By using aluminum for the 2016 Cadillac CT6, engineers kept the base curb weight of this long luxury sedan below 3,700 pounds. As a reference for how impressive that is, note that a 2015 Cadillac CTS sedan (which is built from steel) weighs between 3,616 and 3,952 pounds, depending on powertrain — and the CTS is 8.5 inches shorter and 1.8 inches narrower than the CT6. Building a car out of aluminum is expensive, in terms of materials, engineering, and manufacturing, but doing so shows Cadillac’s dedication to making the CT6 competitive within its segment.
2. It’s a “just-right” size
Most luxury sedans in this segment offer both regular and long-wheelbase models, but the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is sized as an in-betweener that handily serves both purposes. With 40.4 inches of rear legroom, for instance, its back-seat space splits the difference between the Audi A8 and A8L (38.7 and 42.9 inches) and the BMW 7 Series and 7 Series L (38.9 and 44.3 inches). We also found that, compared to the CTS, the back seats feel less claustrophobic because occupants don’t sit as low in relation to the windowsills.
3. There’s a new infotainment interface
The infotainment screen in the 2016 Cadillac CT6 is a large, widescreen design that shows far more information than other Cadillac systems, and it’s operated with a new touchpad on the center console. With haptic feedback and “clicks” as the cursor jumps to each icon, the system reminds us of similar designs in Lexus vehicles. The benefit is that drivers need not reach far forward to touch the screen and can instead rest their hands on the center console. The center stack also has far fewer physical climate controls than the CTS, contributing to the clean, elegant look of the wraparound interior.
The 2016 Cadillac CT6 also sets itself apart as a flagship model with high-end technologies not offered on the rest of the brand’s models. The rearview mirror is also a screen that can show a wider-angle view from a camera mounted in the trunklid, a 360-degree camera system can record the vehicle’s surroundings if the security system is activated, the 34-speaker Bose sound system is exclusive to the CT6, and 10-inch infotainment screens slide out of the front-seat headrests for passengers in the back. Luxury flagships tend to be showcases for a company’s best and newest tech, and the CT6 is no exception.
5. Did we mention that back seat?
Anyone can build a car with a roomy back seat, but to really play in the space inhabited by the A8, 7 Series, and S-Class, a luxury sedan needs even more luxury. The 2016 Cadillac CT6 joins the fray with optional rear seats that are power-reclining, massaging, and heated and cooled. If luxury means making passengers as comfortable and relaxed as possible, the CT6 lives up to its billing.
