2011 Cadillac CTS-V Review
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Stunning acceleration
- superb handling
- distinctive appearance
- reasonable price tag.
Cons
- Hefty curb weight
- standard front seats lack support.
What’s new
For 2011, the Cadillac CTS-V has a new fender vent design, and a rear-vision camera is now standard. Cadillac also introduces a free program that covers oil changes, filter replacements, tire rotation and vehicle inspection for 4 years/50,000 miles.
Edmunds says
The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V delivers a combination of world-class performance, style and value that's tough to beat.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $5.73 per gallon for premium unleaded in California.
Monthly estimates based on costs in California
$441/mo for CTS-V Base
CTS-V Base
vs
$251/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
Ripping a page out of the muscle car playbook, the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V is a familiar production car that has been stuffed to the fender wells with a rip-snorting V8. Instead of the CTS's standard V6, you'll find nothing less than a 556-horsepower, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under the V's power-dome hood.
Fortunately, this is not just a machine for straight-line performance. The engineers have suitably beefed up the suspension and brakes to make the CTS-V as capable of scrubbing off speed and cutting through corners as it is of streaking down a straightaway. Not only has this Caddy posted one of the quickest acceleration times Edmunds has recorded for a four-door sedan but it has showed its high rear end to both the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG during the racetrack portion of our super-sport sedan comparison test.
But the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V doesn't have just world-class performance going for it; this Caddy also provides an amenable ride for both daily driving and long-distance road trips. Though it's priced similarly to comparably equipped sport sedans such as the 2011 BMW M3 and 2011 Mercedes C63, the larger CTS-V offers more passenger space, making it a rival to the BMW M5, 2011 Jaguar XFR and 2011 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Of course, these competitors also offer incredible performance and luxury, yet they are priced $17,000-$23,000 higher.
The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V does have a few minor negatives. At 4,300 pounds, this sedan can feel like a hefty chunk of metal on tightly winding roads. And the standard front seats leave much to be desired in terms of both comfort and support (though this can be remedied with the optional Recaro seats). But nitpicks notwithstanding, the CTS-V is a stunning achievement that restores meaning to Cadillac's classic slogan, "Standard of the World."
Performance & mpg
The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, a slightly detuned version of the engine under the carbon-fiber hood of the mighty Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. It sends a jaw-dropping 556 hp and 551 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and a six-speed automatic transmission with shift buttons mounted on the steering wheel is available as an option.
In Edmunds performance testing, an automatic-equipped CTS-V sprinted from zero to 60 mph in a remarkably quick 4.3 seconds and ran through the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds at 114.7 mph. The EPA puts the CTS-V's estimated fuel economy at 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with the manual transmission, and 12/18/14 mpg with the automatic.
Safety
The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V comes standard with antilock disc brakes, stability control and traction control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. GM's OnStar emergency communications system is also standard. Braking performance is excellent, with the Caddy posting a short stopping distance of 109 feet from 60 mph in Edmunds testing.
The regular CTS on which this V-specification model is based has earned a "Good" rating (the highest possible) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in both frontal- and side-impact crash tests. In government frontal crash tests, the CTS earned four stars (out of a possible five) for the driver and five stars for front passenger protection. The CTS also received a five-star government rating for both front- and rear-seat passenger protection in side-impact crashes.
Driving
The fact that the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V tips the scales at just over 4,300 pounds makes its astounding performance all the more remarkable. The combination of its muscle-bound V8 and modest exhaust note makes the CTS-V deceptively fast. While the manual transmission is a good one, with a nice firm shift action and a surprisingly light and progressive clutch, you'll actually get quicker acceleration with the automatic transmission when it's in Sport mode. However, the automatic doesn't confidently blip the throttle on downshifts like a C63 AMG, and it's neither the quickest nor the smoothest unit we've experienced.
The CTS-V's standard Magnetic Ride Control suspension offers a good balance between ride quality and handling via driver-selectable Tour or Sport modes. While it's capable of throwing down some seriously quick lap times, the CTS-V can't hide its 2-ton-plus mass on a winding piece of asphalt. That hefty feeling in tight corners is quickly forgotten, however, when you turn its mighty V8 loose on the straightaways.
Interior
First, the bad news: The 2011 CTS-V's interior isn't much different from that of the regular CTS model. Now the good news: The CTS already sports one of the nicer passenger compartments in the segment. The overall look is high-class, with an attractive and functional layout for gauges and controls. Materials aren't the best in class, but they're generally high quality and a noticeable improvement over those used in the previous generation. The faux suede seat inserts and steering wheel/shift knob trim are an especially nice touch.
As noted earlier, the CTS-V's interior also sports as much head- and legroom as most of the super sedans in the midsize class. The cabin's most significant shortcoming is the design of the standard front seats, which lack either comfort or the support required for spirited driving. The optional Recaro seats address both of these issues and are highly recommended. Out back, the trunk offers a smallish 13.6 cubic feet of cargo room, and the relatively narrow opening can make loading bulky items difficult. The split-folding rear seat found on other CTS models isn't available here, but a trunk pass-through opening is standard.
2011 Cadillac CTS-V models
The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V is a high-performance sport sedan that's offered in a single well-equipped trim level.
Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, high-performance tires, Brembo brakes, adaptive xenon headlights, an adaptive suspension with adjustable dampers, keyless ignition/entry (including remote start on automatic-transmission models) and rear park assist.
Inside the cabin, the standard features list continues with leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats with driver-seat memory, a suede-trimmed power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. High-tech bells and whistles include OnStar, Bluetooth, a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic updates and a Bose surround-sound audio system (with a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, USB/auxiliary audio jacks and digital music storage).
Options include a panoramic sunroof, 14-way power-adjustable Recaro sport seats (with heating and ventilation), a wood trim package for the interior, and faux suede wrapping for the shift knob and the rim of the steering wheel.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2011 Cadillac CTS-V.
5 star(94%)
4 star(6%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
36 reviews
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Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
One Word: Wow!
way2fun_lotus, 04/12/2013
2009 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M)
I've owned a few high performance cars: 2 Gallardos, a Nissan GTR, BMW 550i, Lotus Elise, Maserati Gran Sport. Believe me when I say this car has more torque and is more fun to drive than all of the above, and it does it all with great style and comfort.
4.75 out of 5 stars
American Know How
Chris, 01/20/2009
2009 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M)
This car is great, luxury, features, performance, roomy and did I mention performance. The ride is very smooth and controlled no mater how you drive it. It is not as loud as you might expect from a performance sedan and just a joy to drive. The quality is as good as you can get and I have found no problems with it. The performance is off the scale, the Recarro seats are fantastic and … the interior is well layed out and functional, not to mention beautiful. I have gotten an average of 11.4 MPG since I bought it but this is not a hybrid. This is my dream car, thanks Cadillac for making my dream come true and providing such a great example of "Good Ol American Know How".
5 out of 5 stars
2009 CTS V A delight to pilot and own!
paintxpert, 01/10/2021
2009 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M)
I have owned my 2009 V for over 3 years. I bought it with 131000 miles on it. Many folks would never hear of buying a car with this many miles. I am the 2nd owner. Now it has 142777 miles. In three years.... I did the Alternator and the Map Sensor. This car still continues to amaze me with its endless power and superb handling. That Super charged ZO6 motor is steady like a rock. Always … there for the added excitement. My car is One of only 82 made in Diamond blue with a White Titanium interior. This Generation with its presence and attitude has always been one of my all time favorites! I don't think Ill go electric too soon!
4.88 out of 5 stars
Incredible Sleeper
Jmos77, 11/03/2009
2009 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M)
I just traded my M3 for the CTS-V and the car is simply amazing. THe power and torque are scary at times and the magnetic suspension offers a perfect balance of comfort and touring. This is by far the fastest car I have ever owned so be prepared to buy a radar detector for keeping this car at speed is impossible. The biggest surprise for me is how beautiful the interior is. The hand … stiched dash and the ambient light along with the skyview sunroof makes for a fantastic place to spend time. The fit and finish are very surprising as well and I love the white diamond paint on my car. Bottom line GM hit a homerun and if you need a 4 fast sedan then look no further. Can't beat the price too
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V, so we've included reviews for other years of the CTS-V since its last redesign.
2011 CTS-V Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $62,360 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $441/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 13.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the CTS-V include:
- Back-up camera
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
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