Cadillac ATS Undercuts BMW 328i By $910
The Cadillac ATS will have a starting price of $33,990 for the base version equipped with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. The ATS will undercut the 4-cylinder turbocharged BMW 328i by $910.
The base engine’s 200 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque won’t get too many hearts racing. It’s likely to be used just to lure customers into the showrooms in the hopes of up-selling them to the $35,795 version with a 270 horsepower 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged 4-cylinder. Cadillac’s own press release said little about the 2.5L version, but was careful to tout the 2.0L as being available with a manual or automatic transmission as well as rear or all-wheel drive. The 3.6L V6 powered ATS will cost $42,090, a significant step up, but only an automatic transmission was mentioned. Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system will also be standard.
Having just seen an F30 328i on the street, and being wholly unimpressed with its “shrunk-in-the-wash-528i” looks, I think Cadillac may have an opportunity to finally take on BMW for the small luxury sedan crown. The Audi A4 is making a strong push for the title, but if Cadillac’s performance chops are really up to par, then the buff books (especially the outlets that got their CTS-V Wagon “long term testers”) will be able to crown a new champion, amid a field that includes an aging Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Infiniti G.
Of course, Cadillac has a history of only getting 80 percent of the way there when it comes to competitive products (ahem, CTS Coupe), and any new segment leader would be a reflection of the 3-Series fall from grace as much as any new product’s competence.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Who thinks that this car can compete with the Germans and Lexus? Seriously? Another cadillac that no one will buy (outside usa).
"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a few steps. I don’t think anyone at GM expects the ATS to outsell the 3 but “ya gotta start somewhere”. Indeed. So... did you also say that when Cadillac introduced the original CTS in 2003? Or the Catera in 1997? How about the third-gen STS in 2000? Or the second generation in 1992? The 1988 original, maybe? Did you say it when Cadillac introduced the original Seville in 1976? GM has had almost 40 years to get this segment right. Their shoes are worn. Time has run out, and the cash is nearly gone. BMW and Audi have nothing at all to fear from the ATS; it's nearly guaranteed that GM will continuing failing here.
Okay, So let's drop the conversation about the base engine. And I'll tell you why this car with the 2.0T is on my short list. I drive 80 miles a day and want a 0-60 anywhere between 6.5-8.0 seconds to facilitate getting onto the freeway. (Dallas drivers leave their manners behind as they drink their stupid soup behind the wheel in the morning.) I want a quiet cabin I want a stick I want to find a reasonably quick car that hides/blends in with crowd and enjoys cheap insurance because of the demographics of the people that buy them. So, I'm looking at the following: ATS Verano Turbo Focus SR (Okay, I know it doesn't sound right here, but demographically, the average buyer is around 50.) The reliability of German cars is a joke Except for the Mazda3 Speed there is else out there except the TSX?(Have not looked at yet.) I am open to any suggestions, maybe a Subaru? (No German cars please, I am done being a masochist.)
I'm sorry, are they serious? A measly $900 savings versus a 3-series? Wow, that almost makes the 3-series seem like a bargain. Cadillac's 2.5 liter in no way competes with BMW's new turbo-four and Cadillac's turbo-four in no way competes with BMW's turbo-six. This is to be expected. They're going to have to offer a much bigger cost savings than that.