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2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe Review By John Heilig


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By John Heilig
Senior Editor
Mid-Atlantic Bureau
The Auto Channel

AUTO PAGE SPECS

MODEL: 2016 Cadillac ATS Coupe RWD
LENGINE: 3.6-liter V6
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 335 hp @ 6,800 rpm/285 lb.-ft. @ 4,800 rpm
WHEELBASE: 109.3 in.
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 183.6 x 72.5 x 54.8 in.
TIRES: P225/40RF18 (F)/P255/35RF18 (R)
CARGO: 10.4 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 20 mpg city/30 mpg highway/17.5 mpg test
FUEL TANK: 16.0 gal.
CURB WEIGHT: 3,530 lbs.
COMPETITIVE CLASS: Acura TLX, Lexus IS, Lincoln MKZ
STICKER: $56,415 ($995 delivery, $4,585 options)

BOTTOM LINE: Is may sound simplistic, but the ATS is the Cadillac of sport coupes. It has very good power, handling and comfort combined with Cadillac luxury.         

Cadillac has toyed with building sporty cars in the past, most notably the Allante and the XLR. The ATS Coupe, however, is a derivative of the ATS sedan, and as such has the attributes of the sedan combined with a body style that is more amenable to spirited driving. It also has two more seats than the aforementioned models.          

Despite my wife’s complaints, I enjoy the low seating position. Yes, for seniors, it is a bit difficult to enter and exit, but once you’re ensconced you’re in comfort.          

In cold weather, the heated front seats turn on automatically, and throttle back after some time. Unlike most other heated seats, they require minimum attention. Honestly, rear seat legroom is tight. However, the rear seatbacks fold to increase cargo capacity, making the ATS Coupe a two-seater with really good cargo capacity.          

Driving the ATS is fun. There is good power from the 3.6-liter V6 and the 8-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters are located behind the steering wheel for when you’re trying to extract maximum performance, but even when you leave the shifter in “P” there’s plenty of oomph.          

You expect push button start/stop in a Cadillac. Remote start is a plus, especially when it’s cold out there. Start/stop technology (like in a hybrid) improves fuel economy. You will note that our test economy was fairly conservative, and I blame that on primarily local driving plus a tendency to floor the accelerator every chance I had. At first, when you begin your drive, you’ll notice the seatbelts tighten. This was disconcerting at first, but it became a comfort once we got used to it.          

A clear white-on-black instrument panel features a tachometer on the left, 180-degree speedometer in the center and fuel and A heads up display projected on the windshield makes the speedometer almost redundant. The HUD shows speed, a compass or tach, the speed limit on the road being traveled, and other choices.          

The ATS Coupe has a full suite of driver safety features, including Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning (with a vibrating seat to alert you to which side you’re deviating), backup camera and adaptive cruise control.         

  These features are so ubiquitous that when we drive our old clunker, we miss them and feel as if we are a danger on the road.          

The Bose audio system gave us very good sound from a full spectrum of choices from AM to Pandora to XM. In addition, the HVAC system kept us comfortable in a wide variety of late fall weather conditions.          

Passenger conveniences include a 110-volt plus and two USB connections in the center console.         

  A Cadillac compact car? According to the EPA specifications, that’s what the ATS Coupe is. But inside, it’s all Cadillac, with the front interior room you’d expect. In my mind, the ATS Coupe can run with any of its competitors, and you’ll enjoy every mile.

© 2016 The Auto Page Syndicate