TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Cadillac CTS
Cadillac CTS Real Gas Mileage: Cons
Year
Comment
With the 2011 528i, BMW pioneered the use of a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in a $60,000 midsize sedan on this side of the Atlantic. The point: fuel economy, specifically EPA ratings of 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway even with all-wheel-drive (24/34 with RWD). Audi followed with an A6 2.0T good for 20/29 (25/33 with FWD) a year later.
The new CTS takes the path blazed by the Germans, but much less effectively. Though the Cadillac weighs significantly less than the Audi or the BMW, its EPA ratings are lower, 19/28 (20/30 with RWD).
The same is the case with the two 3.6-liter V6 engine options, even though unlike the turbo four they can be paired with an eight-speed (instead of a six-speed) automatic. The rear-drive-only Vsport barely evades the gas guzzler tax with ratings of 16/24. Even the 445-horsepower turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 in the BMW 550i does a bit better.
In my real-world driving, the CTS's trip computer confirmed this shortcoming. Even considering that the outside temperature was near zero, post-warm-up averages that clustered around 18 were disappointing. Only by driving the car with a light foot could I nudge the suburban average over 20, and even then not much over. A 320-horsepower 3.0-liter 640i Grand Coupe tested a week earlier in similar conditions did at least one mpg better than the 272-horsepower, 2.0-liter Cadillac. And when I tested a 528i xDrive in slightly warmer temps it often managed 25 mpg (in an EcoPro Mode the Cadillac lacks). In one trip this BMW even touched 30.
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Cadillac CTS
Cadillac CTS Real Gas Mileage: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2008
4dr Sedan 304-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
4dr Sedan 255-horsepower 3.6L V6 5-speed automatic RWD
I get 20-21mpg on my commute which is about 70%hwy, and normally 25-27 with pure freeway driving, it just seems with technology today they could kick that up to 23-24 and 28-30 respectively.
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2004
4dr Sedan 255-horsepower 3.6L V6 5-speed automatic RWD
Unlike other fuel economy surveys, TrueDelta's Real-World Gas Mileage Survey includes questions about how and
where a car was driven. So you can get an idea of the Cadillac CTS's
real-world MPG based on how and where you drive a car.
TrueDelta Reviews the Real Gas Mileage of the Cadillac CTS
What Our Members Are Saying about the Real Gas Mileage of the Cadillac CTS
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
5-speed automatic RWD
5-speed automatic RWD
5-speed automatic RWD
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
5-speed automatic RWD
5-speed automatic RWD
Cadillac CTS Gas Mileage (MPG)
Unlike other fuel economy surveys, TrueDelta's Real-World Gas Mileage Survey includes questions about how and where a car was driven. So you can get an idea of the Cadillac CTS's real-world MPG based on how and where you drive a car.