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CR Rates Cadillac CTS Ahead of BMW, Mercedes

Influential magazine Consumer Reports has ranked the 2008 CTS ahead of BMW’s 328i and Mercedes’ C300 by a significant margin in its latest list of upscale sports sedans. Better still, the CTS was the only model to be rated as ‘Excellent,’ while the best the German’s could muster was ‘very good.’

“The Cadillac CTS now competes toe-to-toe with some of the best German and Japanese sport sedans,” explained Consumer Reports’ senior director of automotive testing, David Champion. “There are more safety features and interior amenities in the new model. Fit and finish is greatly improved, and the interior is much more pleasant than in the previous generation.”

The CTS ended up third overall. Coming in first place was the Infiniti G35 followed closely by the Acura TL.

Teddybear

swweeeeeet!!

THTL

iTrader: (2)

yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

subbuzz

Elegant TYPE S

iTrader: (2)

Losing to the new G35 is an acceptable loss. I would have to agree that the new G35 is a nicely equipped vehicle, slightly, very slightly better than our TL.

jeowen

yes!!!!! thats awesome, and I agree..being closely behind the G is very respectable. Great find!

ttribe

This really is an impressive result given the fact that the TL is in its final year of its model and is going up against cars that have been substantially updated more recently.

DetroitAcura

I am just shocked that at LONG last an american car is making it onto a list other than a don't buy list. I sat in the CTS a few weeks ago and it is truly incredible. I still prefer my TL because I know it is reliable and don't know that of the CTS yet.

TLMcLovin

The TL is in its fifth year for this gen and its still standing strong right next to 1st. Hopefully the 09 redesign will bump the TL to the top were it should be

LyfeIs

Even though I'm getting tired of the TL falling short on every list its on, I cannot disagree with results on this list.

shooter

G35 has its advantage in terms of power & RWD, etc ... but I'm happy with TL since 00 & no way I would go with Infinity since they would cost much more if comp. equiped like TL ...

pokin

Per the testers, performance + style = 'upscale sports sedans.'

I like the tester's grouping of 'upscale sports sedans' - a fair list of twelve 2008 sedans for comparison that ranges between $30k and $40k and includes: G35, TL, CTS, 328i, ...leaving some out..., Saab 9-3 Aero, Volvo S60 2.5T.... Though, two in the list (not shown) belong to a lower no-man's land class.

The G35 barely edges the TL - actually, the TL got a better safety score.

Will Y.

I was driving to and from work today with the radio off-- moving quickly and silently-- thinking, "I don't think there's a faster, quieter, more reliable, sporty non-luxo-barge car that I like; maybe I ought to buy my '05 TL at the end of the lease." Worse comes to worse, the TL will be worth more than the residual and can be traded in if I find a nicer car.

The new CTS and C-classes seem to be steps backward on exterior looks and packaging, and the G35/G37 is too "boy racer" for me. I'll give the 335i a test drive, but the TL really has a nice interior compared to the 335i I looked at a few months back.

JLJL

I went for the TL cuz of the looks. I didn't even know how much it was or what the specs were like.

When i first saw it. It had to be it. Like love in first sight =P No wonder they didn't redesign it for so long... it's really hard to beat something that is already near perfect (imo).

That's why i really wanna know what 09s gonna look like hehe better or worse we'll see when the time comes! =D

JAB00

The 3rd Gen TL is one of the most well rounded cars in its class. Sure it doesn't have the best driving dynamics (BMW/Inifiniti) or best interior (Audi). However, it's exterior styling is arguably one of the best and it combines sport and luxury pretty effortlessly. The TL gets its share of respect. It will be hard for Acura to top the current generation.

Ibn Rushd

The 02 Acura TL Type S was the first car to knock BMW off the benchmark

It was the Acura TL Type S VS the BMW 330i and the TL took the top scores in that. a year later BMW responded and took it's title back. But until 2007, where the G37 beat the 328, no one had done it since. So the TL has always been something of an icon from Acura.

The 05 TL proved one thing though. In a class where AWD and RWD dominate the stands...a FWD can play too, and succeed.

Even though it's FWD, the TL is only slower than the BMW 335, Lexus IS350 and G series by about .3 (The TL Type S), and i believe overall keeps up with the Lexus and is a bit behind the G series...

Whoever originally said that FWD couldn't handle it's own in this class...obviously never drove an Acura


But Acura knows that with 300hp coming into this class, the FWD system can't be used anymore.

gauravp123

very well written and for this particular statement:

^^^^^^I'm definitely with above stupid

Oswald Vater

I just traded my 04 TL for an 08 model and am, so far, highly impressed in the improvement over the earlier build. Better tires, no early-model rattles, still the same sharp design and performance. I had the CTS and G35 on my list to look at but never made it to the dealers. My conclusion - "The TL has everything I both want and need at a price I can afford and with the reliability I desire. Why buy anything else?"

Fulani has a TL

iTrader: (1)

Was it the TL or TL-S? Thats still a nice standing!

HenryNYC

iTrader: (3)

Question is. If the TL was RWD or AWD. Would it have still came behind the G :P

Eoanou

I'm not sure about that, I would argue the TL has a better interior than the A4, the only thing that the A4 edges out the TL in is the leather seats, the Audi leather is a bit more durable.

Eoanou

It would have beaten the G, I'm sure of it.

S PAW 1

I am an advocate of CR. I would like to add that:

We TL'ers have a serious advantage here. The results did not take into account long term reliabilty. It would rule out a car that was unreliable, but if it made average or above, it would qualify, but wouldn't add points to the score. The CTS nor the G35 will be able to touch Acura in that catagory IMO.

I don't care what mag. you read, R&T, CR, Car & Driver, they all favor RWD. Here in Ohio, and most of the USA, FWD is an asset. Only in those climates that have little or no inclement weather does RWD shine.

We won't know for awhile yet, but this makes me all the more pleased that I purchased the '07 TL-S

geekybiker

Ahhh. CR. The car reviews for people who view cars as appliances rather than objects of passion. Generally I dont agree with CR much. Too much emphasis places on "sensible" qualities like cost, safety, fuel efficienct, etc. Not enough on how it feels to be behind the wheel. At least for once they seem to have it right with the g35 and TL. I'll reserve judgement on the CTS until I drive one.

Mike 06 TL

I was just about to post almost the same exact thought. CR usually blows when it comes to testing cars. They should stick to testing TV's, toasters and the like which they are very good at. Like you said, at least in this case, they got it right.

One vehicle they definitely did not get right is the Ford Edge. I think they gave it a 60 rating last year. My wife has one and we absolutely love it. Can't believe it's a Ford. It's actually quieter inside than my TL. Very solid, can haul lots of stuff, AWD, quick, big Vista roof and all around a great ride. No problems whatsoever in 10 months. Looks smokin in the Blazing Copper Metallic as well!

TLType-s12

iTrader: (2)

i wouldnt say equipped but defenitly has more horse power. TL outdoes the g35 in everyway other than the HP. TL looks better(better design), bigger(more interior space), more Standard options(navi,bluetooth,rearcamera,) I am talking about the TLS of course