The 2015 ATS Coupe is a well-proportioned, beautifully appointed Caddy that is fun to drive without being overwhelming. It features a distinctly Cadillac look and a smooth, nicely toned drive dynamic.
Quick Specs & Info |
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| 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe | Class: Luxury sport coupe | ||
| Base Model | As Tested: [Model designation] | ||
| Powertrain | 2.0L i4, 6spd manual | Powertrain | 3.6L V6, 6spd auto |
| Base MSRP | $37,995 | MSRP as tested | $53,110 |
Overview
When I first saw the ATS sedan a couple of years ago at a car show, I liked the look. Once I’d driven it, I found it, frankly, underwhelming as a total experience. This smaller, more nimble two-door, however, is a very different story.
The 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe has a beautiful profile that is both graceful and sharp. Unlike the larger CTS, with its huge rear haunch, the ATS has a more refined cruiser appeal.
This carries into the cabin where the driver will find that the smooth, highway-ready look of the exterior is the reality behind the wheel.
Earlier on CarNewsCafe, Jimmy Dinsmore wrote of his enjoyment of the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe with the turbocharged four-cylinder. I drove the six-cylinder option for this review.
Under the ATS Hood
Our 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe was powered by the smooth 3.6-liter V6 that has made its mark in the larger sedan. This engine produces 321 horses and 275 lb-ft of torque. It runs exclusively through a responsive six-speed automatic in rear-wheel drive with all-wheel drive as an option.
Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg combined, per the EPA; not far off the 24 mpg rating for the four-cylinder.
Performance times in the V6 ATS were good, though not stellar. The ATS is more suited to road driving and corner handling and does this with surety. With the V6, the exhaust note is beautiful as it nimbly powers up the highway and accelerates out of corners with grace.
Behind the Wheel of the 2015 ATS Coupe
This brings us to the driving experience of this little coupe. The 2015 ATS Coupe is a joy to drive. When “tooling” through town with a friend, it’s a machine that lets you largely ignore the details of driving and instead comfortably converse as the car glides along. Out on the open highway, though, the lurking sportiness of the ATS Coupe emerges and the car becomes driving joy.
The interior is exceptionally quiet while allowing the engine’s lovely sound to permeate when pressed. The transmission is smooth and quick and handling is precise and sure.
In short the 2015 ATS Coupe is a real driver’s car that exemplifies both comfort and driving joy.
An Interior That Only Cadillac Could Pull Off
The interior of the 2015 ATS Coupe is gorgeous. It is a mixture of posh comfort and near-ostentatious wood and leather mixtures. As we drove it, the ATS had no fewer than four layers of sumptuous materials. Watch the video below to see it first hand. Note the beautiful Kona Brown leather.
Competition
The two-door luxury sports car segment has largely been dominated by the German makes. The four-cylinder BMW 228i, for example, offers strong competition for the Caddy ATS. Where the Bimmer is more sport-oriented, however, the Cadillac is more luxurious. Audi also offers good coupes in this market, with stronger contention for a luxury focus.
Strong Points
The V6 offers good engine power balanced for the coupe’s small size.
The driving refinement is second only to the interior’s excellence.
Weaknesses
All of the impracticality of a coupe, of course, though the trunk is sizable.
Some may find the interior over the top.
Conclusions
Our experience in the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe was proof enough that this is a sophisticated, nicely-balanced sport coupe. It is a true highway driver and is a joy to propel down the straights and caress around corners. A well-made machine.
Test Period Length and Limitations
The 2015 ATS Coupe was a manufacturer’s press loan for about a week. During that time, we put 114 miles on the car in a mixture of highway, freeway, and in-town driving.
