2008 Cadillac CTS DI AWD vs 2007 BMW 335xi

[ChevyRules]

VS



What everyone has been waiting for. The new 2008 Cadillac CTS DI AWD vs BMW's juggernaut 335xi.

2nd: 2008 Cadillac CTS DI AWD

High's: interior, styling, ride

Lows: Heavy, starting the vehicle, clearance

We ended up driving both CTS's trim. A base 3.6 V6 RWD model putting out 258 HP and the Direct Injected 3.6 V6 putting out 304 HP AWD model. The only comment I will make on the low end trim in this comparison is that acceleration is adequate. Though the difference between the two engines is dramatic. The acceleration difference is quite noticeable.



The interior outclasses the 335xi's interior easily. It doesn't break a sweat. It uses soft touch materials practically everywhere. Fit and finish was top notch. The center console design is elegant and very pleasing to the eye. Though with all those buttons, it has a nice clean look which the BMW lacks. The seats are definitely better comfort wise on the CTS and has more legroom then the BMW. The only complaint about the interior is the hideous steering wheel and the "pretend key" ignition. I would rather have a push button. What was Cadillac thinking?



The 304 HP Direct Injected 3.6 V6 delivers its power through the new Hydra-Matic 6L50 6 speed automatic transmission. Power delivery is nice and smooth and moves the CTS really nicely. The ride is typical Cadillac, yet it isn't. The CTS is very comfortable. It absorbs the bumps like a typical Cadillac would. But, it is firm not bouncy like a typical Cadillac. It is the best of both worlds. Though I bet it wouldn't be able to handle like the 3 series due to the compromises Cadillac had to do to give the suspension the ride it does. This is speculation though since I couldn't exactly put this theory to the test as I wasn't on a track. Motortrend's issue with the noise issue with the engine is blown out of the water. While it does give the engine more noise then a non-DI engine, it gives the CTS a distinctive growl. It doesn't give the engine a unrefined feel.

1st Place: 2007 BMW 335xi

High's: Acceleration, low end grunt, handling

Low's: small, interior, D Mode

The 335i is the standard of the industry. The interior is decent and the drive is amazing. It's powerplant is top notch and nothing in the class can match it.



The interior is not as fancy as the CTS's. Doesn't use as good materials as the CTS. But, everything is driver oriented. Every control is angled towards the driver in some way. The iDrive screen is a bit angled toward the driver, etc. The seats are supportive when going around curves. Though the leg room is more restrictive then the CTS due to the 3 series being smaller.



The N54 3.0 Twin Turbo Direct Injected Inline 6 engine puts out 300 HP and 300 lb of torque. The astonishing fact about this engine is that it makes the 300 lb of torque at just 1400 RPM. That's diesel like low end torque. This gives the 335xi a huge step up above the CTS. It pulls wonderfully at just 1700 RPM. And comes to life at 2500 RPM. The steering gives wonderful feedback at speed though a bit numb at slow speeds. My only complaint about the drive is that in D mode it is VERY tame. The car is unresponsive and there is a little bit lag when accelerating from a stop while in D. I will always recommend driving in DS and M mode because the car is far more responsive and gets rid of the lag that is in D mode. The engine has a wonderful note when pushed above 3K RPM.

Conclusion: The 335xi is still the standard of the industry. Though the CTS has been greatly improved and can be taken seriously in the industry. Though it is confused in which class it is in and which car it competes against the 3 series or the 5 series. The weight of the CTS is what really holds the vehicle back. The CTS( and most of GM's vehicles while I am at it) needs to be put on a diet. As some of you can tell, my value in the test was the drive and handling which the 335xi excels at and that is why it won this comparison.

[mgescuro]

The 2 are not comparable in anything other than price.
CTS is 5-series in size; therefore it competes with the 5-series.

Cool review tho.
Still no CTS in my area. I swear... they're either in hiding... or they're sold out.

[JBsZ06]

I dig the little 335 AWD Coupe but the sedan is not quite attractive in this most recent iteration. I couldn't look at the 3 sedan and actually admire its styling. Of course its a personal opinion.

I believe the 304 hp AWD CTS has more in common with the E350 AWD and the 528 ix.

compare those two and let us know what you think..

The next all new vehicle from cadillac is supposed to be 3 series sized and should allow for a 3 series competition as its much smaller.

I'd like to see the M5 vs the upcoming CTS V comparo.

My moneys on the new CTS V. I'll enjoy watching the American machine kick some serious M series @SS. (joking because they are all great cars)


Like I said..>I'm a big fan of the 335 ix coupe thats releasing for 2008. Its not a CTS Competitor either but a hell of a nice car all the same.

[MrJamesMc]

>.< Why won't anyone get the point it's a 5 SERIES COMPETITOR! or E CLASS!!


sheesh, why does everyone judge JUST by price....?

[Slack]

This is a decent review. As long as GM compares the CTS to the 3 series we can expect everyone else to follow suit. Though I would still rather have a CTS. Though the author doesn't understand complete sentences.

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by Slack

This is a decent review. As long as GM compares the CTS to the 3 series we can expect everyone else to follow suit. Though I would still rather have a CTS. Though the author doesn't understand complete sentences.

Like you're perfect on the grammar front? How about you go through every thread and pick apart every post on every grammar error the posters make. I am sure everyone will appreciate the service you're providing to the world.

Anyway, for as long as GM and others classify the CTS as the 3 series competition, it will always be compared with the 3. For now it is our opinion that it is a 5 series competitor. Even I said in the comparison that the CTS is confused on which vehicles it competes against. Size wise, it's 5 series. Feature wise, it is 3 series.

[JBsZ06]

Help me understand..

How is the CTS not competitive with the 5 series feature wise?

Thanks

JB

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by JBsZ06

Help me understand..

How is the CTS not competitive with the 5 series feature wise?

Thanks

JB

Lacks the upscale features the 5'er has. Hell, it is missing features the 3'er has. BT, night vision, V8 without going into V series, HUD, active cruise control, active steering, 3 stage rear heated seats, lane departure warning, active head restraints, suspension calibration, heated steering wheel, etc.

[JBsZ06]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

Lacks the upscale features the 5'er has. Hell, it is missing features the 3'er has. BT, night vision, V8 without going into V series, HUD, active cruise control, active steering, 3 stage rear heated seats, lane departure warning, active head restraints, suspension calibration, heated steering wheel, etc.

Night vision? LOL didn't cadillac pioneer that worthless technology? HUD? I have it in my Z06 and its a gimic at best. Active cruise control? LOL again I don't often use any cruise control much less an active one..

3 stage heated rear seats? WTF? Lane departure warning ? Your kidding.. People actually want that? Active head restraints? YAWN! Suspension calibration? Don't they all have suspension calibrations? Heated steering wheel? WTF?

Thats the difference? Thanks..

Now I know what the guys in the 5ers are enjoying and just wave......

[F14CRAZY]

Deleted post

-grumbles-

[BigAls87Z28]

I thought that the CTS, STS, and DTS were all getting lane depature as well as blind spot sensing? I know that the Lucerne and LaX were getting it as well on the Super trims.

[Slack]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

Like you're perfect on the grammar front? How about you go through every thread and pick apart every post on every grammar error the posters make. I am sure everyone will appreciate the service you're providing to the world.

Days are simply too short.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

The 2 are not comparable in anything other than price.
CTS is 5-series in size; therefore it competes with the 5-series.

Cool review tho.
Still no CTS in my area. I swear... they're either in hiding... or they're sold out.

Saw one yesterday. Right on Market. People were, how do I say, paying attention.

The more I think about it, competitng with the 5 series at a 10K discount isn't a very smart move, it takes the brand downmarket.

BTW - I wasn't waiting for this comparison at all - I'm waiting for a 5 series comparison. I want to know how this thing handles against a BMW of its size.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by goblue

Saw one yesterday. Right on Market. People were, how do I say, paying attention.

The more I think about it, competitng with the 5 series at a 10K discount isn't a very smart move, it takes the brand downmarket.

BTW - I wasn't waiting for this comparison at all - I'm waiting for a 5 series comparison. I want to know how this thing handles against a BMW of its size.

Well, I finally saw a silver one. it was in the back corner of the Cadillac dealership in Colma. It looks much beter in person. The rear doesn't look as fat. But I despise the car in silver. THe color makes it look like a piece of tin. No Cadillac (and about 95% of other cars) looks good in that silver. But they had no other CTS's on the lot.

On a sidenote, I was thoroughly disgusted by this Cadillac dealership. Not only did they have some fat, poorly dressed salesman smoking in front -- he wasn't on break -- he started a conversation with me that went like this.

Salesman: Are you interested in the CTS?
Me: I am considering the CTS as one of my next purchases.
Salesman: Do you currently drive a Cadillac?
Me: No. I currently drive a Saab and Jaguar.
Salesman: That's too bad.

And he left.... never to be seen again.... not for the 10 minutes I stood around checking out the Cadillacs.
Poor service.

After Cadillac, I walked to the next door Infiniti dealership. And I had a nice conversation with a saleman about the M45. It was a better experience than Cadillac. And the dealership itself looked much more put together.

Right now, if I was a Cadillac executive, I'd be embarrased by the Cadillac dealerships in the Bay Area. It's quite pathetic. In fact, Cadillac management needs to do something about it ASAP. How the **** does Cadillac get high customer service scores?? I'm completely baffled.
In short, I believe Cadillac's numbers are skewed!!!! This is now the 2nd Cadillac dealership in the area I have had negative dealer experiences with. Cadillac won't get the CA market with this type of service, assuming it's prevalent.

And by the way, the CTS that was sitting on the lot... priced $50,045.... with a $4,000 dealer markup. I took a pic.

Anyways.... yes, competing with a 5-series with a $10,000 discount is a very smart move.

[FStephenMasek]

Valid comparisons between cars must be based on vehicles of the similar size and utility, NOT similar price. The CTS is significantly larger than the 3-Series, so the utility is not the same, unless both the people and their cargo are small. Even if a person is single, they may reasonably anticipate having passengers and cargo to carry, so the size of the car is still a significant factor. If not, lets compare the DTS to the Aveo.

The CTS should be compared with the 5-Series, and is a radically better value than the 5-Series.