2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto Review and Performance Comparison

Cadillac CTS Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto is a powered by a Petrol V 6. This variant of the Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 2008. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2008 Ariel Atom V8 500 and the 2008 SSC Ultimate Aero TT.

This particular Cadillac CTS has a 3564cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Cadillac Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 6's include the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo

The CTS shares its Petrol V 6 engine configuration with the likes of the 2014 Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo and the 2024 Maserati GT2 Stradale.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the CTS's Rear Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1829 kgs (4032 lbs) places the Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto in a similar weight category as the 2025 Ford Mustang GT Fastback and the excellent 2024 BMW 4 Series M4 Competition Coupe with xDrive, give or take 50kg.

The Cadillac CTS shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC (300 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 3564cc 24 valve, V 6 engine produces around 304 bhp (226 kW) @ 6300 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC (300 bhp) and also the 2024 BMW 1 Series M135 xDrive (296 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V 6 throws out 273 lb-ft (370.1 Nm) @ 5200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC Automatic (295 lb-ft) or the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RZ High Performance Automatic (295 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2008 Cadillac CTS in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 1967 Dodge Dart GTS Hardtop 6.3 V8 383 (191.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Cadillac CTS.

The Cadillac CTS has a power to weight ratio of 166.2 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2008 CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto means you're competing with the 1967 Dodge Dart GTS Hardtop 6.3 V8 383 (191.2 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2012 Renault Megane RenaultSport 2.0T 265 (191.0 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto generates around 149.2 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2004 Volkswagen-VW Touareg 6.0 W12 Sport (174.2 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2012 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (174.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto can accelerate 0–60mph in 5.80 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 6.0 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto include the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs).

The V 6 engine of the Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) and the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto and the Holden Monaro GTS 327 5.4 V8

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2008 Cadillac CTS can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.75 secs with a trap speed around 92.3 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Holden Monaro GTS 327 5.4 V8 (14.76 seconds @ 92.2 mph) and a close race between the Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (14.76 seconds @ 92.2 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2008 version of the Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2008 CTS equals the Vauxhall-Opel Vectra 3.2 V6 GSi (154 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6 V6 Sport 4d Auto then there's the slightly slower the Vauxhall-Opel Vectra 3.2 V6 GSi (154 mph) or how about the impressive Ford Focus Wagon ST (154 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 2008 CTS Rivals List.
• 2008 CTS: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Cadillac
• Compare the 2008 Cadillac CTS