Cadillac ATS review

The ATS, Cadillac's new compact sports sedan, is like a star athlete who's hard to live with. Its sharp handling, eager performance, and responsive steering give up nothing to the best European sports sedans. The ride is taut and controlled without being harsh. And braking performance is outstanding. On a track or twisty road, the ATS gets a solid thumbs-up.

But living with it every day can become really annoying. The backseat is extremely cramped, and the trunk is tiny, even by the modest standards of this class. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine in our car sounds wheezy and got only 23 mpg overall on premium fuel, a far cry from the BMW 328i's 28 mpg. Worse, Cadillac's Cue infotainment system is complicated, difficult to use, and distracting.

OK, when you buy an ATS with Cue you get a free iPad, which comes with a tutorial on the system. Still, despite being a joy to drive, the ATS has demerits that drag its road-test score down to 76, well short of the best-in-class 328i (86) and Mercedes-Benz C250 (85). Its test score is high enough, but we can't recommend the ATS yet because it's too new for us to have reliability data.

The ATS will make you forget any preconceived notions you have about the Cadillac brand. It hugs the pavement while cornering, has quick and precise steering, and feels light and playful while tackling the turns of our track. Overall, the ATS even handles better than the 328i—our Top Pick in sports sedans—which is an eye-opener.

The 272-hp engine helped the ATS post quick acceleration times at our track, but the uneven power delivery makes the car feel slower on the street. Of the other engines, the 321-hp, 3.6-liter V6 is the way to go; the 202-hp, 2.5-liter four is nothing special.

The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth most of the time, but it sometimes slams into gear in stop-and-go traffic. A six-speed manual with so-so shift quality is optional with the turbo engine. All-wheel drive is also optional but not with the base engine or manual transmission.

Road noise is well-controlled, but engine noise can become noticeable, which dilutes some of the car's luxury ambience.

The impeccable fit and finish is among the best we've seen from GM. Major controls fall easily to hand, and the ATS has plenty of foot and leg room. The front seats are comfortable and supportive. But rear-seat room is very tight, with little thigh support; forget wedging three adults in there.

Voice commands work well, and it's simple to pair a phone via Bluetooth. But the car has no tuning or volume knobs. Instead, Cue has finicky touch-sensitive buttons and a large but confounding touch screen. Steering-wheel controls help some. Basic versions of the ATS lack Cue and gain radio knobs, but their tiny touch screen is no prize.

Trunk space can be expanded with 60/40 folding rear seatbacks or a narrow pass-through. There's no room for a spare tire; run-flat tires are standard on our ATS.