2018 Cadillac CT6 Road Test and Review

My 12-year-old daughter is sold on the 2018 Cadillac CT6 as soon as she finds the button to activate her seat massager. “Oh,” she giggles as the seat’s fingers go into action on her lower back. “This is my new favorite car, Daddy.”

The CT6 is the ultimate Cadillac. It’s the luxury brand’s largest and most expensive sedan. Don’t confuse it with the smaller and similarly named mid-size Cadillac CTS.  The new CT6 is a full-size flagship. And it’s exceptional, with powerful engines, optional all-wheel drive and advanced safety technology. Unfortunately, much like the CTS, the CT6 tends to fly under the radar, overlooked by most luxury car shoppers.

Built in Detroit, the Cadillac CT6 competes in the full-size luxury sedan segment against such prestigious machines as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Lexus LS and the Tesla Model S.

Four trim levels are available on the 2018 Cadillac CT6: base, Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. Prices start at $55,090, including $995 for destination and handling, for a base sedan with rear-wheel drive and a strong 268-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. This is the only four-cylinder engine in the full-size luxury sedan segment, and it helps Cadillac offer the CT6 with such a low starting price compared its German competition. Prices for the BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 start around $83,000, while the Mercedes S-Class costs around $90,000.

For buyers who want more power, or are merely looking to fend off the indignity of having just four cylinders in their full-size Caddy, a 3.6-liter V6 is available with all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000. That’s a strong value. The V6, which is standard on the Premium Luxury and Platinum models, makes 335 hp. Although that’s still less power than you’ll find in the Mercedes S450, it matches the Audi A8 L and it's more than you get in a BMW 740i. A smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters is standard on all models.

If you’re looking for big power, the CT6 also offers a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. It’s the same engine Cadillac uses in the high-performance ATS-V and the CTS V-Sport. In the CT6, it’s available on the Premium Luxury and Platinum trim levels, but only with all-wheel drive. While its 404 horsepower is ample, the 3.0-liter CT6 still lags behind the Mercedes S560, Audi A8 L Trimline Sport and BMW 750i, all of which have larger twin-turbo V8 engines.

With its turbocharged V6, the Cadillac is properly quick. Although Cadillac doesn’t quote a 0-60 mph time, independent testers have published performances of 4.7 seconds. But that additional speed comes with a significant cost increase. The base price of our 2018 CT6 Platinum test vehicle with the 3.0-liter twin-turbo was $88,295. With optional dark finish wheels and a rear spoiler, the final price was $91,685.

Cadillac also offers the 2018 CT6 as a plug-in hybrid, and in many ways it’s the most intriguing version of the sedan. It’s a true eco-friendly full-size luxury sedan with exceptional road manners and strong performance. Prices start around $75,000. This rear-wheel drive sedan is powered by a 265-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; two electric motors, which are part of the continuously variable transmission; and an 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The combination puts out a total of 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac says 0-60 mph takes just 5.2 seconds.

With a full tank of gasoline and a full battery charge, the CT6 plug-in has a total range of 440 miles, including 31 miles on its batteries alone. For comparison, the EV range of the BMW 740e iPerformance is 14 miles. The Cadillac’s battery system accepts a 120V or 240V charger, and will charge in approximately 4.5 hours on the higher voltage. Unlike other CT6 models, the hybrid is built in China, where it's also sold.

Within the first mile of driving the CT6, you’ll realize how pleasingly quiet the interior is, and how the sedan’s A-pillars have been carefully carved to better your forward visibility. Then you’ll notice the punch of the 404-hp turbocharged V6 and the smooth gear changes of the eight-speed automatic transmission. The steering is precise and you can feel the road’s surface through the Caddy’s four-spoke steering wheel. The all-wheel drive system and 20-inch wheels and tires give the CT6 a locked-in feeling, and balance is superb. Drive it hard and the big sedan seems to shrink around you, feeling smaller than it is.

Cadillac’s selectable driver mode is standard. There are three settings: Touring, Sport and Snow/Ice. Each modifies the throttle’s sensitivity, the transmission’s response, the steering and the suspension tuning. Around town, the Touring mode is perfectly calibrated to keep things comfortable, while the Sport mode dials up the sedan’s hidden hot rod. Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control lives up to the hype, delivering impressive handling, incredible body control, and a compliant and comfortable ride.

Overall, the Cadillac’s fuel economy is good for this class. All three engines utilize start/stop technology, which shuts off the engine at redlights to save fuel.

With rear-wheel drive, the turbo engine is rated 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, while the all-wheel drive model with the 3.6-liter V6 is rated 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The good news is that the more powerful V6 runs on regular-grade gasoline, though the turbocharged four-cylinder requires more expensive premium. With all-wheel drive and the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, the CT6 is rated 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, which is impressive considering it’s making over 400 hp. I averaged 22 during a week of mixed driving.

The 2018 Cadillac CT6 is the brand’s best-looking sedan. It’s understated, attractive and modern with athletic proportions and a strong presence. There’s a resemblance to its smaller brothers the ATS and the CTS, but the larger CT6 looks lower, wider and more imposing.

Some modern Cadillacs seem tall and narrow — like they’re designed vertically, with visual features stacked atop one another. This isn’t the case with the CT6. Its grille is large, but it isn’t overly tall and it visually draws the sedan’s hoodline down. The surfacing on the Caddy’s hood and the artistic sculpting of its flanks are also very well done, but may be a bit too subtle. From the rear, the vertical taillights aren’t thrilling, but the four-oversized exhaust pipes are cool. The slim outside mirrors are on the small side from a functional standpoint, but they look great.

Exceedingly luxurious and comfortable, the interior of the 2018 Cadillac CT6 is exceptional. Build quality is high, the materials are rich and control placement is excellent. The impeccably shaped front seats in our test vehicle were not only heated and cooled but also offered massage, with many settings and levels of intensity.

The CT6 seats five comfortably, and there’s enough rear legroom for the Lakers. Onboard Wi-Fi is standard, along with Cadillac’s excellent CUE infotainment system and its large 10.2-inch touchscreen. Unfortunately, though it's great by most standards, the overall decor and execution of the Cadillac's interior lags behind the competition from Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Lexus.

Cadillac is piling on the tech-based safety systems. Our CT6 Platinum test vehicle was equipped with a forward collision alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. It also had Surround Vision, which gives you a bird’s-eye 360-degree view of the sedan, and Teen Driver, which monitors your child’s driving habits. GM's exclusive Safety Seat Alert is also included. This system vibrates sections of the driver’s seat to warn of potential hazards and the direction from which they’re coming. It feels weird at first, but it really works.

For 2018 Cadillac has improved its Automatic Parking Assist system, which will practically park the CT6 for you. Now it works the pedals as well as the steering. And now standard on the CT6 Platinum model is Cadillac’s new autonomous Super Cruise system, which Cadillac calls the world’s first true hands-free driving system for the freeway. Yes, a CT6 with Super Cruise can drive itself.

Unfortunately, other sedans in this competitive segment continue to offer more finely finished interiors than the Cadillac, but the CT6 is still a very desirable sedan. It's attractive, well-appointed and very comfortable, and it packs impressive performance.

Although the 2.0-liter turbo engine is powerful enough for most buyers, and it’s certainly the most affordable, step up to the V6 and all-wheel drive if you can. The fuel mileage penalty is minimal but the gain in horsepower is measurable. And car enthusiasts should go straight for the twin-turbo 3.0-liter. However, the best deal may be the CT6 plug-in hybrid, which offers exceptional efficiency and strong performance at a price that makes it an impressive value.