In addition to a new front grille, the 2017 Cadillac CTS also delivers an all-new rear fascia with vertical exhaust orientation and valence panel changes.
The redesign changes the look and feel of the CTS’ rear end, giving it a more upright, vertical appearance compared to the more horizontal styling of the 2014-2016 CTS Sedan.
The question now is, which do you like better — the freshened design of the 2017 model, or the original of the 2014-2016 CTS?
Vote in the poll and then sound off in the comments just below.

2017 Cadillac CTS Sedan

2014 Cadillac CTS Sedan
Comments
The 2016 rear fascia looks better than the 2017. The horizontal exhausts make the car look like it has a more stabile stance, vs. the new vertical ones. And I like the chrome connecting to the two exhausts on the older model, which is absent in the new model. Seems like they just made a change for the sake of change, not an improvement. But it’s still a great looking car.
The 2016 rear fascia look more elegant than what they are doing for 2017 model.
It is like they take 1 step forward with the front then take a step back with the rear.
2017 looks terrible the horizontal was way nicer.
Did the Aztek designer come up with that new exhaust look?
More concerning to me appears to be the panel between the exhaust on the 2017. It appears black rather than body paint color in previous years–looks very cheap and unbecoming of a car in this class!
Good catch. I did not notice that. I agree.
Wow, you are right – who thought a black panel would look better than body color? It’s only going to look good if the car is black overall. I could actually drop the chrome strip between the two exhausts (as a bit of “freshening”) but they should have stayed horizontal and with the body colored panel in-between rather than black. It looks very cheap now (in any color but black), nice going bean-counters.
A refresh is probably a good thing……if it’s an improvement ….. but I like the 2016 better.
Did this design go to a consumer clinic?
2017 rear just looks awkward
Definitely prefer the 2014-2016 rear fascia over the 2017. What I find most jarring about the new design is that the angle of the exhaust tips doesn’t follow the angle of the tail lights. Had the designers done that, the ’17 design may have looked better than it does, but still likely not as good as the previous design.
At this point you cannot blame Cadillac for trying something different on the CTS. The cars sales have been awful ever since it was redeigned so why not try something new. I actually like the 2017 a little bit better. But the changes are so minimal that I doubt it will help the car much in terms of sales.
I say it doesn’t matter. The car still looks nice and classy overall, but what would make it look more elegant would be to skip the chrome moulding on plastic bumper and go back to having an honest to goodness stainless or chrome exhaust tip coming through cut outs in the edges or center of the bumper. I think being able to see the tip of an ugly tail pipe behind the facade is what makes it look cheap more so than the position or angle of the opening. And that goes for all manufacturers who utilize this design method.
“I think being able to see the tip of an ugly tail pipe behind the facade is what makes it look cheap more so than the position or angle of the opening. And that goes for all manufacturers who utilize this design method.”
THIS.
Either one is fine. To me it is like splitting hairs over a 72 Chevelle to a 1971 Chevelle.
In 1-2 years it will be different again.
Cadillac is about innovation, not copying or being same as everyone else. Lincoln had that and lost it and now the brand is almost gone. You have to live outside the box and become the leader in design, not just another white sheep following along with the herd.
Sorry GT but GM Design Philosophy is not innovation but evolution. The philosophy has been in place for the past couple of decades. Bob Lutz tried to make the break from it but seems to fall back. GM marketing and Design take the path of least risk, Minimal change and NO More Azteks.
Can’t wait to see how disjointed a 2017 pearl white CTS looks with a contrasting black panel between the exhausts. Sadly looks like the bean counters won here. Wonder how many $ could be saved with a universal black panel with the “chrome” strip removed accross the top! Sorry this just reeks cheap!
2017 for me. Now make that damn buck up lamp LED!
Where’s the manual tranny?
Dual clutch auto is faster then a manual. When your in first, 2nd gear is already locked and loaded, it only depends on the speed of the electronics to flip the switch of the solenoid. I am a diehard manual shift guy, but when power gets over 500hp, benefits of a manual get limited.
This new 2017 design looks hedeious and cheap!
Again, just as with the slight facial update, neither design is better, or worse, than the other. Both seem to flow with the CTS’s rear fascia quite well in my opinion. But the truth is, Cadillac’s rear end design in general needs to be updated! While I like the fact that the vertical tail lights are a nod to their heritage, it’s just a tad too plain in appearance; especially compared to the beautiful faces of these newer Cadillacs!
Both look dated and boring
at least it doesn’t look fat like most of the other Cadillacs recant rear ends….the CTS has the best looking rear-ends of the lineup.
I liked the previous one better.
I voted 2017 better, but only a Cadillac CTS fan is going to notice.
The difuser change shows up best on light color cars. Look at the silver CTS photo.
I think round crome exhaust, like ATS would look even better.
Both need the emblem separate from the chrome trim rather than a unified part.
Both need the Cadillac emblem separate from the chrome trim rather than a unified part.