A short take on the Cadillac CT6

The world of full-size luxury sedans is a posh yet mighty expensive one, and not many people can actually afford to have one as their daily driver. However, for those that can get their hands on one, options can be quite exhausting - from the Germans to the Japanese -- there are quite a few set of these business jets on wheels on sale today. One of the most influential and popular marques within this niche segment has to be Cadillac. The American automaker has been producing some of the most luxurious and sought-after cars, especially in the last few years. And one of those is their current flagship sedan, the CT6.

The Cadillac CT6 had its first unveiling at the New York International Auto Show in 2015, and upon launch, became the brand’s first, modern full-size luxury sedan in a while. For its underpinnings, Cadillac has used General Motors’ new Omega platform, which, in fact, made its debut alongside the CT6. Based on its flagship status and size, some of the most direct competitors of the Cadillac CT6 include the likes of the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Lexus LS, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. However, in terms of its pricing, the CT6 is way, way less expensive than the others in its class.

Exterior

Compared to its rivals, the Cadillac CT6 isn’t available with different wheelbase variant (SWB or LWB), but that’s not to say that the CT6 is compact by any stretch of the imagination. From nose to tail, this Caddy measures 5.182 meters in length, while its width is 1.880 meters and height is 1.471 meters. The all-so-important wheelbase figure reads 3.109 meters, which is less than others in this segment. As for the way it looks, the Cadillac CT6 doesn’t is missing a certain X factor, and it’s also not exactly oozing visual charisma or sophistication. However, the CT6 has its own personality and appeal, which definitely helps its stand out when parked next to the Germans. Throughout the exterior bodywork of the CT6, there are several interesting creases, lines and contours - these help keep monotony of shapes at bay.

Up front, the CT6 sports Cadillac’s hallmark grille design, flanked by curious-looking LED headlamps with their ‘drooping DRL bars. The contoured nose if the CT6 houses a smooth bumper that also incorporates LED cornering lamps and sporty air-intake vents. The side design doesn’t look too fetching, but features large 20-inch alloy wheels, chrome detailing, and an extended rear overhang. The rather bland-looking rear of the CT6 integrates LED tail lamps, mildly-sculpted bumper, and twin-exhaust pipes.

Interior

Inside the Cadillac CT6’s cabin, the overall design looks and feels modern and upmarket, but not necessarily contemporary or interestingly fresh. The materials, though, feel pretty high-end and it doesn’t seem like Cadillac has cut any apparent corners here. There’s plenty of space for four adults, while the seats are easily some of the most comfortable ones around. However, the rear bench is best suited for carrying two people and even then, the low roof could impede headroom.

Among its extensive equipment list, there are adaptive headlamps, radar cruise control, active dampers, split sunroof, 34-speaker Bose sound system, quad-zone climate control, heated & cooled front seats, HD surround-camera system, 10.2-inch touch-infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, and LED mood lighting. The CT6 also gets seven airbags, collision detection with auto-emergency braking, blind-spot and lane-change warning, lane-keeping assist, traction and stability control etc.

Engine and performance

The Cadillac CT6 can be had with a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter V6 with 404hp and 540Nm of torque. It can get this heavy sedan from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and on to an electronically-governed top speed of 250 km/h. Meanwhile, the regular 3.6-liter V6 variants are helped by 335 horsepower and can hit the ton-mark in a relatively brisk 5.7 seconds.

Verdict

Cadillac’s flagship CT6 range can wear a sticker price of anywhere between AED 221,500 to AED 309,000.