[Blastphemy]

Finally had a chance to test drive the CT6 Plug-in. Not going to write one of my usually thorough evaluations, though, because I really don't have a lot to say. But here are ten bullet points in no particular order:

1) Interior appearance and comfort is inferior to the Cadillac ELR plug-in. The ELR nailed the cockpit, doors, style, etc. The CT6 feels like its less-expensive cousin... even though the price range is the same.

2) The Bose Panaray sound system is easily one of the best I've ever heard in a car.

3) The size of the car is just right, including ample space in the back seat.

4) The trunk is a joke. Even the ELR's tiny trunk was bigger than this, as is my Ford Fusion Energi's trunk (although not by much).

5) In my opinion, the CT6 plug-in drives more smoothly and quietly than both the ELR and all current CT6 gas variants. All the little annoyances people have been complaining about on these forums about the CT6 gas transmission (like Auto Start/Stop) are nonexistent in the plug-in version. And it also accelerates better than all of them when in hybrid mode (but not in EV-only mode, unfortunately).

6) The front seats are little too firm for me - I would have preferred more comfortable seats like in the ELR or Lexus LS460.

7) C.U.E. is much improved, but the track pad will probably take some getting used to. Still retains some annoyances from the ELR, but at least it's not a complete disaster now.

8) The ventilated seats are excellent, with air coming out both the seat and the back. However, even this premium car doesn't have ventilation for your upper back, so you're still going to sweat there on hot days.

9) No all-wheel drive version available for the plug-in.

10) Electric range is OK at 30 miles. Inferior to both the Volt and ELR, but better than every other other luxury gas/electric plug-in (i.e., Porsche, Mercedes, BMW).

So will I buy it once I'm out of my current lease? Hard to say - the car may be worth it just for the Panaray system! However, the car's poor EV-only mileage may push me to go try a competing vehicle (if any actually exist by early next year).

 

[Bacardi]

Thanks for sharing...For the sound system, that is one area where you can go to the pros and for the right price and a superior sound system...Heck, even forking over $2000 in an audio budget would have a night and day difference...

 

[KevinW]

It has been reported that the space requirements of the battery module precluded offering the Panaray and rear-steer features.

 

[llninja]

Thanks for the review. Since when you we choose our vehicles because of the audio system? I want it for the passenger space, though the lack of a suitable trunk might be a show-stopper. It's probably too late to request a quick picture right?

 

[volt11]

One of the more disappointing aspects of the plug-in CT6 is they could only muster 62 MPGe in the official EPA rating. How does Tesla manage up to a 103 MPGe rating with the AWD Tesla S, and Cadillac can only get 60% of that with a RWD car of similar size and presumably lighter? It also drops out of electric only mode above 78 MPH; the ELR could stay electric only up to 106 (and also got a better MPGe rating of 85). Finally, its gas-only MPG average is 26. This is about on par with the plug-in luxury competition, but considering the 4-cyl turbo gas-only CT6 is EPA rated for a combined 25, that number is also disappointing.

So I'm pretty far from impressed; and I still think it was a mistake to kill the ELR completely, which in some significant ways was a better effort, especially in its 2016 guise. If we don't see some seriously better models from Cadillac on the electrification front, they could sink before you know it IMO. It really seems like Cadillac phoned this one in, just to have a model in China that could benefit from their rules.

 

[volt11]

It has been reported that the space requirements of the battery module precluded offering the Panaray and rear-steer features.

I believe you're correct. And if you look at the specs, it has the 10-speaker Bose Centerpoint system, which is no slouch, but doesn't have the Panaray system even available.

As to what Blastphemy said about a few other things:
- I wouldn't be so sure that the PIH CT6 is faster than all the other variants; I'm pretty sure by the numbers the 404-hp twin turbo option should be faster, being more powerful and also lighter, but maybe off the line torque makes the PIH feel faster;
- trunk space is reduced by about 5 cu.ft. compared to the non-hybrid, and as such its 10.6 cu. ft. are about equal to the ELR. I find the ELR trunk is a very usable space, and it has the added advantage over the CT6 of dual pass-throughs with fold-down rear seats (the center "waterfall" is fixed.);
- CUE was much improved in the 2016 ELR (compared to the 2014), so I'm going to contradict your "complete disaster" comment. In fact I've used the newer CUE in the XT5, and in many ways I prefer the CUE in my ELR, such as the fact that it has integrated Pandora and the new CUE does not.

 

[Qinsp]

It has been reported that the space requirements of the battery module precluded offering the Panaray and rear-steer features.

The ones we looked at did not have the Panaray.

Weirdness. All CT6 PHEVs are White or Black. 90% are white. No other colors yet. We want purple.

 

[Loboc]

I read somewhere that it is rumored the CT6 will get a V-8 for 2018MY.

Hard to believe that as light as this car is, it would only get 25mpg. CT6 is lighter than CTS.

2018 might see a bigger battery as well, but, that is wishful thinking at this point.

CT6 is way expensive for a PHEV. I'd either have to wait for a CPO or they drop the price by $30k. Not that I'm trading in my baby any time soon!

 

[Loboc]

The ones we looked at did not have the Panaray.

Weirdness. All CT6 PHEVs are White or Black. 90% are white. No other colors yet. We want purple.

Almost all CT6s here in Texas are black. I did see a white gasser on the showroom floor.

 

[DonC]

As mentioned there is no Panaray option. The battery takes up the space needed for that. What you heard was the base sound system, which is very good. IMO the seats are fantastic with more adjustments than what you have on the ELR. Anyone should be able to find a comfortable seating position. Also I don't see a big difference in the quality of the interiors. It's not like comparing the interior of the ELR to the XT5, which is a big difference. Contrary to what you think you saw, the trunk space is actually almost even, with the CT6 hybrid having one less cubic foot of space. Admittedly this is not remotely comparable to an SUV. However, the extra 27 cubic feet of passenger space more than makes up for the trunk. With more passenger room than the XT5, plenty of room to carry stuff in the back.

The additional tech is also worth a mention.

Range in the real world will likely beat 30 miles. Also of note is that AFAIK there are no options, which makes price comparisons very easy. Can't say I'm bummed about 90% being white. It's my fav color on this car.

 

[DonC]

I read somewhere that it is rumored the CT6 will get a V-8 for 2018MY.

Hard to believe that as light as this car is, it would only get 25mpg. CT6 is lighter than CTS.

CT6 is way expensive for a PHEV. I'd either have to wait for a CPO or they drop the price by $30k. Not that I'm trading in my baby any time soon!

Hard to imagine any car getting a V8 these days with CAFE. Agree that 25 MPH sounds bad but the hybrid is rated at ... drum roll ... 26! The good thing is that the 2.0L is 30 MPG on the highway. This is really one of those situations when you definitely want to use the battery on surface roads and the engine on the freeway. I also think the 26 MPG and 30 miles of range even in a vehicle with mixed material construction are two good reasons why we haven't seen Voltec in an SUV!

I think the CT6 is very well priced for a large luxury car. If you take the standard CT6 luxury and add the options that come standard on the CT6 PHEV, the PHEV is less expensive once you factor in the tax credit. So interesting pricing.

 

[Qinsp]

There is no EPA numbers submitted for the CT6 Hybrid yet. I doubt a GM Hybrid will get less city economy than highway.
25 mpg Combined EPA is GM's submittal for the 2.0T. However, is it accurate? GM has a history of understatement.
Motor Trend tested the gas 2.0T in Dec and report real world at 20 CITY/37.5 HWY. Not too bad for a 110 cubic foot full sized car.

The 2.0T Hybrid drivetrain is probably going to exceed that.

 

[Blastphemy]

As mentioned there is no Panaray option. The battery takes up the space needed for that. What you heard was the base sound system, which is very good.

Actually, I cheated - after driving the CT6 plug-in, I sat in a gas CT6 that had Panaray to hear it (because the plug-in on the lot didn't have it). My dealer told me that his configurator indicated Panaray was an upgradable option for the CT6 plug-in, but that he has no control over how initial shipments are put together.

The 10-speaker system in the plug-in I drove did not even come close to the Panaray system, and I would never buy a CT6 without Panaray. Ergo, if it turns out the plug-in can't have Panaray, then I won't have a CT6. Being a musician, I need the best sound system possible (which is why it has such a strong influence on which car I buy).

Contrary to what you think you saw, the trunk space is actually almost even, with the CT6 hybrid having one less cubic foot of space.

Which means the CT6 plug-in's trunk is smaller than the ELR's, just as I said.

 

[Qinsp]

The trunk in the CT6 PHEV is a serious issue. No full sized Cadillac should be shipped like that. It's a disgrace, and if we decide on the TT Platinum instead of the PHEV, it will be due to the trunk. Seriously.

 

[DonC]

Actually, I cheated - after driving the CT6 plug-in, I sat in a gas CT6 that had Panaray to hear it (because the plug-in on the lot didn't have it).

I'm surprised that you didn't comment on the HUD or the infrared vision or the mirror or the surround vision or the info system for the rear seats. Also surprised you didn't try out the forward and rear collision auto braking systems. Those would definitely be high on my list of things to loo at.

 

[Bacardi]

If we spend 15 seconds on the Caddy configuration...No 34 speaker Panaray option for the PHEV, but a car stereo shop could most likely get better qualify for cheaper...For the ICE CT6, to add the Panaray, at a minimum the MSRP will just a hair below $70K as you have to increase the trim which adds the V6TT and AWD and add the audio package...Appears you cannot get the more economical engine (2.0T) and Panaray at all in the in any CT6...

 

[Blastphemy]

I'm surprised that you didn't comment on the HUD or the infrared vision or the mirror or the surround vision or the info system for the rear seats. Also surprised you didn't try out the forward and rear collision auto braking systems. Those would definitely be high on my list of things to look at.

Not going to write one of my usually thorough evaluations, though, because I really don't have a lot to say.

Self-explanatory.

But if you must know, the 360-degree parking cameras are vastly inferior to Infiniti/Nissan's system, and the ability to record video while driving is a hot mess (low resolution and low frame rate). Cadillac just can't seem to put high-resolution cameras in its cars, or perhaps it's the software that can't interpolate the video properly. Either way, I wasn't impressed.

The rear view video mirror was also a joke. Not only is the refresh rate too low, but the image doesn't adjust as you move the mirror to a different angle. It's a half-assed attempt at something another carmaker will eventually do better.

And if the Cadillac's engineers truly failed to figure out how to put Panaray into the CT6 PHEV, they should all be fired for stupidity and laziness. Of all the technical challenges inherent in this car, that's not one that should have been insurmountable.

I guess after suffering through the debacle that was the ELR, I shouldn't be surprised that Cadillac has yet again disappointed with an overpriced PHEV that could have been spectacular.

 

[Qinsp]

...No 34 speaker Panaray option for the PHEV, but a car stereo shop could most likely get better qualify for cheaper...

Not from what reviewers are reporting. They are claiming that for some people the radio is the #1 reason to buy the car, that they have not heard better sound in a car.

 

[Bacardi]

Not from what reviewers are reporting. They are claiming that for some people the radio is the #1 reason to buy the car, that they have not heard better sound in a car.

There are some people who won't buy a car that isn't a manual trans or a CD player, are they a significant number? Let's look...
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/cadillac/ct6/cadillac-ct6-sales-numbers/

So we have 12000ish total CT6 sales, since the Panaray requires at least $15K in trim/options over base, you figure most sales do not include it...

 

[Qinsp]

There are some people who won't buy a car that isn't a manual trans or a CD player, are they a significant number? Let's look...
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/cadillac/ct6/cadillac-ct6-sales-numbers/

So we have 12000ish total CT6 sales, since the Panaray requires at least $15K in trim/options over base, you figure most sales do not include it...

Never discount 4 wheel steering, AWD, magnetic suspension, power massage seats, front and rear, individual infotainment in rear, surround and night vision + HUD.