Cadillac's small sports sedan will break your heart. An absolute blast to drive, living with it is maddening.
The ATS's sharp handling and eager performance give up nothing compared with the best European sports sedans. The ride is taut and controlled without being punishing or harsh. Braking performance is outstanding. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine has plenty of power and is available with a six-speed manual transmission. Interior fit and finish are impressive, and the front seats are very comfortable.
Unfortunately, while the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces plenty of power, it sounds wheezy and power delivery is uneven. Fuel economy is unimpressive at 23 mpg on premium fuel. The backseat is extremely cramped and the trunk is tiny, even by the modest standards of this class.
Worst of all, Cadillac's CUE entertainment system, which will wind up in most ATSs, will be a complete deal-breaker for many buyers. It's infuriating to use while driving. Illogical menus, hidden icons, and slow, flaky responses make it extremely distracting, which defeats the purpose of a sports sedan focused on driving.
Best version/options to get
Cadillac doesn't build the perfect ATS, which would probably be a V6 without CUE, but with a manual transmission. The best of the existing lot may be our Luxury-trimmed test car, which was well equipped and competitively priced.
The base "Standard" trim level dispenses with CUE, but even its controls are fussy and the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is no prize. It might be worth getting the eight-speed automatic transmission.