The Cadillac CTS does 19.9 mpg combined (16.9 city, 24.8 highway), which works out to about $1,930 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl does 24.5 mpg while 6.2L 8-cyl does 16.3 — a difference of $789 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Cadillac CTS engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Cadillac CTS ranges from 24.5 down to 16.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $789 a year across 8 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl | 21.2 / 29.8 | 2014–2019 | $1,567 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 18.6 / 27.8 | 2008–2019 | $1,730 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18 / 27 | 2010–2010 | $1,745 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 16 / 23.5 | 2003–2004 | $2,021 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 16 / 24 | 2005–2007 | $2,021 | |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 13.5 / 22 | 2004–2005 | $2,327 | |
| 6L 8-cyl | 14 / 22.5 | 2006–2007 | $2,327 | |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 / 19.8 | 2010–2019 | $2,356 |
What that actually costs
The Cadillac CTS burns a gallon every 19.9 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 603 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.161 |
| Fuel per year | $1,930 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,650 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$0 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,661 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Cadillac CTS gives up 7.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.8 out there against 16.9 in town, a 47% drop worth $724 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 16.9 mpg | $2,272 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.8 mpg | $1,548 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.9 mpg (47%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the CTS changed over the years
The CTS peaked in 2018 at 22 mpg (18.7 city, 27 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2007 at 17.5 — 4.5 mpg apart, or $449 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2019 car does 21.3. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18.3 / 26.7 | 3 | $1,803 | |
| 2018 | 18.7 / 27 | 3 | $1,745 | |
| 2017 | 18.7 / 27 | 3 | $1,745 | |
| 2016 | 18.3 / 26.7 | 3 | $1,745 | |
| 2015 | 17.3 / 25.7 | 3 | $1,855 | |
| 2014 | 17.3 / 25.3 | 3 | $1,892 | |
| 2013 | 16 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2012 | 16 / 23 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2011 | 16 / 23 | 2 | $2,076 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 23 | 2 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2008 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2007 | 15 / 23 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2006 | 15 / 23.5 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2005 | 14.5 / 22.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2004 | 15 / 23 | 2 | $2,133 | |
| 2003 | 16 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 37 EPA ratings of the Cadillac CTS — 8 engines across 2003–2019. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,661. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Cadillac CTS get?
19.9 mpg combined on average — 16.9 in the city and 24.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2003–2019.
How much does a Cadillac CTS cost in fuel per year?
About $1,930 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,650 over five years, or 0.161 dollars a mile.
Which CTS engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl at 24.5 mpg, against 16.3 for the 6.2L 8-cyl — a difference of about $789 a year.
Is the CTS good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world CTS figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Cadillac CTS is $3,661 against the $1,930 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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