2012 Cadillac CTS-V Review
2012 Cadillac CTS-V Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+88
Used CTS-V for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Stunning acceleration
- superb handling
- surprisingly comfortable ride
- distinctive appearance
- elegant interior design
- reasonable price tag
- excellent crash scores.
Cons
- Uncomfortable and unsupportive standard seats
- feels big on tight roads
- compromised rear visibility.
What’s new
For 2012 the Cadillac CTS-V sedan gains standard automatic wipers.
Edmunds says
The 2012 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 2012 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 $4.31 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$332/mo for CTS-V Base
CTS-V Base
vs
$176/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
This is not your grandfather's tailfinned Cadillac. It has a 556-horsepower supercharged V8, handling tuned at the world-famous Nurburgring and seats fashioned by Recaro, not inspired by La-Z-Boy. The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V represents this model's fourth year since a complete redesign, and in that time it's managed to remain on the podium as one of the most gnarly performance sedans on the market. Some competing sedans outdo it in certain areas, but they are ultimately less practical or vastly more expensive.
Indeed, the CTS-V has shown that Cadillac has the wherewithal to hang with the best that the world has to offer. In a straight line and around a racetrack, it showed its angular rear end to a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG in an Edmunds comparison test. On paper, it will leave behind the similarly sized Mercedes E63 AMG and Jaguar XFR. Only once you start talking about a Porsche Panamera Turbo does the CTS-V start to be tamed, but then it costs half as much.
Yet an American car keeping up in terms with performance isn't new. Just ask the Corvette. But it's in the areas of refinement and interior quality where otherwise competitive cars have taken a backseat to the foreigners. Well, not the CTS-V. It provides a suitably comfortable ride for both daily driving and long-distance road trips. The cabin is handsome, well-made and filled with high-quality materials. Sure, it's not as fancy as a Mercedes or Jag, but it's more than nice enough given its price tag.
So why should you fly another high-performance sport sedan flag? Well, at 4,300 pounds, the CTS-V is a hefty chunk of American metal, making it feel a bit cumbersome on tighter roads. A BMW M3 can fool you into thinking it's a sports car; a CTS-V cannot. The Cadillac's standard seats are also lacking in support and comfort, making the optional Recaro sport seats an absolute must. Besides that, however, the 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is as close to a bargain as you're going to get in this price range. It may not be your grandfather's Cadillac, but for the first time in seemingly decades, that's a very good thing.
Performance & mpg
The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that produces 556 hp and 551 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual is standard, but a six-speed automatic is a no-cost option. In Edmunds performance testing, an automatic-equipped CTS-V went from zero to 60 mph in an impressively quick 4.3 seconds. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with the manual and 12/18/14 with the automatic.
Safety
The 2012 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 104 feet from 60 mph in Edmunds testing.
In government crash tests, the regular CTS received the best possible rating of five stars in the overall, frontal and side crash categories. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the regular sedan was awarded the best rating of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.
Driving
The fact that the 2012 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 quick. 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 2012 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 previous Cadillacs.
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 both the comfort and support required for spirited driving. The optional Recaro seats address this issue and feature ventilation as well.
Out back, the trunk offers a smallish 13.6 cubic feet of cargo room, and the relatively narrow opening can make loading bulky items like golf clubs difficult. The split-folding rear seat found on other CTS models isn't available here, but a trunk pass-through opening is standard.
2012 Cadillac CTS-V models
The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is a five-passenger high-performance version of the CTS sedan. That car is reviewed separately, as are the various other CTS iterations.
Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer performance tires, high-performance brakes, a limited-slip differential, magnetically controlled adaptive suspension, automatic and adaptive xenon headlamps with washers, foglamps, rear parking sensors and automatic wipers. Comfort and convenience features include keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a cabin odor filtration system, heated eight-way power front seats, driver memory functions, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather/faux-suede upholstery and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Electronic features include Bluetooth, a rearview camera, a navigation system, real-time traffic and weather, a pop-up touchscreen interface and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a CD/DVD player, satellite radio, digital music storage and an iPod/USB audio interface.
Options include a sunroof, heated and ventilated Recaro sport seats and faux suede covering the steering wheel and shifter.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2012 Cadillac CTS-V.
5 star(95%)
4 star(5%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
38 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
CTS-VEE
Al Martin, 11/05/2015
2012 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 6M)
I can find very little to complain about since it is a fantastic car.
The audio system is good except for difficulty arranging music on the hard drive.
Unless you can move the front passenger seat forward or lay it back the headrest creates a large blindspot.
I have had irritating check engine lights caused by emission sensors of
different systems.
Most recently a module of some sort … failed leaving steering wheel controls cruise, radio, paddle shifter inoperable. It was an expensive and time consuming repair. As the problems became completely determined, they were eliminated and the car has been trouble free for more than a year. In this small to medium sized town this car gets lots of looks and admiring comments. One guy at local car wash, while doing detailing, had another taking pictures and told me that he was showing his wife what he put on his bucket list.
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!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2012 Cadillac CTS-V, so we've included reviews for other years of the CTS-V since its last redesign.
2012 CTS-V Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $63,215 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 16 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $332/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
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
Related Used 2012 Cadillac CTS-V info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Tesla Model X 2017
- Used Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe 2010
- Used Toyota Corolla Cross 2022 For Sale
- Used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2017
- Used Volkswagen Tiguan 2018
Shop similar models
- Used Jaguar XJ
- Used BMW 6-Series-Gran-Coupe
- Used Lexus GS-F
- Used Bentley Mulsanne
- Used Cadillac Ct5-v-blackwing
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2012
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2013
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2011
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2017
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2019
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2018
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2016
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2014
- Used Cadillac CTS-V Coupe 2011
- Used Cadillac CTS-V 2010
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Nissan Titan Pickup Truck
- Audi A7 Car
- Maybach GLS 600
- Toyota Crown 2023
- Kia Sportage 2023
- Kia Niro Ev+
- 2023 Model S
- Chevrolet 3500 For Sale
- 2023 Camry Hybrid
- Kona Electric
Research other models of Cadillac
- Cadillac CT5 2023
- 2023 Cadillac CT5
- 2024 Cadillac CT4
- Cadillac LYRIQ 2023
- Cadillac ATS 2024
- Cadillac SRX 2023
- 2023 Escalade ESV
- 2024 Cadillac Escalade
- Cadillac XT4 2023
- 2023 Escalade
Research similar vehicles
- Infiniti Q50
- 2023 Corolla
- 330 I BMW
- Lexus Is 350
- Lucid Air Price
- Honda Civic 2024
- 2023 Honda Civic
- Hyundai Elantra
- Dodge Challenger 2023
- Car Kia Stinger
Other models
- Used BMW 5-Series in Jefferson City, MO
- New GMC Yukon for Sale in Palm City, FL
- New Lincoln Nautilus for Sale in Temple Hills, MD
- Used Mclaren 675Lt-Coupe in Ruskin, FL
- Used Volkswagen Gti in Hobbs, NM
- Used Honda Element in Hingham, MA
- Used Suzuki Forenza in Inman, SC
- New Ford F-350-Super-Duty for Sale in Rocklin, CA
- New GMC Hummer-Ev-Suv for Sale in Jacksonville, FL
- Used Toyota Gr-Supra in Lewiston, ME