The 2017 Cadillac CTS-V and 2018 Mercedes-AMG E63 S are both high-performance super-sedans that offer superb performance as well as top-dollar luxury appointments, but which is better?
GM fans though we may be, we wouldn’t refuse an AMG E63 S were we given the keys. The sporting sedan packs a 603-horsepower punch, courtesy of a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8, and ships with all-wheel drive. However, if it were our own money, the CTS-V holds one very important, practical advantage over the AMG: a $20k lower price tag.
At the end of the day, though, maybe it’s a bit silly to mention practicality; nobody really needs a high-powered, boosted sedan with over 600 horsepower. You buy cars like these for the vibrant thrills.
With all that said, click play to watch Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon pit the two against one another on the track, in instrumented testing, and on the road, in an effort to find out which is a more thrilling performance sedan: the CTS-V, or the AMG E63 S.
Comments
Well, I’m sure most of us who seen this video know who won the comparison test of the two but I have to admit that I was a bit surprised who won and happy with the results. For those who did not see it, I won’t mention it to spoil the video. However, it could have been a tie or went either way. It was a close call.
However, I expect the CT5-V to get AWD to support traction from high output of torque and horsepower. More and more competitors are now adding AWD for better launch performance and better pulling power from the corners.
The current V Series won’t get AWD but it just shows how good the current V models are compared to the competition with AWD. I expect the next V models will be greatly improved with AWD and out it too.
I thought they would of like the benz more but then they said it feels floaty?
I think the main thing I got out of this was when the British guy got behind the wheel as a blind observer as never been in one of these before and you can see the joy and how much he was surprised in the package. I guess going in he was expecting just another American machine all power nothing else.
It’s true. The perception of Cadillac is a bit skewed. They have some wonderful driving cars. Especially the ATS.
Absolutely the ATS AND CTS is as good if not better then any German counterpart and this and many other reviews are evidence of that.
I bet with the upcoming CT5 Cadillac will take an even bigger step in terms of interior quality and hopefully that’s the push that puts them over the hill
You can build a car or you can build a Cadillac.
This was an interesting comparison; a very close race around hat track also! Definitely thought the E63 AMG S was gonna come out on top, and it is indeed faster (in a straight line), has the better transmission, and a far better interior than the CTS-V! But the CTS-V proves just how far Cadillac has come, and the brilliance behind their engineering!
Weight is the key.
Less mass is amazing what it can do in performance in Ride, go, stop and handling.
GM has found ways to cut weight and make vehicles just as stiff or stiffer for much better platforms for handling.
My Acadia it much stiffer than the old and is much more a pleasure to drive with the less mass. Even with AWD and V6 with more power I see 27 mpg.
It is details like this that is were GM is advancing but the average customer has no clue about.
lexus is TRASH everything toyota makes is GARBAGE
Who needs AWD if you are racing on a private track? And only winter conditions motivate a need for AWD. So if you wants a sports car, get the Cadillac and save the $20 grand!
this really goes to show once again just how balanced and well engineered the alpha platform is. I hope GMs follow up rear drive modular platform that will succeed the alpha/omega does even better.
Ha! MB Brand snobs have been de-fanged. All that engineering and development to arrive with a portly sloppy track ride that gets beat by a 20K less Caddy that’s due for replacement in 1 year.
GM/Cadillac will always have one advantage over MB, BMW and AR….. Corvette. GM has some of the best sports car engineers ever at their disposal, it would be stupid for them not to utilize them for other “sporty” projects. I knew a guy who looked at, and almost bought a CTS-V but ended up with the E63 AMG solely because of the brands resale value and reliability.
BTW AWD would be next to useless in the winter on a car like this considering it has summer only performance tires and 600+ hp. The only difference will be sliding into the ditch spinning 4 wheels instead of 2.