MPG-o-Matic Cadillac CTS V6 DI Review Summary:The 2009 Cadillac CTS V6 DI Performance Sedan delivers a killer combination of comfort, performance, and features. When driven conscientiously with a light foot, the CTS V6 DI provides solid fuel economy for a luxury sedan.
The 2009 Cadillac CTS V6 DI doesn’t just set the standard for American performance luxury sedans. It provides worthy competition for the imports. The rear-wheel-drive CTS is worlds apart from the wallowing thirsty Cadillacs of the days of yore.
It comes as no surprise that gas mileage has never been one of the Cadillac Escalade’s strong suits. Over the years, the Escalade’s gas mileage has never exceeded 20 miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway, while its city mileage has dwelt in the low teens. Get ready for a magic makeover for one of America’s most indulgent gas hogs. All that changes with the brand new 2009 Escalade Hybrid, which promises a whopping fifty percent improvement in city mileage.
The 2009 Escalade Hybrid’s 2-Mode Hybrid system mates a special transmission and battery pack to the big 6.0 liter V-8 to deliver 20 city and 21 highway MPG. At low speeds, the Escalade Hybrid can be propelled solely under electric power. At higher speeds, the gasoline engine and electric motor work in tandem. When you really put your foot in it, the gasoline engine takes over. Active Fuel Management shuts down half of the V-8’s cylinders under light loads to achive better gas mileage while cruising at highway speeds. Auto engine shut off turns the gasoline engine off when the Escalade Hybrid is stopped, saving additional fuel.
The Cadillac CTS sets the standard for entry-level mid-size American luxury and fuel efficiency, as it produces best of class gas mileage ratings for a mid-size all wheel drive (AWD) luxury sedan. Forget about that SUV … if you want to go in the snow with the most comfort, the CTS will get you to Grandma’s place faster then that one-horse open sleigh. While many CTS owners are likely to stick with the basic rear wheel drive (RWD) system, the all wheel drive does not impact gas mileage ratings.
2008 marks the introduction of AWD in the CTS. Standard 2008 Cadillac CTS power train choices include two V-6 engines: a 3.6 liter producing 263 horsepower (HP) / 253 foot pounds of torque and a Direct Injection 3.6 liter that delivers 304 HP / 273 foot pounds of torque. The CTS-V is fitted with a 6.0 liter V-8 producing 400 HP / 395 foot pounds of torque. A manual six-speed transmission is standard. A six-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control is optional.
The 2008 Cadillac STS wraps up luxury and fuel efficiency in a beautiful package. Like the slightly smaller CTS, the STS produces very good gas mileage ratings for a mid-size luxury sedan equipped with an all wheel drive (AWD) system. (Rear wheel drive is standard.) While the STS is slightly longer and heavier than the CTS, its interior dimensions are very close to its less expensive brother. All-in-all, the STS represents an excellent opportunity for Cadillac to retain Escalade owners looking to downsize, but stay with the brand as the move to a more appropriate AWD vehicle for today’s climate.
Standard 2008 Cadillac STS power train choices include a 3.6 liter V-6 producing 302 horsepower (HP) / 272 foot pounds of torque and a 4.6 liter V-8 that delivers 320 HP / 315 foot pounds of torque. The STS-V is fitted with a 4.4 liter V-8 producing 469 HP /439 foot pounds of torque. A six-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission is standard.
Need a four wheel drive with the best gas mileage? Get ready to downsize. None of the best gas mileage four wheel drives (4WDs) are jumbo-sized sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Simply put, the aerodynamics and vehicle weight of the bulkiest SUVs cause gas mileage to suffer, leading to many a painful transaction at the pump. The trick is to get small(er), lighter, and more slippery. Credit Subaru for getting the ball rolling with popularizing economical 4WD drive passenger cars in the early days. Since 1997, every vehicle Subaru’s offered in America has been all wheel drive.
These days, it’s not just Subaru. There are plenty of four wheel drive choices that are neither truck nor SUV. And forget the notion of pint-sized economy cars. You’ll find a generous helping of 4WD luxury from manufacturers including Audi, Volvo, Cadillac, and Lexus … in fact, you’ll find many of their offerings in the 2008 list of best gas mileage four wheel drives.
Purists will gladly share that there’s a difference between four wheel drive and all wheel drive (AWD). And surely there is … but for a great many folks, it comes down to two simple questions: will it go in the snow and will I go broke feeding it?
At the other end of the spectrum, the little Suzuki SX4 delivers plenty of bang for the buck, by combining the best four wheel drive gas mileage with a low sticker price (for those who don’t just think miles per gallon … but miles per dollar.)
Along with its corporate cousins, the Ford Escape Hybrid proves the exception to the rule as the highest all around mile per gallon (MPG) four wheel drive vehicle. If you can’t get a great deal on an Escape Hybrid at your local Ford dealer, take a look at the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. And if you happen to live in Southern California, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid HEV might be an option … as long as you’re able to snag one of the 350 Tribute HEVs built for this test market.)
MPG-o-Matic Cadillac CTS V6 DI Review Summary: The 2009 Cadillac CTS V6 DI Performance Sedan delivers a killer combination of comfort, performance, and features. When driven conscientiously with a light foot, the CTS V6 DI provides solid fuel economy for a luxury sedan.
