2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan Review

The soon-to-be-discontinued Cadillac ATS is an impressive compact luxury sedan, with the Alpha platform serving as the foundation for other award-winning GM models such as the CTS-V and even the Camaro. Now at the end of its run, the ATS might not be winning any awards, but its potential hasn't gone to waste. Rivaling the likes of the BMW 3 Series is no easy task, and the ATS does so with a range of engines in its corner, ranging from a base four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower 295 lb-ft of torque to a more potent 335 hp V6, with either rear- or all-wheel-drive doing duty in putting power to the ground. Packed with features, even if they are at times a little hard to access, the ATS tries its best, but while it may have an endearing chassis, it simply doesn't seem up to the task of being a complete all-rounder. Can the final year of the sedan be the last hurrah Caddy supporters have been yearning for?

What's the Price of the 2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan?

The base model ATS has a competitive price tag of $35,495, impressive given the sheer number of features that come inclusive with this. The slightly enhanced Luxury trim starts at $39,295 while the Premium Luxury trim costs $44,895. The top-tier Premium performance is still a relatively good buy, considering all the extra performance add-ons it offers, coming in at $47,895. These prices do not include tax, licensing and registration, nor the $995 destination that Cadillac charges for delivery.

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Cadillac ATS offers an enjoyable ride that complements its impressive performance. The optional V6 engine provides the kind of power you would expect from a sports sedan while the steering is responsive and accurate, ensuring that you are engaged in the driving experience.

Similarly, the brakes are talkative and responsive on the base model, but they do not give the feeling of a true sports car without the upgrades they receive from the upper-most trim level. The steering and brakes combine with the lightweight chassis to create an extremely balanced drive, focusing on nimbleness and wieldability - traits inherited by benchmarking the ATS against the E46 3 Series in development. The ATS's agility makes handling predictable, meaning you will never feel like the vehicle is too heavy or light when taking turns or maneuvering on the highway.

However, this impressive handling comes at the expense of comfort. The suspension is stiff, and road abrasions are felt all too easily in the cabin, with larger bumps completely dislodging passengers from their seats. Luckily, the seats themselves are quite comfortable, even over longer rides. On the downside, the cabin doesn't handle noise well, with road noise being the biggest nuisance and the noisy four-cylinder engine not far behind.

Verdict: Is the 2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan A Good car?

The Cadillac ATS performs well for its segment, however, it is no more impressive than any of its competitors, such as the BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. Aside from an endearing chassis, it's fairly obscure, with an average build, unrefined engines, and middling performance. Still, the fact that it is competitive in such a saturated market is impressive. It is equipped with plenty of features as standard, with a reasonable $35,495 price tag. While the ATS offers excellent performance, it does so at the cost of ride quality, with cramped rear seats and inferior sound-dampening. The tiny trunk and poorly optimized interior controls also count against the ATS. Overall, it's not a bad buy if you're looking for a well-priced luxury sedan, but it's not the best buy out there. However, at the end of its life, you may find a sweet deal if you're willing to shop around.

What Cadillac ATS Sedan Model Should I Buy?

While the base ATS sedan is not lacking in features, the additional driver assistance and comfort options that come with higher trim levels are hard to pass up. In terms of value for money, the Premium Luxury trim is the best choice as it comes with the more powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine as well as the Driver Awareness Package and HID headlamps. The $44,895 MSRP price tag, a $5,000 step up in cost from the Luxury trim, is quite reasonable considering the performance and abundance of features offered in return.

2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan Comparisons

2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan vs Cadillac CTS Sedan

The Cadillac CTS is the ATS's bigger brother, featuring a larger chassis and everything that goes with that, such as a much larger 13.7 cubic foot trunk. However, the rear seats still manage to feel cramped. While you might expect the larger car to have a stronger engine, the CTS's base 2.0-liter four-cylinder puts out a disappointing 268 hp, with the same 295 lb-ft. The optional 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6, however, produces a much more impressive 420 hp. The CTS also offers more features as standard, such as leather-appointed seats, an 11-speaker sound system, and voice-activated navigation. But is all this really worth the $10,000 price hike? If value-for-money is important to you, the ATS still looks like the better buy., while the CTS caters more towards luxury.

2018 Cadillac ATS Sedan vs Cadillac XTS

Like the CTS, the Cadillac XTS is a big brother to the ATS, only it's the much bigger brother. This results in a much more spacious interior and decent 18 cubic foot trunk. With its larger size, the XTS comes standard with an engine capable of moving such a luxury liner, in the form of a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 304 hp and 264 lb-ft. However, moving a car of this size comes at a price, with the XTS getting pretty poor fuel efficiency, just 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Naturally, the XTS comes with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a full-size luxury sedan, including heated leather seats and steering wheel, a premium sound system and infotainment system, and a plethora of driver assistance features. If luxury is your primary concern, and you can afford the extra $10,000 over the ATS, then skipping past the CTS and going straight for the XTS might be the better investment.