6 Things to Know About the 2017 Cadillac CT6

The CT6 is Cadillac’s newest flagship four-door. Breaking Cadillac tradition, chiefly its long-established three-letter nomenclature, this crown-jewel sedan pushes boundaries in plenty of ways.

Aside from the addition of a number to its name, this car destroys the notion that GM can’t build world-class products, silencing critics that claim Caddy isn’t capable of beating the Germans at their own game. It offers class-exclusive technology, ample luxury and more advanced engineering than a 21st century fighter jet.

Sized to compete with short-wheelbase versions of cars like the BMW 7 Series and Audi’s A8, the CT6 is nonetheless lighter than rivals. An entry-level, rear-wheel-drive model with the 2.0-liter engine clocks in at a featherweight 3,657 pounds, just five more than its noticeably smaller sibling, the CTS. Compared to a Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic, this example is more than half a ton lighter.

But that’s enough numbers; the CT6 offers plenty of emotion, appealing to your right brain as well as it does to the complimentary and often times drearily pedantic left hemisphere. Here are six things you need to know about Cadillac’s latest offering.

The CT6 is a certifiably large car, something its cabin can attest to. From a space standpoint, even the huskiest of drivers will find little to complain about; this Cadillac’s front accommodations are impressively comfortable, but its back seat is even nicer. Lanky riders have ample sprawling room in all major directions. Just make certain to limit occupancy because the enormous floor tunnel makes the center seat as inhospitable as the peak of Everest.

Matching its cabin, the trunk of this sedan is also large. Measuring more than 15 cubic feet, you’ll probably be hard pressed to fill it in normal usage.

ALSO SEE: 2016 Cadillac CT6 Review

The CT6’s interior is nicely done, though perhaps not quite as over-the-top luxurious as what you get in an S-Class. Still, the materials are high quality and the overall design is pleasantly clean.

I particularly like the simplicity; there are no gimmicks or added design flourishes thrown in for the sake of looking fancy. This car’s interior is sensibly laid out and easy to use.

Upping the style factor, our test example had cinnamon-hued leather splashed across its seats and armrests. This creamy-soft material is lickably delicious, contrasting beautifully with darker colored pieces. The addition of carbon-fiber is a nice touch, but this material shouldn’t be wasted on trim; save it for structural components where its weight-saving abilities can be put to better use.

When equipped with its range-topping engine, the CT6 is seriously fast. Offering 3.0-liters of maximum cylinder capacity along with twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection, this V6 delivers 404 SAE-certified horses along with 400 lb-ft of torque.

That capable motor catapults this sedan to extra-legal velocities in short enough order to make you chortle like a village idiot; the sprint to 60 feels like it takes place in the brisk low five-second range. Aside from impressive performance, this engine is also incredibly refined, quiet and free from unwanted vibration.

For greater confidence, all-wheel drive is standard with this powerplant, ditto with the mid-range 3.6-liter V6. Base CT6s, ones hauled around by the 2.0-liter turbo, are exclusively rear-drive.

Regrettably, not everything is perfect with this car’s drivetrain. In certain situations, the standard eight-speed transmission’s shift quality leaves much to be desired. Sure, it’s as smooth and refined as any other cutting-edge automatic while climbing through the ratio stack, but when you’re rolling to a stop, the downshifts are absolutely ragged, nearly to the point of causing whiplash injuries. This is probably an issue that can be corrected with tuning, but it’s an inconceivable misstep given how dialed in the rest of this car is.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Cadillac XT5 Review

Oh well, at least this gearbox helps make the CT6 quite efficient. Despite having all-wheel drive and more than 400 horsepower, it stickers at 18 miles per gallon city, 26 highway and 21 mpg combined.

If owning the latest and greatest electronic gadgets is your thing, this Cadillac is sure to please. It’s loaded with plenty of advanced technology befitting a luxury flagship.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the customizable, 12-inch, full-color display that serves as the instrument cluster. It allows you to tailor the look and feel to your preference.

Beyond this, the latest version of the company’s CUE infotainment system is simple to figure out and unexpectedly alert, responding to inputs without any stutters or lag. In keeping with current trends, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included, as is 4G LTE connectivity.

Park assist, automatic high-beams, emergency braking and adaptive cruise control are but a handful of the other niceties this car was equipped with. Our test model also featured the 34-speaker Bose Panaray sound system, a $3,700 option. You read that right, 34 SPEAKERS!

The CT6 is a roomy rocketship with enough tech to keep even a millennial entertained, but it’s also surprisingly entertaining to drive, feeling more like an ATS than an Escalade.

Our test car was equipped with optional Magnetic Ride Control, part of the $3,300 Active Chassis Package, a system that works just as brilliantly in other models as it does in this Cadillac. It allows you to customize how the suspension feels, from stiff and sporty to boulevard smooth.

The car’s steering is dialed in, the brakes confidence inspiring and the light curb weight makes the CT6 feel ready to dance.

As for pricing, our Premium Luxury trim model stickered for a ritzy $81,840, including $995 in delivery fees, a price that was inflated by more than $13,000 in options. Skip some of the fancy features and you can get a high-end CT6 for less than $70k, which is a more than fair price, especially compared to its primary rivals.

Watch our video review of the Cadillac CT6 below:

Get the Flash Player to see this player.