The Cadillac CTS is a midsize car built from 2003 to 2019 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 2003 and 2020 it grew 14 cm longer and gained 93 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the CTS is
The Cadillac CTS is a midsize car that Cadillac built from 2003 to 2019 — 17 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2015. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Cadillac range: CT5, Eldorado, STS.
Where the CTS is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 1,893 CTSs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1G6 | 2003-2019 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Cadillac VIN decide which of these 2 lines your CTS belongs to. What every character in a CTS VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Cadillac CTS adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
CTS generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the CTS's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the CTS that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2014 | 483 cm | 289 cm | 1620 kg | - | - |
| 2015-2020 | 497 cm | 291 cm | 1713 kg | +14 cm | +93 kg |
Between 2003 and 2020 the CTS gained 14 cm in length (+2.9%) and 93 kg in weight (+5.7%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the CTS that is 93 kg against 14 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Cadillac CTS tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment CTS owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Cadillac CTS have? Power & range
The Cadillac CTS is offered with 3 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl, 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 3 for the Cadillac CTS, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S8) | RWD | Regular |
| V8 | 6.2L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S8) | RWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S8) | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The CTS by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Cadillac CTS. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | CTS | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 75 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,179 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,950/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 632 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Cadillac CTS?
The CTS is a midsize car, built from 2003 to 2019 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6, V8.
Where is the Cadillac CTS made?
Across 1,893 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the CTS have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2015. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the CTS grew 14 cm longer and gained 93 kg.
What is the Cadillac CTS warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the CTS reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific CTS?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Cadillac
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac Escalade | 1999–2026 | 128 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Cadillac CT5 | 2020–2026 | 20 | 27 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Cadillac XT5 | 2017–2026 | 23 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Cadillac Deville | 1981–2005 | 50 | 19 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Cadillac Eldorado | 1981–2002 | 40 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Cadillac XT6 | 2020–2026 | 15 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |