Check Out the 2014 Cadillac ATS

American auto makers have long made their name as makers of powerful pavement chomping muscle cars and massive, strong, and beastly work trucks continue to amaze by having a class of vehicles with each auto maker that can be put into the luxury category and in some cases lead the way over the luxury names most are used to. The Cadillac ATS for 2014 falls into this category by offering an excellent sports sedan with plenty of power, agility, and quickness but throws a curveball at the completion by also being a luxury car made by one of the world’s best luxury names in Cadillac.

Offering classic Cadillac styles with the elongated front end and chrome accents around the outside of the ATS, the look is classic and the ride even better. Offering the driver a quiet, smooth, and easy ride with super responsive handling, the FE3 suspension with the “Magnetic Ride Control” and an excellent amount of insulation from the road noises keeps the driver in their own world inside the luscious cabin of the car.

Three engines are available for the ATS offering anyone their choice under the hood and the ability to either choose power or fuel efficiency even though even the most fuel efficient ATS offers plenty of power to show off on the street. Beginning with the 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine giving the driver 202 horsepower and 191 lb.-ft. of torque; there is more than enough to be capable in traffic or on the open road. When partnered with the six-speed automatic transmission this is the most fuel efficient ATS at 22 city/33 hwy mpg a great savings at the pump with this beautiful car.

Next on the list is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that gives up 272 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque; a huge upgrade in power with a smaller block but adding the turbocharger makes a huge difference. This engine can be paired with three different transmissions starting with the rear-wheel drive automatic six-speed the fuel mileage comes in at 21 city/31 hwy mpg, continuing with the all-wheel drive automatic the fuel mileage shows up at 20 city/29 hwy mpg which is still pretty good while adding the capability of the all-wheel drive, finishing off with the rear-wheel drive six-speed manual transmission the fuel mileage comes in at 19 city/30 hwy mpg.

The final engine installment for the ATS is the big 3.6-liter V6 coming in with 321 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. When partnered with the six-speed automatic transmission in the rear-wheel drive version the fuel mileage is still a respectable 18 city/28 hwy mpg and 18 city/26 hwy mpg for the all-wheel drive set up. This fuel mileage is still an excellent consideration to make sure an owner is able to select the power of the big V6 engine under the hood of this model of the ATS.

Cadillac has long been known for its interior stylings and the ATS, although a sports sedan does not disappoint. Supple leather and real wood accents adorn the interior of the ATS along with a nice selection of pated-metal and carbon-fiber has been added for a complete feel of comfort, style, and luxury. Full of LED gauges and driver-centric controls the inside is well designed, comfortable, and accessible for the driver. Throughout the car passengers can enjoy the materials and comfort with plenty of legroom in the front and rear of the car.

On the outside, once again, are classic Cadillac stylings with the elongated front end, chrome accents all around the exterior, a beautiful grill, and LED-infused vertical headlights giving a unique look to the front of the car. Offering sharp lines but sleek smooth curve and a beautifully sloped hood and long front end the ATS is confident and imposing on the road. Well-designed 17-inch wheels are standard with an optional upgrade to 18-inch wheels finish off the classic and powerful look of the Cadillac ATS.

With four different trim levels to choose from, even the standard ATS offers great features to allow for an experience of creature comfort expected from Cadillac with power assisted everything, dual-zone automatic climate control, a seven-speaker Bose audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, eight airbags, and front and rear automatic braking which are all standard on the base model. On some of the higher trim levels standard features include Cadillac CUE infotainment interface and Bose Cabin Surround Sound as well as the addition of a navigation system can be found on the Premium models.

The optional equipment for the ATS is mostly trim level dependent but do include such safety niceties as Full-Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control, Adaptive Forward Lighting, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone Alert and Brake Pre-Fill Automatic Collision Preparation to help create the safest ATS possible with plenty of driver alerts to keep the vehicle where it belongs on the road.

When the word luxury is thrown around the price of a car usually jumps by $10,000 or more, but the 2014 Cadillac ATS enters the fray at a surprisingly low $34,000 for the base model; a great price for a car that offers plenty of luxury, power and even decent fuel efficiency. At the top of the list with a fully-loaded V6 model the price tag does jump, but to just over $50,000 which still doesn’t take the car too far from a reasonable price range, especially for a highly powerful and fully-loaded luxury sports sedan.

The 2014 Cadillac ATS is a fantastic buy at a surprisingly reasonable price. Offering great engine options, all the stylings and luxury expected from a Cadillac the ATS offers the owner the best of both worlds, both a great car to drive and an excellent price to keep from breaking the bank. Before heading to the BMW, Audi, or even Mercedes-Benz lots, any shopper should take a visit to the Cadillac dealership and see what the ATS has to offer.