1998 Cadillac Catera Review
Price Estimate: $1,280 - $2,075





+3
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- German engineering, ride, and handling. Comfortable seats. Attractive styling. Great sound system.
Cons
- Unproven reliability. Engine needs more power. Interior design is fussy.
What’s new
New radios are available across the board, and a new option is a power rear sunshade. Second-generation airbags arrived during the middle of the model year.
For sale near Midland, TX
2 listings
- 24,397 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 16 City / 22 Hwy MPG
- The Lucky 30 Auto Group (877 mi away)
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Located in Chula Vista, CA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/22 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: W06VR52R3WR144782
Stock: L2544
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-24-2025- 92,956 miles
- No accidents, 4 owners, personal use
- 16 City / 22 Hwy MPG
- The Rite Car (930 mi away)
- Spoke tilt steering ...
- Emergency brake
- Electronic climate c...
- Driver seat memory s...
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Located in Old Hickory, TN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/22 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: W06VR52R1WR109383
Stock: 5830
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-13-2025
Vehicle overview
The entry-level luxury sedan market accounts for nearly 40 percent of all luxury-car sales in the United States, growing rapidly from 25 percent just a few years ago. Characteristically, Chrysler, Lincoln and Cadillac have been lethargically slow to react to shifting luxury-car buyer tastes, while Lexus, Infiniti, Audi and BMW have been actively wooing these customers with fun-to-drive, lavishly appointed sedans and outstanding customer service. While companies from across either pond brought the ES300, 328i and A4 to market, the Big Three produced the Eldorado, Continental and New Yorker during the same time period.
Cadillac was the first domestic luxury automaker to attack the entry-level market head-on with the introduction of the 1997 Catera. A year later, the Catera is still the only American near-luxury model available. Based on the European-market Opel Omega MV6, the Catera features a 200-horsepower 3.0-liter DOHC V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Built in Russelsheim, Germany, the Catera is touted by Cadillac as a blend of the best of German and American engineering. It features antilock brakes engineered for the German Autobahn, dual front airbags, traction control and an engine-disabling theft-deterrent system.
With prices starting near $30,000, the Catera qualifies as a bona-fide bargain in this segment. Options are restricted to a power sunroof, power rear sunshade, heated front and rear seats, a Bose audio system and chrome-plated aluminum wheels. Standard equipment includes power windows with express-down features for all four windows, remote keyless entry, heated windshield washer nozzles and an automatic dual-zone climate control system. Two models are available: a base model and one appointed with leather.
The Catera also benefits from a roomy interior and is classified a midsize car by the EPA. The dash layout is outstanding, providing large, analog gauges and easy-to-use controls. Wood trimming is kept to a tasteful minimum, and the Catera exudes a level of interior luxury uncommon for the class.
But, what about performance? The Catera holds its own, but we suspect there will be sales lost to the BMW 328i, Nissan Maxima and Audi A4 due to the lack of a manual transmission. Cadillac also opted to limit the Catera's top speed to 125 mph so they could fit all-season rubber to the standard aluminum wheels. The result is a smoother, softer ride on America's often harsh pavement, and better wet-weather grip, at the expense of dry-weather handling.
Still, the Catera is a fine effort from Cadillac, priced competitively and offering all the luxury and most of the performance a buyer could want from this segment. All it really needs is some more low-end punch and an optional manual transmission.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas
$184/mo for Catera Base
Catera Base
vs
$144/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Cadillac Catera Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Caterror!
1.88 out of 5 starsdasmaedchen, 03/19/2011
1998 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
This has been the worst car I've ever owned.
I bought it two years ago when I needed a car badly.
I'd read a couple poor reviews but was persuaded to at least come look at the car.
It looked brand new, had low mileage, and a nice price.
I now know that the reason it looked brand new and had low mileage is probably because it was parked, broken, more than actually driven. It is pure … garbage.
It has had a coolant leak since shortly after I bought it.
I have taken it to several different places including a dealership and nobody has been able to stop the leak.
This among the many other things wrong with it.
It would also randomly refuse to start and then 30 minutes later would start.
Caterible
2.75 out of 5 starsSgtJeep, 02/27/2002
1998 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
It was in the shop at least twice a month having something repaired. At approx 40k miles the engine all but quit. I had problems with the climate control, moonroof, heated seats, steering, rear sunshield, and others. With 68k on the odometer the engine died. Even though GM told me it was my problem, the dealership is helping me get it fixed. Kudos to Martin Cadillac in Bowling Green, … KY. They're the first automotive service center to ever gain my trust and respect.
Low cost to maintain
4 out of 5 starsRich, 09/06/2008
1998 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
This car cost me less to maintain over these past 10 years than any other car I ever owned.
A Piece of Junk
3 out of 5 starsmichella, 11/24/2005
1998 Cadillac Catera 4dr Sedan
I've had my Cadillac Catera for four years and it has been in the shop over 35 times for repairs. This car has been nothing but a pain in the rear and a waste of my money. Cadillac should be ashamed of themselves for allowing the consumers to continue to purchase this vehicle.
1998 Catera Highlights
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $184/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.5 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
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 – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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