Car Statistics: Cadillac - CTS Series 08 (2 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

More than anything, this car is proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Its styling is as brash and bold as the people that Cadillac expects to buy the car, and the looks are classic love-it or hate-it. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, though, there's no denying it's a very distinctive design that's a world away from the more restrained lines of its mainly German rivals.

Handling (3 stars)

There is a lack of composure from the suspension and a limited feel through the steering so it's not a car you would enjoy driving in the same way as a BMW 5 Series. However it should impress a less demanding driver, with its huge amount of grip in corners and decent stability, which is a huge improvement on the previous model.

Comfort (2 stars)

Neither the 2.8- or 3.6-litre cars, provide much in the way of comfort - the ride is simply too firm too much of the time, especially in the larger-engined car. On the other hand, as long as you don't rev the engine too hard, you'll find the car reasonably well refined.

Quality (3 stars)

In terms of quality, there's a strong case for arguing that the CTS is the best car ever to come out of America. The hand-stitched panels on the top of the dashboard, are impressive, and the overall build seems good. However, the air-con controls look cheap; some of the plastic trim looks tacky; and, the key looks like something from a 1970s Datsun.

Performance (4 stars)

The 3.6-litre engine and its 307bhp are enough to blast the CTS to 60mph in a shade over six seconds, which is impressive for such a large car. However, peak torque comes at 5200rpm, so it doesn't work well with the automatic gearbox which is far from smooth. The 2.8 V6 has the same problem, only with less power and torque.

Roominess (3 stars)

Without the optional sunroof, there's more than enough headroom for six-footers in the front, and plenty of adjustment in the seat and wheel to keep drivers of all shapes and sizes comfy. In the back though, the coupe-like angle of the roof makes for an awkward door opening, and, once you're in, there's not as much room as you would expect in such a big car.

Costs (2 stars)

Official figures suggest 25mpg is possible, but the likelihood is it will be much less than that. Likewise, with high CO2 emissions, the CTS will incur the highest levels of road tax and company car tax, while we don't expect its residual values to come anywhere near to its German rivals'.

Value (4 stars)

This may not be a cheap car, but the huge list of standard equipment at least makes it look like good value. There's just one trim level in the UK - Sports Luxury - and it comes with stability control, six airbags, rain-sensing wipers and leather trim.

Stereo (4 stars)

The standard Bose stereo is a cracking bit of kit, with a great sound from its 10 speakers, iPod- and USB connectivity and a 40-gigabyte hard drive to store music on. The sat-nav, too, is excellent, with an eight-inch display and easy-to-use touch-screen operation.