If you thought the freeway was thrilling, exiting can get downright raunchy. Tickle the suspension button into sport mode, and the ride firms up, ready to play at ten-tenths. Gripping the perfect size, seductive suede steering wheel provides you with more feedback than you've ever felt from a GM vehicle as you push through turns. With laser precision in every caress, you feel the front tires as if they were your own hands while the sticky 19" Michelin Pilot Sports effortlessly claw to heed your command. Sport mode results in very flat cornering, absorbing bumps and undulations in the pavement with ease. Never does the car feel unsettled, unsure, or ambiguous. This is truly a supercar, with ample room for 4.While other manufacturers play with acronym-happy, dual-clutch automated manual transmissions, Cadillac chooses instead to refine the tried-and-true conventional torque converter automatic. As with the Camaro, the optional 6-speed automatic in the CTS-V, can be summed in one word: excellent. Somehow, the transmission always knows what gear you want to be in. It does usually take two downshifts to hit the right gear for optimal acceleration, but those shifts are fast and purposeful. It's still not automated manual fast, but fast none-the-less.

Some buyers may find the performance of the CTS-V a bit raw and unrefined for a $68,445 (as-tested) sport-lux sedan. But, for the driving enthusiast who prefers performance over plush, it's hard to find a better alternative. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi have been building their respective sport sedans for years, every iteration a bit more luxurious than the last. The Cadillac stands out for not compromising sport for luxury, at a significant price-advantage to the competition.
That said, the CTS-V might be a tough case for some. To truly love the CTS-V everyday, you need to have a hankering for a true 4-door super sports car with a dash of luxury. At the end of the day, however, the CTS-V might be the most practical, potent, passenger vehicle you can buy. And starting at $60,720, it's a relative steal.
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