2009 Cadillac CTS-V
We spent almost 470 miles behind the wheel of Cadillac's refined rocket ship, the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V.

Model: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V; supercharged 6.2-liter 556-horsepower V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission

Base Price: $57,920

Options: Recaro high performance seats and metal pedals, Gas Guzzler Tax, Navigation system with XM Nav Traffic, Crystal red premium paint, V Spec suede steering wheel and shift knob

Price as Tested: $68,135

Total Miles Tested: 469 miles

Fuel Economy: 16.7 mpg

Editors’ Comments
Tom Appel: I'm most impressed by how nicely everything here works. This is no brazen muscle car, but a seriously sophisticated weapon of speed. The drivetrain is top-notch smooth, the power profound, the handling sharp, and the cabin classy. And all this bad-assness comes in a package that is very drivable in daily traffic. At $65,000 without the goofy Recaro seats, the CTS-V costs less than a Corvette Z06, is much faster, and includes a backseat. Make mine black, and bill it to my kid's college fund.
Damon Bell: The CTS-V is an iron fist barely contained by its velvet glove. You'll really need a racetrack (and some serious driving skills) to explore the outer limits of its performance capabilities, but the CTS-V is also quite content to transport its passengers in stop-and-go traffic in luxury and decent comfort. And, given the near-ludicrous horsepower and cornering prowess on hand, the pricing actually seems fairly reasonable.
Rick Cotta: Great Balls O' Fire! Add the CTS-V to the (short) list of domestic cars that really have no foreign equal, and to the even shorter list of vehicles that are likely to hold their value well ... in this case--if history repeats itself--because GM is sure to kill it just as it peaks. Here is Corvette Z06 performance with a back seat and $15,000 change. There are few cars in this lofty price range I truly feel are worth the money, but the CTS-V has earned a place among them. 
Ed Piotrowski: Put Thor in an Armani suit and this would be his ride. CTS-V is thunderously powerful, yet stylish and sophisticated. Skip the navigation system and Recaro seats and you have a high-performance luxury sedan that won't put too big a dent in your mutual fund.
Don Sikora: The Cadillac CTS-V is an impressive effort that combines very high levels of acceleration and handling with surprising refinement, and even adds very livable ride quality to the mix. To my eyes the car looks great, and the interior materials in general are very, very nice, but the faux carbon-fiber trim really doesn't cut it. The pricing doesn't seem at all out of line to me, considering what you get in a car that can hold its own against bucks-up German rivals.

07.31.2009