Used 2016 Cadillac ATS Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2016 ATS, so we've included reviews for other years of the ATS since its last redesign.
Not your daddy's Caddy
Steve Cain, 03/10/2016
2015 Cadillac ATS Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
47 of 47 people found this review helpful
It's important to understand what this car is and is not. If you think a Crown Victoria is a good car, the ATS is not the car for you. On the other hand if you think a BMW 3 series is a good car, test drive an ATS, you will be surprised. The ATS is a complete departure from the "livingroom recliner on wheels" approach of days gone by for Cadillac. Its a drivers car cut from the cloth of European sports sedans. (Think Audi A4, BMW 3 series) That means crisp handling, quick accelleration, relatively small size and a firm ride. If you think these things are desirable, it's hard to beat an ATS, but if you want a numb isolated ride and don't care about handling, then please, buy something else. For perspective, I traded my wonderful BMW 5 series for the ATS and in most ways, the ATS is as good or better. I've not driven the base 2.5 engine. My ATS has the 3.6 V6 and for comparisson I have spent a few days driving the 2.0T and both perform similarly in terms of brute power... the 3.6 sounds more pleasant to me but both engines deliver lots of power. If driven in traffic, the cars don't feel real fast because the throttle is easy to modulate in stop and go traffic... but if you stomp on it, you will see 60MPH in between 5 and 6 seconds. If you enjoy driving fast on twisty roads, it doesn't get a lot better than the ATS for four seats. Definitely not Crown Victoria like. For more perspective, I'm in my 50's, 5'8 and fit fine in the front and back seats comfortably. The up optioned seats are terrific even if 6 footers aren't going to be happy in the back seat, but they aren't going to be happy in the back of an A4 or 3 series either. I have read some reviews on line about the ATS and draw the conclusion that some ATS buyers had no idea what they were buying. They would be happier with an early 90's Crown Victoria. That's fine, but you have to come to terms with what the car is and what it's intended to do. The alternatives to my ATS are the Mercedes C250, Audi A4, and BMW 328. If you think an alternative to the ATS is a Toyota Avalon, you should consider something else. As for me, I love my ATS.
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The nod goes to Cadillac
Walt, 11/13/2016
updated 06/01/2020
2016 Cadillac ATS Luxury 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
40 of 40 people found this review helpful
I traded in a BMW 320 for the Cadillac ATS all wheel drive. The BMW is the segment leader and has been for many years for a good reason BUT, the Cadillac is better. It is more comfortable, much quieter, quicker and a pure joy to drive. It doesn't sound as sporty or feel as sporty, but it is overall an excellent car. It is, after all, a Cadillac. After 22,000 miles I still feel the same about the ATS, it’s a great car. After almost two years of ownership and 29,500 miles, I still feel the same. The ATS is a good-looking, well-designed machine and is a joy to drive. I now have 39,000 miles on the odometer and the ATS is a joy to drive. My ATS currently has 43700 miles and is still a good-looking joy to drive. At 54,000 miles my ATS has been relatively trouble free and is still a joy to drive.
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An overlooked gem of a car
Clark, 06/15/2017
updated 06/17/2019
2016 Cadillac ATS Luxury 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
50 of 51 people found this review helpful
2016 Cadillac ATS 2.0 turbo luxury AWD trim is a great handling car. As many others have mentioned already, the vehicle is slick, drives extremely well, handles confidently, and overall a great driving car. When the sport mode is selected, the wheel and suspension gets noticeably tightened and gear changes at higher RPMs to allow for a quicker acceleration, which all makes it a very nice sporty experience. One feature I do not like is that the luxury trim does not have the HID lights (higher trims do have it). Halogen lights does the job, but it is nowhere near the brightness of HID. Backseat is cramped, but for small to normal sized people, it isn't uncomfortable. If ATS makes HID standard and add a couple more inches to the backseat legroom, in my mind, it would clearly beat BMW 3 series. Until then, it is so close, yet so far from the 3 series benchmark. At the same time, when I'm in the car by myself driving in sport mode on the highway, these couple of minor inconveniences are an afterthought. At 272 hp and 295 lb-sqft, the 2.0 turbo is the real steal among the trim offerings in my opinion. If you are looking for an entry level luxury sport sedan, I highly recommend you test drive the ATS 2.0 turbo and test out the acceleration and handling. You won't be disappointed. Update: After 19k miles, the car is still great. No issues. Runs and handles excellent. Still loving the nimbleness, acceleration and instant power. Update 2: After 32,000 miles, no issues. Now we know that Cadillac is replacing the ATS with the new CT4 (www.caranddriver.com/news/amp23599322/cadillac-ct4-sedan-future-cars/), this may place the last gen ATS as the best compact performance car Cadillac will have built for awhile, because the CT4 will have less power and torque. I may sound like a broken record to mention its outstanding sportiness, but the last gen ATS 2.0T competes with a very select few high performance 2.0T compacts: 3 series, Audi A4, MB CLA, and AR Giulia. This is an outstanding group to be part of from performance perspective. Not sure the new CT4 can be part of this discussion. The old ATS’s performance reputation will be preserved in the historical context. Some complain about its boxier look, but I find it classy and set apart from the competition. Local Cadillac dealership experience has been quality.
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Makes you grin every time you drive it.
Bill Morgan, 11/30/2016
2016 Cadillac ATS Performance 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
24 of 24 people found this review helpful
This car in my opinion is a driver's car. The 3.6 liter V6 is very responsive, it makes nice noises. The chassis corners flat, the transmission bangs shifts off with authority, the steering is great and with the V Sport brake option I can keep out of trouble.. When you want to be sedate and laid back the ATS accommodates so nicely. Drove the car out west for vacation. Interstate highways were gobbled up with 32 mpg. Twisty mountain roads are where this little sedan shines baby! In sport mode I was hitting apexes at twice the limit and asking for more.
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I love my ATS Premium
Rey, 03/16/2016
updated 03/27/2018
2015 Cadillac ATS Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I saw the ATS at the auto show and fell in love with it. However, I didn't rush into buying it. I compared it to BMW 3 series, Infinity, Acura (my former). I also watched and read comparisons of similar cars from Motor Trend, etc. Once I bought it I've never regretted it. It is very quick, handles fantastic (esp in sport mode) and nimble in traffic. My vehicle has the heads up display which works great and I especially like the auto braking during cruise control. I don't have to constantly hit the brakes any time a car slows down in front of me, the ATS adjusts the speed for me (great feature). I have had my car for 2 1/2 years and I still haven't grown tired of it.
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