Excellent handling, spacious cabin, wide array of available features, alternative look.
Cons
Interior still can't match the class leaders, larger size keeps it from providing nimble feel of its competitors.
What’s new
The base 3.2-liter V6 engine has been dropped; a 2.8-liter V6 will become the base engine later in the model year. A six-speed manual transmission is now standard regardless of engine choice. Package contents have been shuffled, and "synthetic leather" will be added to the options list later this year.
Edmunds says
Sharp reflexes and a powerful V6 make the CTS a viable choice among entry-level luxury sport sedans, but it still can't match the class leaders when it comes to overall execution and fun behind the wheel.
I had a 2005 CTS, but traded it in on a reliable car, a Honda.
I loved my CTS.
It was a beautiful car, but at about 60,000 miles it started burning oil. It had no drips or blue smoke.
They car was sounding weird and I had my husband check it.
It needed 5 quarts of oil.
There was no warning, or light.
The catalytic converter went out in it twice in a year and a half and then I started … having a misfiring problem.
Whenever I was going up a hill, or had to accelerate fast, my whole car would jerk and then my engine light would start flashing.
Beautiful looking car, but looks only get you so far.
It was a major lemon and I'd never buy one again!!!!
ownership and it woes
2 out of 5 stars
linda lawson, 12/02/2015
2005 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6M)
bought my 2005 cts and drove it 3800 miles and it used 5 quarts of oil just about ruined the engine had I not decided to do an early service the engine would have been shot. I have been around cars and worked on them all my life and I have yet to understand this excessive oil consumption as being normal. I have owned several gm products and this is the first one I have had with this … problem. would I buy another one no way. gm needs to man up and fix this problem and not charge the consumer who spent their hard earned money to buy a car they thought was going to be reliable. no wonder people are turning to Honda and other cars. bad when you have to carry oil in the trunk of your cadallic. im not the only one check internet. when you ask dealers about the problem they say thats the first they have heard of problem. i say bull
Where did all the oil go?
3.88 out of 5 stars
joez34, 05/16/2011
2005 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6M)
I love or should I say "loved" this car for the many years I have owned it. The car performed perfectly until 55,000 miles when it began drinking up a qt of oil every 1,000 miles. No leaks, and No Smoke, just a quart of oil gone.
The worst part about it was I didn't figure this out until the car was down 4 qts and started to make lots of noise. No LOW oil level or pressure indicator. …
Sorry GM, I traded in the CTS for a NEW Lexus ES350. Maybe I'll be back in a few years, but for now I'm gone.
2005 Oil consumption issues
3.38 out of 5 stars
gades, 01/19/2011
2005 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl 6M)
I have 2005 CTS with 68000 miles that has been drinking oil like a drunk sailor for the past 1 1/2 years at the rate of 2 qts every 1000 miles!
The dealership tried to charge me in excess of $5500 to fix the problem which included new piston rings and an assortment of other "fixes". Since my warrenty of 6yr/100000 was no longer valid the dealership will now "only" charge me about … $1400.
I stated my disappointment to them about how can a "high" quality GM car have such problems at such a low milage to which their reply was: "not all the vehicles that cadillac produces will be flawless...every now and then you might get a flawed one"...
Never again will I be a cadillac buyer.
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