Cadillac’s metamorphosis into a modern luxury brand continues to unfold, with the latest addition to the lineup introducing a true flagship model. This is the first ever CT6.
Though Cadillac already offers a large, turbocharged sedan with over 400 horsepower and available all-wheel drive, the CT6 evolves the premise of the XTS by introducing a new, lightweight, rear-wheel drive architecture with a significantly longer wheelbase lending to more elegant and classic big car proportions. But this isn’t your grandfather’s Deville – far from it. The CT6 possesses modern design, robust technology and performance attributes shaving countless gray hairs from the head of the average driver.
A base CT6 with rear-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbo carries an MSRP of about $55,000. And though it’s not a top-of-the-line Platinum trim, this 2016 CT6 Premium Luxury with the twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel drive replete with key packages and various options rises to $81,840. So there’s a huge price spread to satisfy varying power and feature needs not to mention checking accounts.
Cadillac makes it clear – the CT6 has been engineered to “reignite a passion for driving in large luxury vehicles.” Translation: while luxurious enough, the CT6’s German competitors are boring to drive. So dynamics have been emphasized with the use of advanced chassis systems such as Active Rear Steer, weight savings have been scrutinized highlighted by all-aluminum body panels and driver control is prioritized featuring a Magnetic Ride Control suspension where each wheel’s dampening is adjusted by the millisecond. Sure, it measures 204” long but Cadillac still wants you to feel “the exhilaration of a true driver’s car.” And in lies the conundrum of the CT6.
When crossing the 80k threshold the execution should be nearly flawless and though the CT6 is a dream highway cruiser, Cadillac’s desire to make this something more than an all-out luxury sedan leads to some occasional issues with ride quality and powertrain harmony.
