Considering all the love Cadillac heaped on mega-size V-8s in the previous century, it’s nice to see this brand embracing smaller, more efficient engines such as the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powering the ATS sedan reviewed here. Four years ago, Cadillac aimed its compact coupe and sedan at BMW’s heart with evil intent. Since then, the ATS’s powertrain lineup has been enhanced with an all-new 3.6-liter V-6 with auto stop-start and cylinder deactivation, more torque for the 2.0-liter four, an all-wheel-drive option, and an eight-speed paddle-shifted automatic in place of the original six-speed auto.
All-wheel drive, introduced in 2014, partners well with the ATS’s smallest-displacement engine. Cadillac’s strategy with this combo is to provide all-weather mobility, competitive performance, a zest for back roads, and 20 or more miles per gallon of premium.
Last year, Cadillac engineers upped the twin-scroll-turbo engine’s output with more boost. Increasing max manifold pressure from 20 to 24 psi raised the torque plateau from 260 lb-ft to 295. While the original torque curve was flat from 1700 to 5500 rpm, the new one still holds steady from 3000 to 4600 rpm. Peak power is the same 272 horsepower at 5500 rpm, and the engine revs to 7000 rpm. Counterrotating balance shafts, electronically controlled engine mounts, and effective sound deadening work to bar vibration from the cabin. What you hear in normal driving is a polite whir.
All-wheel drive adds 170 pounds to the ATS’s curb weight, but the system works unobtrusively until you notice the extra traction pulling you through a snowdrift. A BorgWarner-supplied box appended to the transmission contains an electronically controlled clutch that routes torque to the front wheels on demand. Sensors monitor a dozen or so variables to inform the controller when the rear wheels need help. A differential bolted to the engine’s oil sump drives the front wheels via equal-length half-shafts.
In spite of the extra mass, our ATS Premium test car easily outhustled the 2.0-liter stick-shift rear-wheel-drive model we tested. The sprint to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and the blast through the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds also beats the BMW 320i and the Mercedes-Benz C300 4MATIC (but not an Audi A4 Quattro). The additional torque, traction, and gear ratios make the ATS quick on its feet.
The 225/40R-18 Michelin Primacy all-season tires fitted to the all-wheel-drive ATS unfortunately diminish cornering grip and stopping performance. We measured 0.86 g on the skidpad, which is slightly less adhesion than the Audi, the BMW, and the Mercedes mustered in our tests. The Cadillac’s 167-foot 70-to-zero-mph braking distance falls between the Audi’s exemplary 155 feet and the Benz’s 177 feet.
There are howls of protest when the Michelins wilt at the limit, but in every other respect this ATS strives to please a determined driver. Tightly controlled body motions and high steering efforts support the quick line through S-bends. The brake pedal provides excellent feedback for using every shred of stopping power. A mode-control button on the console offers a Sport setting with sharper steering response and a more aggressive shift schedule. You can command the transmission with the console lever or the elegant, polished-magnesium steering-wheel paddles. Doing its best to mimic a manual, this automatic holds each gear until the driver requests a higher (or lower) ratio.
Our nearly top-spec ATS Premium started at $48,205 with the 2.0-liter turbo and all-wheel drive (this powertrain can be had starting at $38,240). Luxuries such as a head-up display, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, and basic safety assists such as blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist are included. Six options—leather trim ($1295), a power sunroof ($1050), polished 18-inch wheels ($850), a cold-weather package ($600), metallic paint ($495), and floor mats ($225)—lifted the tab to $52,720.
The stitched leather seats, seven chunks of deep-grain sapele wood (African lumber resembling mahogany), and gloss-black center-stack trim help the ATS feel comfortable among blue-blood competitors. Cadillac’s latest, faster-acting CUE infotainment system has been upgraded to include 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s now compatible with Apple CarPlay, but Android users must wait until later this model year to mirror smartphone functions on the touchscreen.
The shiny-black center stack is every perp’s worst enemy because it logs fingerprints better than a police blotter. Touch-sensitive surfaces commanding everything from the audio volume to the seat-heater setting take some getting used to. The same is true of the clumsy four-way rocker switches located on the horizontal steering-wheel spokes. The coolest feature in the ATS’s cockpit is a large cubby hidden behind the motorized, vertical faceplate, which is the perfect spot to charge your phone (either wirelessly or using the USB port inside).
