2019 Cadillac ATS-V Review

America's answer to the dominance of high-performance European sport sedans comes from a brand better known for once setting the world standard for luxury. The 2019 Cadillac ATS-V isn't a large land yacht like its predecessors of 50 years ago. Rather, it's a compact coupe with outstanding performance, comfort and style. It's a welcome alternative to those autobahn burners from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Blessed with the inherently good bones of Cadillac's sharp-handling base ATS, the ATS-V ratchets up the car's capability several notches with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, beefy brakes, and a trick suspension that constantly adapts in milliseconds to changing road surfaces (Cadillac calls it "Magnetic Ride Control"). This suspension gives the ATS-V exceptional control at the racetrack, although we've found it stiff and unforgiving out on the road in daily use. Drivers oriented toward handling excellence understand that this often comes with the territory, but the reward is a car that's the sharpest and most agile in its class — no small feat given the prowess of its competitors.

The 464-horsepower V6 engine generates absurd power for a car of this size, and it comes paired with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Power flows to the rear wheels only, another trait that speaks to the enthusiast driver's heart. In our testing, the ATS-V sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, yet it still achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 20 mpg combined.

Capable and fast, the ATS-V sacrifices some function with its small cabin dimensions, cramped back seat and small trunk. For 2019, the ATS-V gives up additional function by dropping the sedan version, leaving only the two-door coupe and its more challenging rear-seat entry and exit.

We've also found its touchscreen tech interface a bit more clever than practical, with its touch-sensitive slider controls and deep menu structures. A knob and a few more hard buttons would be less distracting to use while driving. Make peace with the ATS-V's few foibles, though, and the car's thrills outweigh its flaws, especially for the price.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Cadillac ATS-V Coupe (turbo 3.6L V6 | 8-speed automatic | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2016, the current ATS-V has received only minor revisions. As such, our findings remain applicable to this year's model.