Used 2016 Cadillac CTS Consumer Reviews
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Make sure you don't mind the AutoStart feature
Danny, 07/14/2016
2016 Cadillac CTS Luxury 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
39 of 48 people found this review helpful
The Auto Stop/Start is terrible. It may not bother everyone (I cannot fathom how people don’t mind this), but it is annoying and distracting every time you stop the car. The car shakes and jiggles at every stop sign and stop light. My passengers are incredulous when they’re first taken for a spin. It is not only annoying, but also distracting. Your mind goes to it every single time you stop. You can turn this off every time you start the car, but it is not possible to turn this feature off permanently. Almost all the 2016 Caddys have Auto Stop/Start (I think the XTS is the only one that doesn’t) and they take the fun and relaxation out of driving. Make sure you thoroughly test drive them before buying. When test driving, make sure you do some city/urban driving and turn the A/C off (it doesn’t kick in when the A/C is chugging at a decent rate). Like I said, it won’t bother everyone, but will bother many. Enough so that GM put out a couple bulletins on the subject. These are for the ATS and CTS, but I would think it applies to all 2016s with Auto Stop/Start. Check out #15-NA-033 “Normal Characteristic – Slight Bump, Jerk or Rough Engine Startup [Oct 15, 2015]”. It says “Condition: some customers may comment that there is a slight bump, jerk or rough engine startup during an AutoStart event”. Then it says, “Correction: This is a normal condition”. I guess they said it was unusual, then had to correct it and say it is a normal condition!!! Directive #16-NA-071: Diagnostic Tips for Stop/Start and Auto Stop Operation [Mar 4, 2016] says, “Condition: Vehicle does not engage in Auto Stop mode and Vehicle automatically restarts during an AutoStop event”. It goes on to say, “It is imperative that the customer be well informed about the unique features and operational characteristics of their vehicle equipped with Stop/Start. For the sales team to be fully prepared, they should use the Getting to Know Your Vehicle guide as an outline when presenting the vehicle to the customer”. Cadillac knows this is a terrible and they are not notifying their customers. Other cons: the run-flats are a poor ride; they’re loud and you can feel everything. The 2016 CTS models don’t come with a spare and instead have run-flats. The tactile sliders/”buttons” are over-engineered. Just give me a knob for the radio volume; ditto for the A/C fan speed. Also, a little more difficult to get out of than previous CTS. Pros: trunk is larger than previous CTS; nice and roomy. The panel that comes up in the dash is a cool storage area (and lockable). Cool feature that lets you program the radio so you are notified when your favorite band is on XM. Bluetooth with phone is loud and clear.
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RWD CTS is fun!
KK, 08/02/2016
2016 Cadillac CTS Standard 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
23 of 28 people found this review helpful
I got the CTS as I didn't want to get an SUV. I wanted something that was fun to drive. I got one with a 2.0T engine as it is plenty powerful for my needs. Mine is a base sedan (RWD only!) with upgraded leather seats, panoramic sun roof and park white color as the options. The car has it's quirks, but nothing that you cannot live with. CUE is as good as a touch screen infotainment system gets. Don't believe the negative reviews out there. Use it and find out out yourself. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants a fun to drive family sedan that can fit 5 passengers with ease.
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2016 Cadillac CTS for sale near you
3 of 14 listings
- Standard SedanMSRP: $16,59069 mi away
- Luxury SedanMSRP: $17,599186 mi away
- Luxury SedanMSRP: $21,998In-stock online
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World Class Car
Fred, 01/07/2018
updated 01/17/2025
2016 Cadillac CTS Performance 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I have owned several Audis and BMWs. The CTS drives and rides better than any of them. The Magnetic Ride Control is amazing. I said this from the beginning and still think so 3.5 years later. It is a shame that current Cadillac cars are not more popular and I blame the press’ reflexive anti-American attitude for a lot of it.
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No regrets - the love is lasting.
AG, 10/09/2020
updated 12/19/2024
2016 Cadillac CTS Luxury 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've owned my 2016 CTS 3.6 AWD Luxury package for almost 5 years now, and I have to admit I still love driving this car. Even without MRC this car has a taut, firm ride and sharp, responsive steering. Although way down on practical power compared to the blown sixes in the competing BMW 535xi, Audi A6, and Mercedes E400, this NA V6 has more than enough power for everyday use and surprisingly has a nice growl that is unobtrusively amplified through the Bose sound system in Sport mode. Otherwise, the car is dead silent inside with little wind or road noise. The 8 speed transmission works well and shifts quickly with the paddle shifters in sport mode, but unfortunately even sport does not result in a much more aggressive shift pattern in automatic. The Bose sound system is not bad - not great, but better than most Bose systems I've experienced. I have no issue with the updated CUE interface in this car, and the touch-sensitive controls are complemented by a comprehensive set of steering wheel controls (although nothing beats knobs for volume and tuning). The Nav interface is very dated and the included maps are hopelessly old. The backup camera resolution is very poor, but by 2019 my dealer replaced the camera under warranty with an updated, upgraded part that makes it acceptable The interior is "Germanic", but with a dose of style. At least in all black, the different materials in different areas is not noticeable, and all contact surfaces are soft-touch. The genuine open-pore wood trim is surprisingly classy, especially with the discreet LED lighting at night. With the exterior design now 7 years and a generation old, this model still looks great to me and, maybe because it's not a very popular/common car in a sea of BMWs, continues to draw compliments in parking lots. I recently bought a GM extended warranty and decided to keep the car for at least 3 more years - I've rarely hung on to my DD car for more than 2-3 years. Update June 2023: Every time I get back into my CTS after driving another car for a while, I appreciate this car even more. 7.5 years later, I even more strongly feel that GM hit it out of the park with this one and am sad that more people didn't appreciate it. This almost 10 year old design still looks great, and the interior has held up very well. Two areas that have NOT done so well are the machined finish wheels (water gets in under the clearcoat, causing the machined finish to corrode and the clearcoat to peel), and the steel components in the suspension and underbody have extensive surface corrosion due to poor quality finishing. Both of these issues became evident in the first 4 years, but were not considered a "defect" by GM and not covered under the warranty. This gets back to my biggest gripe with the car - poor dealership service. There is really no differentiation on the service side between Cadillac and Chevrolet, which is unacceptable when you buy a premium luxury brand. Although I still intend to keep this car for several more years, I am certain that it will be my last Cadillac not because of the car, but rather the horrible service experience. UPDATE 12/2024 Despite my intention noted above to keep the car for several more years, I traded the car in November 2023. The car still looked and drove like new, but I had a couple of unexpected and costly repairs (transmission cooler lines, thermostat) and was anticipating replacing my AGM battery, winter tires and front and rear brakes in the next 12 months; and given the age, shocks and suspension bushings were likely to be replaced in the next 24 months. I would have considered the current CT5-V 3.0TT AWD but I no longer needed a car of that size, and with the poor dealer experience over the last few years I was looking for a change. I shopped one size down - BMW M340i xDrive, Audi S4/S5, Lexus IS350 AWD, and Mercedes C43 AMG. I ended up choosing a Genesis G70 3.3TT AWD Sport (I'm in Canada, same as Sport Prestige in US) due to a combination of exterior and interior design, excellent performance, long warranties, and bargain pricing.
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The Eye Turner
DeAnn, 04/02/2019
updated 10/12/2021
2016 Cadillac CTS Standard 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Omg! I’m the Queen of the road in my CTS 4 2.0T. In black, it’s beauty surpasses any model. The quietness provides a peace that is unknown to any ride I’ve ever driven. The infotainment lets me be anywhere I choose; at a comedy show, a music concert, or a talk show through Pandora or YouTube. Never will I have deny my luxury, my entertainment, nor my peace when behind the wheel of my CTS 4 2.0T.
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