is ample room for leg, head, and knee. In fact, the sedan has the largest headroom and legroom in its class. The car accommodates even the tallest of people comfortably. The large doors and spacious cabin makes getting in and out of the car really easy.

Infotainment System

The CT6 features a convenient and improved CUE infotainment system. The 10.2-inch display is quick to respond, however, it can sometimes miss inputs. The infotainment system has great connectivity options which include 4 USB charging ports, 3 USB audio ports, wireless charging, and Bluetooth.

The Cadillac’s infotainment system is loaded with advanced features like 4G LTE with WiFi connectivity, navigation with real-time traffic updates and HD radio. The top trim comes equipped with the rear seat infotainment package. Overall, the infotainment system is easy-to-use.

Infotainment System Features:

• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• HD radio
• Bluetooth
• USB ports
• Wireless charging
• WiFi hotspot

Cargo Capacity

The CT6 has the smallest trunk volume (15.3 ft cube) among its rivals. Cadillac XTS features a boot space of 18.0 ft cube which is the largest in its class.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
Trunk Vol. (Ft.3)	15.3	16.7	18.0	15.9

“The long hood implies — correctly — a powerful rear-wheel-drive sedan, and the crisply tailored aluminum body shows off chiseled lines and an expressive face. The Platinum model gets a unique grille, but all CT6 models get LED headlights, framed by vertical LED light blades; in back are vertical LED taillights.” – Kelley Blue Book

Dimension and Weight

The body of the 2018 Cadillac CT6 looks grand and opulent. The beautiful lines and curves of the vehicle combined with a classy grille and the iconic vertical LED headlamps give the car a substantial appearance. The Cadillac’s signature tail lamps can’t go unnoticed. The sunroof covers both the rear and front seats adding to the lush appearance of the car.

Model	Cadillac CT6 Standard	Lincoln Continental Premier	Cadillac XTS standard	Kia K900 V6 Premium
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3666	4224	4021	4297
Wheelbase (in)	122.4	117.9	111.7	119.9
Length (in)	204.1	201.4	200.9	200.6
Width (in)	74.0	75.3	72.9	74.8
Height (in)	58.0	58.5	59.4	58.5
Ground Clearance (in)	N/A	5.5	5.0	5.7
Track Width – Front (in)	63.4	63.2	61.7	63.8
Track Width – Rear (in)	64.0	64.1	62.0	64.1

The top trim runs on elegant looking 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The car weighs the lightest of the lot with a curb weight of 3666 lbs. Further, the car has the longest wheelbase (122.4 inches) and body length (204.1 inches). Features like the concierge lighting add to the aesthetics of the sedan.

Exterior Features

• Illuminated door handles
• Power sunroof
• LED light pipe signature
• Concierge lighting
• LED Indirect Fire high beam/low beam
• Power Decklid

The IIHS and NHSTA ratings are yet to come. On the reliability front, the car features a warranty of 4-years/50,000 miles. The powertrain has a warranty of 6-years/70,000 miles.

Safety Features

Just like all the other aspects, the CT6 is loaded with safety features like ABS, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert and front and reverse automatic braking. The complete list of the safety features is provided below.

2 Front Headrests

2 Rear Headrests

Auto Delay Off Headlights

Dual Front And Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags

Engine Immobilizer

Traction Control

Post-Collision Safety System

Front And Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes

Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation

Rear Center 3-Point Belt

Rear Door Child Safety Locks

Rear Multi-Adjustable Headrests

Turn Signal Mirrors

Blind-Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System

Lincoln Continental Premier vs Cadillac CT6

The Lincoln features a bigger engine but the CT6 has better acceleration. The Continental has better braking and cargo space, whereas the CT6 has an edge over Lincoln in fuel economy. Even though the Lincoln is much cheaper, the feature loaded and economical CT6 is worth spending the extra amount.

Cadillac XTS Standard vs Cadillac CT6

The XTS standard has a larger boot space and is $7700 cheaper than the CT6. The CT6 has better fuel economy, acceleration, and handling. Combining that with the extra features, CT6 seems like the winner here.

Kia K900 V6 Premium vs Cadillac CT6

The K900 has a more powerful V6 providing it a slightly better initial acceleration than the CT6. Kia also has an edge over CT6 in braking. The K900 has the lowest fuel economy of the lot. Both the cars have almost similar cargo volume. The CT6 costs $5190 more but compensates with better fuel economy and elegant looking exterior.

The CT6 is an athletic handler, has Classy aesthetics and a highly spacious and opulent interior. The top trim features a mighty 404hp engine for performance lovers and carries a lot more features compared to any of its rivals in its price range. Our advice is to go for the top trim which has all the packages and advanced features if you want to experience true luxury and power in a large sedan.