2015 Cadillac ATS

The 2015 Cadillac ATS is a five-passenger compact luxury sport sedan offered in four trim levels: the Base, Luxury, Performance and the Premium.  The 2015 Cadillac ATS standard features on the base adjustment include 17-inch wheels alloy, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, key-less ignition and entry, cruise control, the dual-zone automatic climate control, 6 way power front seats with lumbar support electric, vinyl upholstery with high quality synthetic leather, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, the OnStar 4G Wi-Fi capability, Bluetooth phone connectivity and the seven-speaker Bose sound system with satellite radio, iPod interface / USB and an auxiliary audio jack.

Optional on the 2015 Cadillac ATS base is the infotainment system Cadillac User Experience (CUE), bundled with an upgraded 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio, streaming Bluetooth audio, rear view camera, three USB ports and HD Radio. Luxury setting includes CUE interface and sensors front and rear parking, rear view camera, remote engine start, power front seats eight positions, driver memory functions, upholstery leather, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, auto-dimming rearview and driver’s side mirrors, Bluetooth streaming audio, 3 USB ports, HD radio and wireless charging cell phone. The upgraded Bose sound system and a navigation system are optional on the luxury.

Performance tuning to xenon adaptive equipment of luxury equipment, LED lights up, Bose audio system with 10 speakers surround sound, adds sport front seats, aluminum-trimmed pedals, steering wheel paddles, and as the basis for ATS, a fixed rear seat with pass-through. Also includes a packet driver awareness. Stepping up the top trim adds 18-inch wheels, a navigation system, a head-up display in color, a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel and 60/40-split rear seat folding. Models of rear-wheel drive ATS premium also come with run-flat summer tires, a sport suspension, adaptive damping suspension and a limited slip rear differential.

Many of the standard features on higher MIC ‘are optional on lower trims. There are several packages of options. The Driver Assist package Package includes the features of driver awareness and adds adaptive cruise control, monitoring blind spots, a collision mitigation system with brake assist collision and color Head-Up Display. Cold Weather Package includes heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Available only on V6 Premium RWD models, the Performance Track package adds an engine oil cooler and brake pads upgrade. Other options include different wheels, a sunroof, and a trunk cargo organizer.

2015 Cadillac ATS Interior

Inside, the 2015 Cadillac ATS has a variety of high quality materials, including wood and the metal accents tasteful. The cabin feels solidly together, but have noticed some more fit and finish issues in ATS than similarly priced competitors. The interface available CUE infotainment features large icons and works by tapping, sliding or spreading your fingers – so it is vaguely familiar to smartphone users. Moreover, the “haptic” feedback lets you know when you’ve pressed a virtual button by pressing when you touch it.

All this leads to a certain wow factor, but in practice, CUE can slow to respond, and some features such as the slide bar to adjust the volume, are be more trouble than conventional controls. In this class, the BMW iDrive interfaces COMAND and Mercedes-Benz is preferred. Up front, most drivers will find it easy to get a comfortable driving position, and in experience,  firm front seats provide ample support in the larger units. Interestingly, the optional sports seats do not provide much lateral seats as standard, even with the addition of electrically adjustable bolsters support.

The 2015 Cadillac ATS rear seat is smaller than most luxury sport sedans entry level. Not necessarily a deal breaker depending on what your priorities are, but know that taller adults can find headroom, shoulder and low legs. Trunk similarly lacks in space. Despite its wide opening, with only 10.2 cubic feet capacity, and only luxury and Premium trims have a 60/40 split folding rear seat.

2015 Cadillac ATS Engine

Three engines are available for 2015 Cadillac ATS. The models come with a 2.5 liter four-cylinder 2.5-liter that produces 202 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. All ATS engines come standard with rear-wheel drive and six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA estimated fuel economy for the 2.5 ATS base is 25 mpg combined (21 city / 33 highway).

2.0 Turbo models come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque engine. A six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive is optional. We have yet to test the ATS with its improved engine, but in previous tests, a rear-drive ATS 2.0T with automatic accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, which is average for the segment. We expect the 2015 ATS be a bit faster. Equipped with automatic, 2.0 Turbo models are estimated to return 24 mpg combined (21/30) in the configuration of rear wheel drive and 23 mpg combined (20/28) with AWD. With the manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive ATS 2.0 Turbo is rated at 23 mpg combined (19/30).

3.6 models come with a 3.6-liter V6 that cranks out 321 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. Traction is optional. In testing, a rear-drive ATS premium 3.6 accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. This is also the average for the segment. The V6 is estimated to achieve 22 mpg combined (18/28) with rear wheel drive and 21s (18/26) with AWD.

2015 Cadillac ATS Safety

Standard safety features for the 2015 Cadillac ATS include antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control, the active front head restraints, front seat side and knee airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard are OnStar, which includes automatic collision notification, roadside assistance on demand, remote door unlock, the stolen vehicle assistance and turn-by-turn navigation.

There are two options packages related to security, Luxury trim Safety and security package, and the performance and driver awareness of the Premium Package. Both include rear side airbags a forward collision warning, lane change warning system and maintenance support, and seat safety alert button humming driver’s seat as an additional way of warning. The Driver Assist package reinforces the content with adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and collision mitigation system that will automatically apply the brakes at low speed both forwards and back potential collision situations: an unusual feature in this price range. A rear-view camera is standard on all models except the base model, the case is optional.

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