Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe V6 AWD

[Autos_Editor]

Shaking up the luxury coupe segment.
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[JohnnyMac]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

[redman]

Interesting read. My 14 year old boy and his friends seem to like the new Cadillac styling, me not so much. Guess still warming up to it.

"but around town the big V6 has an enthusiastic appetite for fossil fuel, and I saw numbers as high as 18 L/100 km. The V6 does have the advantage that it runs on regular fuel."

That seems high. There are pickups today that do better around town.

[OliverD]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

Did Clark actually have a manual ATS in stock? I know a guy who has a black one (seems base, no sunroof) and figured he special ordered it.

[JohnnyMac]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

Did Clark actually have a manual ATS in stock? I know a guy who has a black one (seems base, no sunroof) and figured he special ordered it.

May have been the one I test drove with the wife this past summer.  It was basically a base, no sun roof, 2.0T manual RWD.  I hate the interior and the back seat was a joke.  The build quality still isn't there, and the BMW 228i we drove the week before was a much better vehicle.  I was surprised when the sales person here in Fredericton told me that they had a manual 2.0T model in.

[Noto]

Ignoring the somewhat old-school foot-actuated park brake,

I actually have a massive issue with these.

See, every client whose vehicle is so-equipped and is in any sort of head-on collision tends to have that pedal firmly implanted into their tibia/fibula.  We've had one client already have his leg amputated because of it.

...now every time I get into the RX400h, I cringe and keep my foot firmly away from the dead-pedal.  If I can't have my wicked-awesome-fun parking brake handle, I would prefer a button (*gasp*) - but 100% preference is still for the actual handle.

JY, what about a product liability (from a vehicle stand-point) article?  (i.e. which designs are flaws that will, if they haven't already, be cause for concern/recall?)

Anyhoo,

The outward visibility is also rather restricted,
...
I was surprised by just how boxy and restrictive the A-pillars were when looking forward. I was also surprised by just how small the exterior mirrors were.

Still a sore spot for me.  My car needs to be easy to drive (my personal preference)

The touch sensitive controls suffer from speed and repeatability issues: touch the volume control button and some fraction of a second later the control will gently vibrate and the volume will change, but whether it’s by a little or a lot depends on whether the system thinks you tapped or swiped the controller.

I noticed this as well...it was a fairly big issue since the music was either BLARING, or didn't change volume.

The V6 has a lusty snarl under acceleration and will haul the reasonably light ATS Coupe from standstill to 100 km/h in about 5.7 seconds (the V6 AWD weighs 1,675 kg).

Those figures really aren't so great given the power and AWD advantage...
Take the Q50 for example:
3.7L V6; 328hp, 269lb-ft, 1,703kg (heavier, similar power) and takes 5.3s 0-60.  It's also more fuel efficient.

My conclusion is that the ATS Coupe simply doesn't 'match' its competition, except perhaps in some aspects of performance.  Without the badge appeal and concomitant retained resale value, I don't see the ATS as a good buy (from a purely economical perspective).

...and then there's CUE.

[JRM]

Wow, a coupe that really is a coupe!   It looks good, but I lean more to function over form, which I know, is obvious given the vehicle I drive.  I had a '91 Mazda MX6, also a real coupe, that looked better, I thought, than the 626 sedan.  Got rid of it after falling in onto the back seat floor getting my infant into his car seat and having difficulty getting myself back out.   No more coupes for me after that!

[Northernridge]

Looks better as a sedan, especially in profile. The roof behind the B pillar and the rear deck still stink of the last gen Cadillac misdirection. The car looks too fat, shoulda compromised rear head/leg room and pulled the back window forward and reduced its rake.

[Benhaze]

I like the sedan better as well but there is something off with the ATS design I can't warm up to. I much much prefer my CTS (previous generation) and perhaps Cadillac will bring the ATS design closer to the current CTS design when they refresh it.

I used a good deal more fuel than the rating might suggest, averaging 14.8 L/100 km over the course of a week of mostly city driving

That is a spot-on description of my experience with the V6 AWD powertrain (granted my car is a little heavier). At highway speed you can achieve and even beat the official rating but in the city... will not dip lower than in the 15 L/100 km in city driving. This winter my commute was the worse that can be: short city distances during the week (11 km one way) of 100 % city driving with some idle time on morning cold starts. Avg fuel economy... between 20 and 21 L/100 Km. But I do drive the car like it was intended to be driven . 
I can't imagine how bad the Colorado/Canyon can be with that same engine in cold weather...

I’m not keen on all the piano black centre stack surfacing, as it’s a nightmare to keep clean,

Caddy has to offer other trims like BMW and M.-B. do. By the way the piano black in the C300 is horrendous, even more so than in the ATS/CTS so it is not unique to Cadillac.

...If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

There might be one good outcome of my poor economy experience. It is helping me considering a SRT if I can make the leap of going without an AWD car...

The V6 has a lusty snarl under acceleration and will haul the reasonably light ATS Coupe from standstill to 100 km/h in about 5.7 seconds (the V6 AWD weighs 1,675 kg).

Those figures really aren't so great given the power and AWD advantage...
Take the Q50 for example:
3.7L V6; 328hp, 269lb-ft, 1,703kg (heavier, similar power) and takes 5.3s 0-60.  It's also more fuel efficient

You need to feed premium to the Q50 my friend so it is not better overall. I will also take the considerably more advanced AWD system of Cadillac over the Attesa system on the Q50.

[agroal]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

     Johnny: There ARE Challengers with an AWD Hemi. My 2008 300C AWD is one. Don't let the two rear doors scare you! Garage kept since new with less than 70K miles, I still scare the out of unsuspecting passengers! 

[Car Guy]

I wish that manufacturers would stop the trend of omitting spare tires for some lame tire inflator goo kit!  I want a spare tire please!!  I am willing to put up with the extra weight becuase of the trade off in safety.  Cadillac is by no means alone in this silly trend.  Almost every single luxury (and some non luxury) brands are removing spare tires from their vehicles.  Tire technology is better than it was, but even run flats have limits.  I prefer to have the safety factor that a spare tire offers.  I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin..........

It is a factor when I go to buy a car.  I am sure that I am not alone in this.

[Benhaze]

No you are not alone. Sadly you may have to pay for it as an option but I will if it is available. And it in not only on luxury cars: it is a $200 option on the new Mustang as long as the track package is not selected.

[mixmanmash]

Funny thing is those heavier run flats are a detriment to fuel economy, not to mention ride quality and handling because of the added unsprung weight.

[JohnnyMac]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

     Johnny: There ARE Challengers with an AWD Hemi. My 2008 300C AWD is one. Don't let the two rear doors scare you! Garage kept since new with less than 70K miles, I still scare the out of unsuspecting passengers!

I'm pretty sure you can't buy a new AWD Hemi car.  The 300C AWD was one of the better full size cars out there, but the Hemi V8 and AWD trim was axed because of the popularity of the V6 (and fuel economy I'm sure).  I'm trying to think of a V8 powered AWD vehicle, and can only think of Audi RS5 and upcoming Jag F-Type R.  Maybe Benz E class might have it, I'm not 100% sure.

[OliverD]

I'm pretty sure you can't buy a new AWD Hemi car.  The 300C AWD was one of the better full size cars out there, but the Hemi V8 and AWD trim was axed because of the popularity of the V6 (and fuel economy I'm sure).  I'm trying to think of a V8 powered AWD vehicle, and can only think of Audi RS5 and upcoming Jag F-Type R.  Maybe Benz E class might have it, I'm not 100% sure.

Mercedes E550 and E63
Mercedes S550 and S63 (sedan and coupe)
BMW 550i
BMW 750i
Audi A8/S8
Lexus LS
Mercedes CLS
Bentley Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur

I could be missing some.

[dirtyjeffer]

I'm trying to think of a V8 powered AWD vehicle, and can only think of Audi RS5 and upcoming Jag F-Type R.  Maybe Benz E class might have it, I'm not 100% sure.

Hyundai Genesis in top trim.

[mixmanmash]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

     Johnny: There ARE Challengers with an AWD Hemi. My 2008 300C AWD is one. Don't let the two rear doors scare you! Garage kept since new with less than 70K miles, I still scare the out of unsuspecting passengers!

I'm pretty sure you can't buy a new AWD Hemi car.  The 300C AWD was one of the better full size cars out there, but the Hemi V8 and AWD trim was axed because of the popularity of the V6 (and fuel economy I'm sure).  I'm trying to think of a V8 powered AWD vehicle, and can only think of Audi RS5 and upcoming Jag F-Type R.  Maybe Benz E class might have it, I'm not 100% sure.

Lexus GS.

[OliverD]

I tried a 2.0T manual sedan (RWD) last summer and was not overly impressed.  If I was looking for a coupe luxury sedan I would probably go with BMW 2 series.  Sure it might be marginally less space in back seat compared to this ATS, but the pay off is a much better car in every other area.  If I cared about rear seat space I'd just get a Challenger with a hemi (mind you there aren't any AWD options).

     Johnny: There ARE Challengers with an AWD Hemi. My 2008 300C AWD is one. Don't let the two rear doors scare you! Garage kept since new with less than 70K miles, I still scare the out of unsuspecting passengers!

I'm pretty sure you can't buy a new AWD Hemi car.  The 300C AWD was one of the better full size cars out there, but the Hemi V8 and AWD trim was axed because of the popularity of the V6 (and fuel economy I'm sure).  I'm trying to think of a V8 powered AWD vehicle, and can only think of Audi RS5 and upcoming Jag F-Type R.  Maybe Benz E class might have it, I'm not 100% sure.

Lexus GS.

There's no V8 Lexus GS aside from the GS F which is RWD.