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When my 10-year-old grandson settled into the Cadillac CTS, he immediately recognized it as the model that has the pop-up navigation screen and the commercial that asks, “When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”

Cadillac is no doubt tickled that a youngster recognizes this car. The all-new CTS is part of a companywide push to reach a younger audience, and it is doing so with a car that has European manners, clean styling and an appealing interior.

In my opinion, the redesigned 2008 CTS is one of the best Cadillacs to come along in years. Motor Trend magazine awarded it their Car of the Year.

Prices start at $32,990, and that’s $540 less than the 2007. Standard features include a Bose stereo with eight speakers, the Stabilitrak vehicle stability program, tire-pressure monitoring system, 17-inch wheels and handcrafted accents for the cabin.

Rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. Rear-wheel drive gives the best balance for handling, while all-wheel drive gives enhanced traction for snow and rain.

The base 3.6-liter engine with variable valve timing has 263 horsepower, while a direct-injection version of the same engine produces 304 horses. The transmission is a six-speed automatic that can be shifted manually.

The test car was equipped with the base engine and the sport suspension. The engine is smooth and quiet, and the 263 horsepower is spread across a wide powerband that gives the car enhanced drivability. Acceleration is brisk, and the transmission’s firm shifts are pleasant. To reduce noise, Cadillac uses sound-deadening panels around the engine and sealed the hood opening with a rubber seal like that on the doors.

Earlier in the year, I drove a preproduction model on some two-lane highways east of Carmel, Calif., and on those roads the suspension felt a bit harsh. During my time with the car in Kansas City, however, the ride never felt objectionably stiff. Responsive handling is the payoff for the sports suspension.

The ’08 CTS reflects years of hard work and homework by Cadillac’s engineers and designers. The styling is lean and clean. There’s a hint of forward movement throughout the design even while the car is standing still. Fat fender flares cover the wheels, and the rear fenders taper toward the trunk to accentuate the car’s stance when viewed from behind.

The CTS interior is one of the best ever from Cadillac. The choice of materials seems fitting for a car in this segment, and the fit and finish of interior panels is excellent. The instrument panel is covered with a heavily textured material that is accented with French stitching. Three gauges rest under a small hood, and the center stack is covered with brushed aluminum. Tasteful strips of woodgrain trim highlight the dash and door panels.

Night interior lighting uses subtle LEDs to highlight various parts of the cabin. An optional lighting package consists of LEDs that emit a soft glow from the bottom edge of the wood trim and give the dash a three-dimensional shape in the dark.

On the road, the CTS is extremely quiet. Triple door seals and a windshield with no visible seal help reduce wind noise.

The CTS embodies a host of technological features that include a 40-gig hard disc that not only stores music but also allows the listener to pause the radio for up to 60 minutes and resume listening without a break. A surround-sound stereo is optional.

A navigation screen pops up from the center of the dash, and its display is easy to read and use. Voice activation is included. It displays real-time traffic information via XM satellite radio. The CTS has a single-slot DVD video system that enables DVDs to be viewed when the car’s transmission is in Park.

Other CTS features include a heated windshield washer system, rear ultrasonic park assist, heated and ventilated front seats and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column.

Prices The base price is $32,990. Options on the test car included 18-inch wheels with the performance suspension, limited-slip differential, heated leather seats, Bose stereo with 10-speaker surround sound, navigation system, XM satellite radio, Sapele wood trim and metallic paint. The sticker price was $43,325.

Warranty Four years or 50,000 miles with a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.