Road Test: 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6 Luxury AWD

Story and photos by John LeBlanc It’s been about half a century since the decline and fall of the American luxury car brands. Peaking in the mid-1960s, the trio of Cadillac, Chrysler and Lincoln were the dominant luxury marques with North American buyers, with the likes of today’s leading BMW and Mercedes-Benz import luxury brands relegated to the lower end of the sales charts as quirky, intellectual alternatives. Audi was yet to be born, and Japan’s Acura, Infiniti and Lexus were still decades away. Since then, luxury car buyers have virtually abandoned the three U.S. brands to the point where Cadillac, Chrysler and Lincoln cars don’t even make it on the shortlist for the majority of luxury car buyers. But after a series of flops and half-hearted efforts to bring luxury import-brand buyers back into its showrooms — from the 1970s Seville to the 1980s Cimarron to the 1990s Catera to the 2000s CTS — has Cadillac finally created a worthy alternative with its new 2013 ATS? As Cadillac moves the 2014 CTS up the food chain to become a true mid-sized sedan, the five-passenger compact, 2013 ATS four-door sedan becomes Cadillac’s entry-level model. Recognizing what buyers in this segment want, for all intents and purposes, the ATS is a near carbon copy of the last-generation BMW 3 Series, which is not a bad thing. Instead of the rear-wheel-drive, four-cylinder, manual transmission ATS models (which have been widely acclaimed for their athletic driving demeanour, but will be bought by few) my all-wheel-drive, autobox-equipped 2013 ATS 3.6 Luxury tester is a better example of what Canadian buyers in this segment will purchase. With a starting price of $48,255 (which includes a $1,595 freight and PDI fee) the Cadillac certainly looks like a good value compared to a comparably equipped $55,895 (with a six-speed manual) BMW 335i xDrive or $49,695 Mercedes-Benz C 350 4MATIC. (Additionally, my ATS came with a $1,495 navigation system and $1,395 moonroof package.) Like the last 3 Series, the ATS’s cabin wraps itself around its front occupants tightly. A real estate agent would call it “cozy.” The driving position is spot-on: The relationship between the steering wheel, pedals and seats allow the driver to go about his business efficiently. However, two will be happier than three in the back seat, where shoulder and knee room are precious. Just as the current CTS set new standards for interior design and build quality at GM, the newer ATS amps it up even further. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate details like a leather-wrapped steering wheel that is nicely finished on the tiller’s backside, and thin A-pillars that allow for looking far ahead through corners. The Cadillac’s seats (a longtime bug-a-boo with American luxury cars) are supportive, too. The only caveat is the ATS’s CUE (Cadillac User Experience) central dash control system. It looks very sleek, but the finger-touch points don’t react consistently, and the chrome buttons aren’t buttons at all, merely trim. Like the first-generation of BMW’s iDrive controller, more than likely, actual ATS owners will have more time to get used to Cadillac’s reinterpretation of the car dash. But it will take time. With 320 horsepower, the Cadillac’s 3.6-litre six-cylinder gas engine betters the 300 and 302 ratings for the BMW and Merc, respectively. And with a 1,542-kilogram curb weight, the ATS is also lighter. But with only 267 pound-feet of torque, the ATS falls behind the 335i (300) and C 350 (302), which shows up in the run from zero to 100 km/h. At 5.8 seconds, the ATS splits the difference between the 335i’s 5.4-second time and the C 350’s 6-second run. In application, the Cadillac V6 does not sound as refined as the Bimmer when reaching its rev limit. Ultimately, drivers in this class want refinement and sophistication, and the ATS’s driving dynamics certainly delivers in that regard. The Cadillac’s steering, ride quality and frisky handling are on par — or better — than its two German brand rivals. In practice, the ATS’s handling balance is excellent, with understeer relegated to only when you’re pressing at 10/10s. A multi-link independent suspension controls the Cadillac’s body motions well. With a very solid-feeling body (no rattles, moans or squeaks), the ATS is easy to manouvre down a twisty back road. Particularly gratifying is the sedan’s steering: It's accurate to a fault and has a good weight to it. And although it’s relatively firm, the ride quality doesn’t beat you up on bad pavement. While the lack of availability of a manual gearbox when you order up the V6 and AWD isn’t really an issue for most buyers, you can slide the Cadillac’s transmission gear selector into Sport mode, which makes shifts a bit snappier and adds effort to the steering feel. Although its V6 could be smoother, its autobox quicker and its backseat roomier, the 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6 Luxury AWD seems to have broken the string of misfires from GM’s luxury brand. In most driving instances, it exudes confidence, playfulness and refinement. And the ATS’s build quality is right there with its two German rivals. Factor in its inherent cost advantage, and this is the first Cadillac in decades import-brand buyers should seriously consider. Road Test: 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6 Luxury AWD Type of vehicle All-wheel-drive mid-sized sport sedan Engine 3.5L DOHC six-cylinder Power 321 hp @ 6,800 rpm; 274 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm Transmission Six-speed automatic Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS Tires P225/45ZR17 Price: base/as tested $46,660/$49,550 Destination charge $1,595 Natural Resources Canada fuel economy L/100 km 11.1 city, 7.1 highway, 9.8 as-tested Standard features Bluetooth phone connectivity with voice recognition, USB, auxiliary and SD memory card ports, satellite radio with three-month trial subscription, keyless access and keyless push-button start, full-colour reconfigurable head-up display, leather seats, CUE infotainment package, Brembo 4-piston brakes, dual exhaust, heated steering wheel, heated seats and a rear-vision camera

Comments