2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe: Up Close

The CTS coupe, a car GM placed on hiatus during its bankruptcy, joins a sedan and wagon to give the CTS nameplate as many variants as a typical BMW or Audi might offer. True to the CTS coupe concept shown at last year’s Detroit auto show, this is no watered-down production version — the arcing taillights, central exhaust pipes and brash C-pillars are the stuff of concept cars and will make it to driveways.

GM went that direction with the Chevrolet Camaro, and owners paid a price for it in visibility, backseat room and trunk space. I’m glad to see that isn’t the case for the CTS coupe. The car’s sightlines are decent, though I could only gauge this in the auto show’s static setting. The C-pillars are small enough and the rear head restraints are also tiny, keeping blind spots minimal; sizable side mirrors should keep adjacent traffic on your radar. The front seat belts need no device that keeps them within reach; they’re easy to grab, which is unusual in a two-door car.

I’m not wild about the coupe’s electronic door handles. Like in the Chevy Corvette, you reach into a crevice to press a button that unlatches it. That’s fine, but it also means the cabin swaps the CTS sedan’s tasteful door handles for plastic buttons. It may be high-tech, but it feels low-rent.

The backseat is a squeeze to get into, but adults should find legroom manageable. I’m 5 feet 11 inches tall and my head mashed the headliner. If I leaned back, I wouldn’t quite reach the rear glass — a more tenable position, at least until the road got bumpy.

At 10.5 cubic feet, the trunk is small. Granted, buying a luxury coupe for the trunk room is like getting a Whopper for the fiber. Like fast food, the CTS coupe is a guilty pleasure.

&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668760172,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_24_324_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2524_4153193685_228dd17815_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70660 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/62/-611733448-1425510864462.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:24″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/62/-611733448-1425510864462.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2524/4153193685_228dd17815.jpg”,”externalid”:”70660″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511953574,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668762028,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_28_196_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2680_4153193485_98dffa79b4_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71050 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/84/-386489056-1425510868384.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:28″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/84/-386489056-1425510868384.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4153193485_98dffa79b4.jpg”,”externalid”:”71050″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511963835,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668762693,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_29_679_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2723_4153954746_1672a88f85_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71204 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/58/1006507532-1425510869758.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:29″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/58/1006507532-1425510869758.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4153954746_1672a88f85.jpg”,”externalid”:”71204″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511967879,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668761716,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_12_282_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2655_4153954700_d120342e01_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 69838 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/41/-377695208-1425510852341.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:12″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/41/-377695208-1425510852341.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/4153954700_d120342e01.jpg”,”externalid”:”69838″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511962021,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668759996,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_23_922_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2510_4153193613_cbc54a220f_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70589 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/69/-1050106231-1425510863969.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:23″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/69/-1050106231-1425510863969.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/4153193613_cbc54a220f.jpg”,”externalid”:”70589″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511952583,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668761481,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_27_024_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2639_4153954532_4be528f13f_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70927 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/80/-741299859-1425510867080.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:27″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/80/-741299859-1425510867080.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/4153954532_4be528f13f.jpg”,”externalid”:”70927″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511960791,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668760215,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_24_431_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2526_4153954432_de19bb5425_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70642 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/3/1382273233-1425510864503.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:24″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/3/1382273233-1425510864503.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2526/4153954432_de19bb5425.jpg”,”externalid”:”70642″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511953782,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668763233,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_30_803_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2756_4153954356_4244937936_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71333 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/73/2105554789-1425510870873.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:30″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/73/2105554789-1425510870873.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4153954356_4244937936.jpg”,”externalid”:”71333″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511971072,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668756775,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_26_735_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2628_4153954256_ae401c9d04_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70889 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/1/-1968451565-1425510866801.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:26″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/1/-1968451565-1425510866801.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/4153954256_ae401c9d04.jpg”,”externalid”:”70889″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511934628,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668761511,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_27_116_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2642_4153193163_63248decb5_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70944 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/99/1673336412-1425510867199.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:27″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/99/1673336412-1425510867199.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4153193163_63248decb5.jpg”,”externalid”:”70944″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511960970,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668763820,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_32_218_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2792_4153193103_b698d6a3e0_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71485 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/9/-583152363-1425510872309.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:32″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/9/-583152363-1425510872309.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4153193103_b698d6a3e0.jpg”,”externalid”:”71485″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511974402,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668762704,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_29_705_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2724_4153193009_d14a719532_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71158 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/68/-1593223087-1425510869768.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:29″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/68/-1593223087-1425510869768.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4153193009_d14a719532.jpg”,”externalid”:”71158″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511967912,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668763857,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_32_284_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2793_4153953918_f4f00a4c54_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71472 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/67/1565112320-1425510872367.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:32″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/67/1565112320-1425510872367.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4153953918_f4f00a4c54.jpg”,”externalid”:”71472″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511974588,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668757838,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_15_827_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2704_4153953850_e7909a4ce8_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70009 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/1/440212359-1425510855901.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:15″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/1/440212359-1425510855901.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4153953850_e7909a4ce8.jpg”,”externalid”:”70009″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511940621,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668763220,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_30_740_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2755_4153953820_f5c2bdb7ef_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71331 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/13/-309133358-1425510870813.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:30″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/13/-309133358-1425510870813.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4153953820_f5c2bdb7ef.jpg”,”externalid”:”71331″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511971044,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668763665,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_31_813_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2780_4153953760_a5766536ef_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71432 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/74/-1009061673-1425510871874.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:31″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/74/-1009061673-1425510871874.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2780/4153953760_a5766536ef.jpg”,”externalid”:”71432″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511973539,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668762484,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_16_297_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2709_4153192665_b77cfb28e7_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70016 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/55/427217427-1425510856355.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:16″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/55/427217427-1425510856355.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4153192665_b77cfb28e7.jpg”,”externalid”:”70016″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511966526,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668761676,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_27_415_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2653_4153953588_aef4378a04_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 70981 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/91/-1544011830-1425510867591.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:27″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/91/-1544011830-1425510867591.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2653/4153953588_aef4378a04.jpg”,”externalid”:”70981″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511961847,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668761984,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_28_111_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2678_4153953534_d25e5beba7_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71061 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/61/1920260929-1425510868261.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:28″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/61/1920260929-1425510868261.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4153953534_d25e5beba7.jpg”,”externalid”:”71061″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511963606,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&&&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_START&&&&& {“id”:1420668763216,”originalName”:”2015_03_04_17_14_30_712_http___farm3_static_flickr_com_2755_4153192457_5edfaf1394_jpg”,”name”:”MMS ID 71325 (created by CM Utility)”,”URI”:”/74/-1001253112-1425510870774.”,”createDate”:”2015-03-04 05:14:30″,”metadata”:{“AUTHOR”:”automatic-content-migration”,”KEYWORDS”:””},”href”:”https://www.cstatic-images.com/stock/1170×1170/74/-1001253112-1425510870774.”,”description”:”Came from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4153192457_5edfaf1394.jpg”,”externalid”:”71325″,”updatedby”:”cmuadmin”,”updateddate”:1425511971007,”associations”:{}} &&&&&EMBEDDED_ELEMENT_END&&&&&