Among entry-level luxury sedans, the 2008 Cadillac CTS is pretty accommodating in the rear-seat department, but it's not perfect. The 3 Series is perfect of course, or maybe I'm kidding.
To start, I can easily do the sit-behind-myself test in the Cadillac, which is good since I'm 5'-10" -- so four average-size adults could ride comfortably in the CTS. Unfortunately, the bench is mounted low, so even though there's ample legroom for my 34" inseam, the seat-bottom cushion doesn't quite support my thighs. It's not terrible, but I might whine about this on a 5-hour road trip. Still, the fact that I'd even consider taking a road trip in the backseat of the CTS says plenty -- I wouldn't do that in our A4 Avant.
It's pretty obvious why the bench is mounted as low as it is when you assess the headroom situation. There's not a lot to spare over my head and I'm not the kind of person who needs a lot. Still, carrying a six-footer back here shouldn't be a problem (unless that person is also whiny about thigh support). For shorter people, it's worth noting that the low bench doesn't impede outward visibility too much (because the car's beltline is not too high). Also, the rake of the seat-back cushion is comfortable.
Rear-seat amenities in the CTS consist of individual reading lights and a fold-down center armrest with cupholders. I'm a little disappointed with the adjustable vents on the back of the console. I don't necessarily expect discrete temperature control at this price ($46,690), but some kind of rudimentary warm/cool adjustment would be nice.
P.S. I forgot to give the CTS big credit for having a lot of footroom under the front chairs. This is never a sure thing when you have deluxo-power-adjustable seats up front, and it makes a huge difference for long-legged people in back.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 28,325 miles
1487 says:
10:37 AM, 05/ 1/09
There are a handful of midsize luxury cars that have more adjustability in the rear for HVAC but most dont. The A4 (can't remember if it was sedan or avant) I was in at auto show lacked rear vents altogether. The CTS' controls are par for the price range.
chavis10 says:
10:49 AM, 05/ 1/09
Volvo has the best design with vents in the B pillars. I believe the Genesis uses this design as well.
carguy622 says:
10:50 AM, 05/ 1/09
GM has placed rear seats low for years. They are trying to give the impression that there is a lot of headroom when the car is on the showroom floor.
edubya says:
11:12 AM, 05/ 1/09
The A4 requires premium plus or prestige trim to get three-zone automatic climate control.
1487 says:
11:19 AM, 05/ 1/09
carguy:
Any car with a low roofline and aggressive rake to the rear windsheild has low seats. This is why most coupes have low rear seats. You wont find this condition in GM models with conventional rooflines like the Impala, Lucerne, DTS, etc.
edub,
That explains it. But that doesn't really explain why the A4 wouldn't have rear vents standard.
canadaphant says:
12:10 PM, 05/ 1/09
So would this qualify as more or less comfortable than the back of a Volkswagen?
chavis10 says:
12:14 PM, 05/ 1/09
I sat in the CTS rear seat at the car show but I can't remember if I found the seat abnormally low or not but it's hard to swing your head into the cabin due to the narrow opening. The rear door has a funky angle to it that's a bit extreme. That raked roofline is the culprit.
ahightower says:
12:27 PM, 05/ 1/09
5'10" with a 34" inseam? You're some freak of nature ;) I don't think many people will have a problem with thigh support in this car. Most people with legs that long are probably over-6' men who don't often get stuck in the back seat on long trips.
Re: the climate control, I don't think it's unreasonable to have separate temp controls and/or fan speed for the back seat in an expensive luxury car. But at least the airflow is adjustable, so you can control the temp somewhat.
mercedesfan says:
12:33 PM, 05/ 1/09
Having only spent a very short time in a CTS I can say that I found the back seat perfectly comfortable, certainly nicer than a 3, C, or A4 (I am like Erin in that I am only of average height at 6', but have long legs). However, getting into the back seat is an exercise in self-contortion because of the aggressive slope of the roofline. Definitely not a good car to shuttle elderly parents or grand parents around.
Also, I hardly chastise the CTS for not having more control for its rear vents. Most entry-luxury cars do not offer that kind of adjustment. It isn't until one starts spending 5, A6, E, or GS kind of money to get those features.
1487 says:
01:02 PM, 05/ 1/09
I found the rear to be comfortable as well.
blueguydotcom says:
01:16 PM, 05/ 1/09
2009 A4 has rear vents - only the absolute base model lacks them.
e9x BMWS have rear vents with heat/cool controls.
CTS backseat wouldn't fit my kid's carseat and wife (5-4) at the same time. She had to move the front seat forward so her knees were bent.
altimadude00 says:
03:06 PM, 05/ 1/09
Cadillac DTS Luxury I has tri-zone climate control standard. My father's 2002 model has it as well, except the vents only move so far, so it freezes my leg.
carguy622 says:
04:27 PM, 05/ 1/09
1487: I can see your point with the CTS not being able to have a higher hip point, but GM cars going back into the '80s; the Lumina, Corsica, and Celebrity all had low reach benches to create the illusion of additional headroom and they certainly didn't have swoopy greenhouses.
I seem to recall the Ford Taurus from that era having a much more comfortable rear bench.
carguy622 says:
04:28 PM, 05/ 1/09
P.S.: I don't know why I felt the need to stroll down GM memory lane, but I was trying to make a point.
sgude says:
07:10 AM, 05/ 2/09
"The 3 Series is perfect of course, or maybe I'm kidding."
Nice one, Erin!
1487 says:
05:59 AM, 05/ 4/09
found this quote on MT.com about their LT CTS.
" spent the majority of the last two weeks in the CTS while my Mini was in the body shop," says Truck Trend Web producer Melissa Spiering. "This was the first time I've driven our 2008 COTY long-termer, and now I regret not having gotten behind the wheel sooner. It's one of those vehicles you can't help but look at on the highway: It has a face that simultaneously screams, 'look at me' and 'get out of my way.' Love the power and the ride-smooth and easygoing on my long commute and even pleasant to drive in stop-and-go L.A. traffic." An aunt who often babysits her nephew, Spiering appreciates the CTS's back seat. "On a 1-to-5 scale for baby-seat install, room, and accessibility, I'd have to give the CTS a 5. The back seat offers enough room and then some for forward- and rear-facing child safety seats."
I cant imagine the CTS being less accomodating than a 3 series when it comes to handling a child seat.
lokki says:
12:38 PM, 05/14/09
The back seat in my 08 328i makes me think you're probably kidding Erin :-)
I sometimes call the car my favorite 4-Door 2+2 coupe. The rear doors just make it easy to get your briefcase out from behind the front seat.
I can put a couple of little Japanese (@ 5 ft tall) back there comfortably, but I don't fit for more than about 15 minutes max before I'm willing to confess to just about anything.
The BMW does have a rear seat AC/Heat vent but it doesn't have it's own fan which is a minus.