Used 2012 Cadillac CTS-V for sale 

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is available only in a single trim level, but this trim level is a very well-equipped one and consists of 19-inch wheels, summer performance tires, high-performance brakes, limited-slip differential, magnetically controlled adaptive suspension, automatic and adaptive headlights with washers, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated eight-way power front seats, and so on. 

However, one will find that the options list is quite limited and is restricted to heated and ventilated Recaro sport seats, faux suede covering for the steering wheel and shifter, and a tilt-only sunroof.

We Recommend

We feel that the standalone Cadillac CTS-V is quite generous with its standard features. However, its optional feature list does not bring a lot of changes or customization options, and hence, almost all buyers will get pretty much the same equipment. However, it still offers much more than what you can find in the price range and excuses saying this, but even at $63,215, we feel that it is still a pretty value-for-money car.

The Cadillac CTS-V comes with a supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, while a six-speed automatic transmission is available as an option. Even though this is a no-cost option, it is not advised as the car feels best with the manual. 

The manual transmission is one of the things that make the car quite desirable, and hence, is not something to part ways with. Rear-wheel drive is the only powertrain available and makes sense given the wild nature of the car.

After looking at the spec sheets, one does not doubt the strength of Cadillac’s powertrain. It returns nearly the highest power output and also the best 0 to 60 mph figure of its class. The car is also very eager to finish the quarter-mile in just 12.5 seconds. However, its competitors cost much more than it while returning only lesser performance. What they have going for them is that they focus a bit more on luxury and build quality while the Cadillac is not entirely there yet.

One more area where it really suffers when it comes to fuel efficiency and it does so in classic American muscle car fashion. The car is a very thirsty drinker and returns an EPA estimated 14 MPG in the city, 19 MPG on the highway, and 18 MPG in the combined cycle. Even with the fuel tank with a decent capacity of 18 gallons, it returns a skimpy 252 miles in the city and 342 miles of range on the highway.

The Cadillac and the BMW fuel efficiency and range, which comes as no surprise because these are the cars with the highest power output in the class. The Porsche Panamera is the most fuel-efficient by virtue of its smaller engine as it offers a combined mileage of 21 MPG. The smallest tank comes in the Cadillac, which results in the lowest range in the segment. The Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG returns respectable figures and also comes with excellent performance.

The interior of the Cadillac CTS V is entirely similar to the one that you can find in the regular CTS. Even though there are a lot of soft-touch panels and some wood trim, one cannot help but notice that it does not feel very well put together. However, it is still decent and is very inviting as well.

The space offered inside is also quite cramped, especially in terms of headroom both in the front and rear rows. The trunk space on offer is the worst in the segment at 13.6 cu-ft.

All cars in this category seat five adults, except the Porsche, which seats only four. But in terms of cargo space, the Mercedes Benz leads the category with 15.9 ft.³. If we had to pick the two most luxurious cars of the segment that would be the BMW M5 and the Mercedes Benz E 63 AMG. The Cadillac is not far behind but has some improvements to be made. Some of its interior features include:

• Handcrafted cut-and-sewn interior
• 20-way adjustable power front seats
• Semi-aniline leather seating with suede microfiber inserts
• Automatic heated steering wheel
• Remote start function
• Rearview camera
• Dual-zone climate control
• Wood inlays

2012 Cadillac CTS-V Infotainment unit

The infotainment unit in the Cadillac is a 7-inch touchscreen interface. It pops up and retracts into the dashboard and is a very elegant solution. The menu and controls are really intuitive and can be easily learned and used while driving. However, some of its competitors offer much better and modern systems. Few standout infotainment features available are-

• AM / FM stereo
• USB connection
• Memory card slot
• 11 speakers
• 600 watts studio output
• Satellite radio
• Speed sensitive volume control

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V has excellent exterior design and styling. It is aggressive and has powerful lines and sharp creases. A heavy emphasis on aerodynamics is also visible to the naked eye. Cadillac has incorporated the now-iconic V-Performance mesh grille correctly into its front.

There are a lot of air ducts that feed the supercharged 6.2L engine as well. One can definitely feel that there is something brewing under the hood when you look at the sedan.

One can see that all cars in the segment are somewhat of the same dimensions and that all are quite big. What’s surprising is that the Porsche Panamera is one of the largest cars of the lot but also the lightest. The BMW M5 is the heaviest at 4387 pounds and this shows that the Cadillac has succeeded in its pursuit to cut weight. Some of the standout exterior features of the CTS-V include:

• V Performance grille
• Functional aero design
• Carbon fiber hood
• Sunroof
• Standard 19 inch forged wheels

The regular Cadillac CTS has been crash-tested by the IIHS and the NHTSA. It returns an overall five-star rating in the NHTSA crash test and the IIHS has awarded it an overall rating of ‘Good’ which makes it one of the safest cars around. It packs a lot of amazing safety technology that includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front and rear parking sensors, airbags, ABS, and so on. Some standout safety features include:

• Rearview camera
• Blindspot warning system
• OnStar telematics
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Rear Parking Sensors

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is your best bet if you’re looking for a car that has the most performance and the most luxury. It is powered by a 6.2L V-8 engine that is very characterful and provides mind-blowing performance, and its six-speed manual transmission makes it a very unique car as well. When compared to its competitors, it tips the scale in favor of performance more than luxury. Overall, if what you are looking for is a thrill behind the steering wheel, the 2012 CTS-V sedan is for you.