DecodedCarsCadillac CTS
15 model years from 2005 to 2019, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2005–2019
- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Latest engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo, 6.2L 8-cyl
- Best MPG
- 19–25 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2019)
- Recalls
- 18 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2014 (138)
- Fewest problems
- 2019
- Interest
- 13,295 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2019 CTS in brief
The 2019 Cadillac CTS is a midsize car offered with 4 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo and 6.2L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 196 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 115-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,777 lb (4dr Sedan 2.0l AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 30 highway), 11% worse than the 2019 midsize car average of 28.1 MPG, for an estimated $2,900 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 0 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
The Cadillac CTS has 15 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2019.
Its most efficient year was 2019 at 25 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 19 to 25 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the power train (203), air bags (159), engine (152).
Buying used? 2019 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2015 is the year to avoid.
2014 has the most recalls (6); all years together count 18 campaigns and 925 owner complaints.
How the 2005 CTS compares
The 2005 Cadillac CTS is a midsize car offered with 3 engines (2.8L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl and 5.7L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive.
It measures about 190 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,572 lb.
About the Cadillac CTS
The Cadillac CTS is a luxury car manufactured and marketed by General Motors under the Cadillac brand from 2002 until 2019 across three generations. Initially available as a 4-door sedan using the GM Sigma platform, GM offered the second-generation CTS as a 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, and 5-door sport wagon, and the third generation as a sedan, using a stretched version of the GM Alpha platform. High performance sedan variants were offered for each generation as the CTS-V, with wagon and coupe variants offered for the second generation.
From the Wikipedia article "Cadillac CTS", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2019 CTS pros & cons
Full 2019 details →What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
- No recalls so far
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2019 CTS
10 owner complaints · 0 recalls
NHTSA overall: ★★★★★
Year to avoid2015 CTS
49 owner complaints · 3 recalls · 2 fire reports · 2 crash reports
Most reported: Power Train
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 5 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
CTS changes by model year
- 2019
- Engine added: 6.2L 8-cyl
- 2018
- Engine dropped: 6.2L 8-cyl
- 2017
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
- 2015
- New body dimensions: 7.1 in longer, wheelbase +1.2 in — most likely a redesign or new generation
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl
- 2014
- Engines added: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.6L 6-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG up from 21 to 23
- Lightest version 212 lb lighter
- 2011
- New body dimensions: 3.1 in shorter — most likely a redesign or new generation
- 2010
- Engines added: 3.0L 6-cyl and 6.2L 8-cyl
- 2008
- Engines dropped: 2.8L 6-cyl and 6.0L 8-cyl
- All-wheel or four-wheel drive now available
- Best combined MPG up from 19 to 21
- 2006
- Engine added: 6.0L 8-cyl
- Engine dropped: 5.7L 8-cyl
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 15 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 25 MPG | 195.7 in | 3,777 lb | ★★★★★ | 0 | 10 |
| 2018 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 25 MPG | 195.7 in | 3,777 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 8 |
| 2017 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 25 MPG | 195.7 in | 3,777 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 27 |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 25 MPG | 195.7 in | 3,777 lb | Not rated | 4 | 31 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | 24 MPG | 195.7 in | 3,777 lb | Not rated | 3 | 49 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl | 23 MPG | 188.6 in | 4,096 lb | Not rated | 6 | 138 |
| 2013 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl | 21 MPG | 188.6 in | 4,132 lb | Not rated | 2 | 48 |
| 2012 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl | 21 MPG | 188.6 in | 4,132 lb | Not rated | 2 | 47 |
| 2011 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl | 21 MPG | 188.6 in | 4,132 lb | Not rated | 2 | 60 |
| 2010 | 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl | 22 MPG | 191.7 in | 4,118 lb | Not rated | 3 | 38 |
| 2009 | 3.6L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 4 | 104 |
| 2008 | 3.6L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 2 | 87 |
| 2007 | 2.8L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl | 19 MPG | 190.2 in | 3,572 lb | Not rated | 4 | 96 |
| 2006 | 2.8L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.0L 8-cyl | 19 MPG | 190.2 in | 3,572 lb | Not rated | 4 | 92 |
| 2005 | 2.8L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 19 MPG | 190.2 in | 3,572 lb | Not rated | 4 | 90 |
Alternatives to the 2019 CTS
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 BMW 3 Series | 30 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2019 BMW 5 Series | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 27 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2019 Audi A6 | 27 MPG | ★★★★★ | 7 |
| 2019 Lincoln Continental | 21 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Cadillac. How we calculate this →