2018 Cadillac CT6 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Cadillac hasn’t had a true flagship sedan in many years, but that changed in 2016 with the introduction of the CT6. The model has been...

Cadillac hasn’t had a true flagship sedan in many years, but that changed in 2016 with the introduction of the CT6. The model has been given the very ambitious task of luring buyers away from the other big luxury sedans, and for 2018, Cadillac is upping the ante with a few new features that should make the CT6 an even more compelling alternative.

The big news for 2018 is the addition of the all-new Super Cruise system to the CT6’s options list. Super Cruise is a semi-autonomous driving system similar to Tesla’s Autopilot that enables the vehicle to drive itself on the highway by using a suite of cameras, sensors, and GPS data. Super Cruise stands out from other semi-autonomous systems in a couple of ways—first of all, it uses LiDAR-based mapping data, which gives the system a more comprehensive idea of the road ahead and helps determine whether or not Super Cruise can be activated. Second, it includes a driver-attention system with a camera and infrared lights that monitor the position and movement of the driver’s head. If the driver turns away from the road, the system will issue an alert through a light bar on the steering wheel and send vibrations through the seat. If the driver fails to react, Super Cruise can bring the vehicle to a stop.

The CT6 differs from other Cadillac models in its design. Its exterior does feature Cadillac’s signature sharp lines and angles, but these have been toned down considerably in comparison to the likes of the ATS or CTS. Depending on the trim, the CT6 offers various grille inserts and wheels ranging in size from 18 to 20 inches. Despite its positioning as a flagship sedan, the CT6 comes up somewhat short in terms of length—it stands at just 204.1 inches, placing it between the BMW 5 and 7 Series.

Cadillac has put a lot of effort into making the CT6’s interior look and feel like a proper luxury car. Materials range from real wood and aluminum trim to leather upholstering the seats. The base trim comes with power adjustments for the front seats and memory settings for the driver, while higher trims get heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The backseat is quite spacious, with plenty of head- and legroom, although trunk capacity is below the class average at 15.3 cubic feet.

All CT6s come standard with the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system and a 10.2-inch touchscreen. Once a major point of criticism, Cadillac has continued to improve CUE over the years with tweaks to the interface, hardware updates, and the addition of key features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The touchscreen comes with a separate touchpad controller, which some reviewers have noted is a bit too sensitive to accurately select items on the screen. Other standard technology features include OnStar’s concierge service, turn-by-turn directions, and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi.

Flagship sedans typically offer a wide range of powertrain options, and in this the CT6 delivers. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder offering 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Up next is a 3.6-liter V6 good for 335 hp and 284 lb-ft, and topping the lineup is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 404 hp and 400 lb-ft. All powertrains come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and fuel economy ranges from 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined for the twin-turbo V6 to 22, 31, and 25 for the 2.0-liter engine. The 2.0-liter gets rear-wheel drive (RWD), while both V6s are paired with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Those wanting to go green can opt for the separate CT6 PLUG-IN model, which combines the turbo 2.0-liter with an electric motor for a total output of 335 hp.

Calling the Cadillac CT6 fun to drive may seem like a misnomer due to its size, but it stands as one of the sharpest-handling vehicles in the class. This is in large part thanks to its aluminum frame, which helps cut down on overall weight. An optional Active Chassis package adds GM’s excellent Magnetic Ride Control system, which uses special fluid in the shocks to keep the vehicle flat when cornering and smooth out bumps, and rear-wheel steering for better balance.

As for safety features, all CT6s come with a full set of airbags, traction and stability control, a reversing camera, and OnStar emergency services. Higher trims are equipped with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision alert, low-speed forward automatic braking, automatic pedestrian braking, and Cadillac’s Rear Camera Mirror that projects the reversing camera display onto the rear-view mirror.

Pricing for the 2018 Cadillac CT6 begins at $54,095.