WASHINGTON — For 2016, the Cadillac ATS gets an upgraded V6 — adding a touch of sport to this small luxury sedan
When I drove the 2015 ATS coupe I liked it a lot, but the V6 was noisy and didn’t feel quite right in a luxury car. For 2016, Cadillac addresses that with a rework of the 3.6 liter V6, making it smoother and giving it more power.
This time around, I spent time with the ATS sedan Premium — a loaded small luxury sedan with a price of nearly $55,000. It seems steep until you look at the prices of some the competition.
The new V6 really helps this 2016 version. The extra 30hp motivates this sporty sedan more than before. This is still one of the best handling small sedans on the market and a hoot to drive. And, it doesn’t beat you up on the daily commute thanks to the adjustable magnetic ride suspension that goes from normal to track setting, which makes it a tight handler, ready to tackle the track or back roads with confidence.
I also really like the 8-speed automatic. It’s velvety smooth or super quick when pushed, and the paddle shifters work well in manual mode and respond quickly. The Brembo brakes brought me to a stop quickly and worked well. I’m not sure why we don’t see more of these on the road. It’s a good driving car.
The interior with the Premium-level ATS has a nice high quality cut/sewn interior with a dash with contest stitching. It feels higher quality than GM interiors in the past. The Kona brown semi-aniline leather seats where a good quality and the 12-way power driver’s seat helps get the best, most comfortable driving position. The passenger seat has 10-way power settings. The rear seats don’t have the most leg room in its class so taller riders might not find this a great place to spend an extended drive. The trunk is also pretty small — about 10 cubic feet — so it doesn’t excel at hauling too much cargo.
For 2016, there is now Apple CarPlay which puts your phone right in the screen of the car so a text can be read to you and you can reply without lifting a finger or taking your eyes off the road. The Cue system seems a bit better behaved, but I do miss a regular volume knob.
The Cadillac ATS still has modern standout looks with sharp angles and cool looking headlights that stretch from the bumper up to the hood. I never liked the look of past small Cadillacs, but this looks like a proper Cadillac with no wasted space and a good sporty look. The side styling adds a little flair with some chrome trim and the rear end has some slender tall brake lights. The dual exhaust adds a bit more to the sporty sedan nature.
The 2016 ATS sedan finally has the engine it should have to make this a real competitor in the small luxury sedan market. With its light weight, this is a good handling sedan that has the luxury buyers are looking for. Cadillac is making a very good small luxury sedan and is now looking for drivers to discover this hidden gem.
