Used 2018 Cadillac ATS-V for sale 

The 2018 ATS-V is a standalone trim of the ATS sedan lineup and is equipped with 3.6L V6 twin-turbocharged engine producing 464 hp and 445 lb.-ft torque. Being the performance-oriented trim, the ATS-V comes equipped with a variety of features such as 18-way power-adjustable and heated front sport seats, carbon fiber hood, Michelin Pilot summer tires, an electronic limited-slip differential, an updated Cadillac CUE infotainment system with smartphone integration, Bose premium audio system, front and rear park assist and a rearview camera, to name a few. 

Other than the features mentioned in the table mentioned above, you can opt for a wide variety of additional features, packages, and options. The car comes in single trim but offers multiple packages to enhance your driving experience. The Luxury Package adds premium features like the Bose surround sound system, a navigation system, and more. The Safety and Security package is an add-on to the Luxury package offering better safety tech and features. For those who want their ATS-V to be race-track ready, the Track Performance package and the Carbon Fiber Package can add some mechanical and cosmetic additions to the car to make it look more sporty and improve its performance as well.

The 2018 Cadillac ATS-V is powered by an LF4 3.6L V6 twin-turbocharged gasoline-powered engine that churns out 464 horsepower and 445 foot-pounds of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and comes as a rear-wheel-drive as standard. If stick shifting is not your thing, you can opt for the optional 8-speed automatic transmission as well. However, we would recommend you to stick with the manual transmission as it is a lot better when compared to the slight lag when downshifting in the automatic transmission. The power delivery is aggressive for the most part with precise upshifts in the case of the automatic transmission. At higher speeds, the ATS-V is calm and composed thanks to the MacPherson strut suspension in the front and the independent five-link suspension in the rear. But at low speeds, the vehicle does seem to absorb a lot more undulations making the ride a bit jolty.

All the other rivals are automatic but the ATS-V is a stick shift manual which makes it more of a driver's car. The Cadillac is more powerful than the BMW M3 and the Audi S4 but the Mercedes AMG C63 S wins the competition as it has the highest power output among all of them. The Cadillac ATS-V can also be configured with an optional 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2018 Cadillac ATS-V Sedan offers power at a tap of the pedal. The vehicle is really nimble and agile and has equal power delivery across the rev bands. The ATS-V can scale past the 60 MPH mark from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds! These numbers are plenty impressive considering the segment the ATS-V falls in and the weight that it carries. The ATS-V can also blaze past the quarter-mile mark in just 12.2 seconds and has an astounding top speed of 189 MPH. Just to remind you once again, we are talking about a compact executive sporty sedan and not a full-blown sports car here! The fact that the ATS-V is able to achieve this number is just impressive on another level. The 3.9 seconds is the 0 - 60 MPH time that can be achieved with the manual transmission thanks to its no-lift shift function and active rev-matching  By opting for the 8-speed automatic, you can improve the time the 0 - 60 MPH time by 0.2 seconds translating to a 3.7 second 0 - 60 MPH time.

The Cadillac ATS-V is the quickest of the lot in the 0-60 MPH timing, beating the most powerful car the Mercedes-AMF C 63 S by 0.7 seconds. However, when it comes to the quarter-mile time, the ATS-V takes the third position after the AMG C63 S and the M3. The BMW M3 Sedan and the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-63 are more efficient in putting the power to the ground from a launch. Adding to that, the ATS-V's is manual transmission leads to torque loss during shifts which gives an advantage to the rivals. But by opting for the 8-speed automatic transmission, there is a possibility to beat them.

The suspension system in the 2018 Cadillac ATS-V is perfectly balanced between comfort and performance. The magnetic adaptive dampers which are adjustable in 3 modes, feel stiffer when changed from touring mode to sport or track mode as they become progressively stiffer for improving handling characteristics. The chassis is pretty well balanced, the steering is precise, and uses a high ratio as it requires a small input to go through a corner. The car handles well in corners, it rolls lesser thanks to the well-balanced chassis and the magnetic suspension. The ATS-V has four drive modes you can choose from, namely Tour Mode, Sport Mode, Track Mode, Snow/Ice Mode, and the Customization Mode. The throttle response, the steering, the suspension, and the power output changes as per the mode so to give you the perfect driving experience.

The Cadillac ATS-V is equipped with 4-wheel Brembo disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system(ABS). The front brakes are equipped with 14.5-inch discs and 6-piston Brembo brake calipers while the rear brakes are equipped with 13.3-inch discs and 4-piston Brembo brake calipers.  These specific sport brake systems are equipped with high-performance brake linings that are known to accumulate brake dust faster which results in more noise dissipation when braking than with standard linings. All this braking power helps the ATS-V to come to a standstill from 60 MPH in just 101 feet. 

The Cadillac ATS-V and the BMW M3 tie with a stopping distance of 101 feet. But it is worth noting that the ATS-V sedan is almost 200 pounds heavier than the M3. This goes to show its amazing braking power. The Mercedes-AMG C63 S takes the second position with a 60 - 0 MPH stopping distance of 114 feet, leaving the Audi S4 at the bottom of the table. 

The 2018 Cadillac ATS-V cannot be considered to be fuel-efficient. With all that power under the hood, you cannot expect fuel efficiency. The Cadillac ATS-V with the 6-speed manual transmission has a city MPG of 16 miles, highway MPG of 23 miles, and a combined MPG of 19 miles. The ATS-V with the 8-speed automatic transmission, on the other hand, has a city MPG of 17 miles, highway MPG of 25 miles, and a combined MPG of 20 miles. Sporty sedans are not fuel-efficient for the most part. But the fact that the ATS-V is able to provide such numbers is commendable.

The Audi S4 premium has the best combined-MPG of 24 miles, followed by the Mercedes-AMG C63 S that offers a combined MPG of 22 miles. The BMW M3 takes the third position with a 20-mile combined MPG, leaving the Cadillac ATS-V at the bottom of the table. However, the automatic transmission ATS-V offers a 20 mile combined range that puts it on par with the M3. The Audi S4 also has the best combined-range of 383 miles, followed by the AMG C63 S that has a combined range of 360 miles. The BMW M3 takes the third position with a 326 mile combined range, leaving the ATS-V at the bottom of the table with a 306 mile combined range.

The 2018 Cadillac ATS-V Sedan is comfortable with lots of room both in the front and second-row seating area. You can find soft-touch materials on almost all the panels you set your eyes on. The seats are upholstered with a combination of leather and suede. The leather and suede upholstery can also be found on the door panels and the dashboard. The front-row seats are 18-way power-adjustable and have a heating function as well. Opt for the optional Recaro seats and you will be able to get better bolstered and focussed seats which are also heated and power-adjustable. The magnet-actuated dampers provide a smooth ride without compromising with handling. Even though the ATS-V is considered to be a compact sedan, it assures enough space for 5 passengers. The front-row seats are a bit more low slung so as to give the driver a sportier seating position. 

In terms of overall passenger space availability, the BMW M3 is the most cavernous of the lot, followed by the Audi S4. Even though the Cadillac ATS-V has more front-row space than the Mercedes-AMG C63 S, the AMG C63 S has a lot more second-row space. The back seat room is the least in the ATS-V when compared to the others but can still accommodate three passengers.

Infotainment system

The Cadillac ATS-V comes equipped with the CUE 8-inch infotainment system. In our opinion, the CUE system used in the ATS-V does feel a bit outdated. But that doesn't go without saying that it works well without any noticeable lag or glitches. The system has three USB ports, so you can keep your stuff charged. The car comes with a front camera which is connected to the GPS and can be used for recording lap timings. The ATS-V also has a 5-inch driver information display place in the middle of the analog gauges that displays all the required vehicle information. The infotainment system is equipped with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, inbuilt-navigation, and Bose premium speakers.

These are some of the distinctive infotainment features offered in the 2018 Cadillac ATS-V:

• AM/FM Radio
• Personalized profiles for each driver's settings
• Natural Voice Recognition
• Apple CarPlay Compatibility
• Android Auto Compatibility
• Bose premium speakers
• Bose premium sound audio system (Optional)
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a 3-month all-access trial subscription
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Steering wheel controls
• Wireless Charging
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

• 18" alloy wheels
• Quad tip exhaust
• Carbon fiber hood
• Ducktail Spoiler
• Performance mesh Grille
• Body-color rocker panels
• Halogen Headlamps
• Carbon fiber Splitter
• Carbon Fiber Package (Optional)
• Track Performance Package (Optional)
• Championship Edition Package (Optional)

The 2018 Cadillac ATS-V achieved an overall NHSTA rating of 4 out 5 stars in which the car received 5 stars in every other test except for the frontal crash that received 4 stars. The ATS-V has not been specifically crash-tested by the IIHS. Even the regular ATS has not gone through all the tests that they conduct. But as per the tests that were conducted, the regular ATS got a 'Poor' score for its headlights, a 'Superior' score for the Driver Assist Package, and a 'Basic' score for the Driver Awareness Package. Hopefully, this doesn't translate to the safety aspect offered in the ATS-V.  The ATS-V's traction control system is pretty effective in wet conditions. Dual front and rear airbags with blind spot and lane departure warning make it relatively safe on the highways. These are some of the other safety features offered in the 2018 Cadillac ATS-V:

• Auto Delay Off Headlights
• Dual Front And Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags
• Engine Immobilizer
• Traction Control
• Post-Collision Safety System
• Front And Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes
• Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation
• Rear Center 3-Point Belt
• Rear Door Child Safety Locks
• Blind-Spot Monitoring System
• Lane Departure Warning 
• Accident Avoidance System
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system
• Cadillac Connected Access with 10 years of standard connectivity
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Rear Vision Camera
• Teen Driver configurable
• Child seat restraint system
• LATCH system
• Trunk emergency release handle
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Cadillac ATS-V Vs. BMW M3 Sedan

The M3 has got the M power 3.0L engine but its power output is lower than the Cadillac ATS-V Sedan. The M3 is slower from 0-60 mph but it covers the quarter mile faster than the ATS-V. On top of that, the 'M' division is known for coming up with some of the best performance cars in the automobile market making them a formidable force. But it does come at a high price. In our opinion, the ATS-V is the best option if you are shopping with a budget. But if you want to go for the best, the M3 is the better pick.

Cadillac ATS-V Vs. Mercedes-Benz AMG C-63 S

The C63 S AMG is a true AMG and puts out a decent amount of power. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz offers the best interior in the segment, with the help of some amazing materials and components. The C63 S AMG might not be the fastest from 0 - 60 MPH but easily takes the cake in the quarter-mile run. But yes, it comes at a premium price point. That said, the Cadillac ATS-V offers competitive performance at a lesser price tag making it the best of the two. But if you have the extra dough, you can consider the Mercedes-AMG C63 S.

Cadillac ATS-V Vs. Audi S4 Premium Plus

The Audi S4 is a lot slower than the competition and does not have any noteworthy performance aspects to point out. But it has good fuel economy and costs the least of all of them. The S4 is luxurious and provides more space for both passengers and cargo. That said, the Audi S4 is for those looking for an economic sports sedan. But when looking purely at performance. the ATS-V is a lot better.

The Cadillac ATS-V is a dual-character compact sedan that is just as good on the track as it is for city driving. The ATS-V is the quickest in the 0-60 mph and comes loaded with a variety of performance systems such as the adaptive magnetic dampers, an electronically limited slip-differential, extra-capacity cooling system, and a Brembo braking system that helps the sedan to achieve the feats that it is capable of. This ATS-V has good acceleration, top speed, braking, and superior ride quality making it an all-round package. Not to forget the 6-speed manual transmission that is pure bliss for driving enthusiasts.  All-in-all, the Cadillac ATS-V is a powerful and practical sedan worth adding to your driveway.