For the first time in recent history, Cadillac buyers were willing to spend as much for their 2014 CTS luxury sedans as other buyers paid for their Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. In 2013, the average CTS sold for less than $44,000 – $16,000 less than its German rivals. This year, the average Caddy CTS went for $54,571, while BMW 5 Series sedans brought in $56,284 and E-Classes earned Mercedes an average of $55,788 per unit.

Cadillac's new-for-2014 CTS seems to have given buyers reason enough to spend German-dollar on Detroit output. In addition, the new model's larger selection of engines and improved options allowed dealers to draw a wider crowd, and to charge up to $73,000 for a fully-loaded CTS. Meanwhile, Cadillac's sales numbers are still lagging behind, with the E-Class leading the segment and BMW still 27 percent ahead of the CTS.