2019 Cadillac ATS

Is the Cadillac ATS a Good Car?

The Cadillac ATS is a good choice in the luxury small car class, especially if you're looking for a performance-focused coupe. The ATS boasts dynamic handling and three great engine options, two of which are much more potent than the standard offering. However, the ride quality can feel harsh in certain situations. There's a long list of standard features, and most are user-friendly. The interior quality is decent, but falls a bit short compared to other luxury cars. Furthermore, this coupe's back seat is tiny, and the trunk is small for the class.

Should I Buy the Cadillac ATS?

You should buy the ATS if you want a fun-to-drive luxury coupe and you're willing to sacrifice rear-seat passenger room and trunk space. Still, the ATS is on the higher end of prices for this class, so your money might be better spent elsewhere if you want a usable second row or user-friendly infotainment features. The BMW 3 Series delivers great performance like the ATS, but it's more capable as a daily driver thanks to a more spacious cabin and trunk. You might also consider the larger Cadillac CTS if you have some wiggle room in your budget.

Compare the ATS, 3 Series, and CTS »

Should I Buy a New or Used Cadillac ATS?

The 2019 Cadillac ATS is part of generation that started with the 2013 model year. Changes for the newest model are actually subtractions. The ATS is now only available as a coupe, so if you want a sedan version, your only choice will be a used model. Older models also offered a manual transmission in certain trims, but you can now only get a manual with the high-performance ATS-V.

You’re probably better off shopping for a used 2017 or a 2018 ATS, which are practically identical to each other. Doing so will also likely save you thousands of dollars and provide you with more body style options and transmission choices. If you decide an older model is right for you, check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles.

Compare the 2017, 2018, and 2019 ATS »

We Did the Research for You: 60 Reviews Analyzed

We analyzed 60 Cadillac ATS car reviews – along with performance specs, fuel economy estimates, and more – to help you decide if the 2019 ATS is the right new car for you. This 2019 Cadillac ATS review incorporates applicable research for all model years in this generation, which spans the 2013 through 2019 model years.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain objective, we don't accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside team manages the advertising on our site.

How Much Does the Cadillac ATS Cost?

The 2019 Cadillac ATS starts at around $39,000, which makes it one of the more expensive luxury small cars. There are several higher trims with more features, and the two upper-end models replace the standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a V6. Rear-wheel drive is standard in most trims, and adding all-wheel drive will cost you a couple thousand dollars. The high-performance ATS-V model retails for almost $68,000.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great deals at your local Cadillac dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Cadillac deals page.

Cadillac ATS Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Cadillac ATS or BMW 3 Series?

The BMW 3 Series bests the ATS in most major areas. It delivers the engaging driving dynamics you'd expect, along with a plush, comfortable ride. The 3 Series' base engine may underwhelm you, but there are several more powerful options available. You can also get the 3 Series as a diesel or plug-in hybrid. This BMW comes in sedan, wagon, and Gran Turismo hatchback body styles. They all offer a roomier cabin and more cargo space than the ATS. The 3 Series isn't available as a coupe, but if you like this BMW and are set on a coupe, you'll want to take a look at the coupe-only BMW 4 Series. The 3 Series starts at several thousand dollars less than the ATS, but adding options or moving up the trim ladder to get a better engine quickly makes the car much more expensive. We think it’s worth it, though, to go with the 3 Series instead of the ATS.

Which Is Better: Cadillac ATS or Cadillac CTS?

The Cadillac CTS is a luxury midsize car that costs quite a bit more than the smaller ATS. The CTS starts at around $47,000 compared to the ATS' starting price of roughly $39,000. Both of these Caddies have upscale interiors, but each falls short compared to more nicely appointed rivals in their respective classes. They each also suffer from some difficult infotainment controls. The CTS is a five-passenger sedan that has a bigger trunk and decent second-row space, beating out the ATS in those regards. Still, other CTS class rivals offer more space. These cars have a similarly powered base engine along with a 335-horsepower V6 as an option. The CTS has more engine options, including the CTS-V's supercharged V8 that blows the ATS-V coupe out of the water. Both of these Cadillacs are fine cars, so your choice comes down to how much you're willing to stretch your budget for more room and horsepower.

Compare the ATS, 3 Series, and CTS »

ATS Interior

How Many People Does the ATS Seat?

Starting with 2019, the Cadillac ATS is only available in a four-seat, coupe configuration. The standard eight-way power-adjustable front seats have solid support for enthusiastic driving, and they are comfortable for long road trips. These seats are spacious enough, but headroom is tight for taller drivers. Don’t be surprised if you bash elbows with the front passenger either. You can spring for options like heated front seats or more power adjustments. Like most coupes, the ATS’ back-seat space is almost laughable and a sloping roofline hinders rear visibility for the driver.

ATS and Car Seats

The ATS has a complete set of LATCH child-seat connectors for each back seat. The coupe’s system hasn’t been evaluated for its ease of use.

ATS Interior Quality

The 2019 ATS' high price isn't matched by its interior quality, as many competitors have more luxurious cabins. Materials and design are nice enough for this segment, though you’ll probably notice some hard surfaces.

ATS Cargo Space

At only 10.4 cubic feet of space, the ATS has one of the smallest trunks in its class. Its usability is further hindered by a high lift-in height, and the rear wheel wells intrude into the trunk and eat up significant space. The BMW 3 Series sedan has 13 cubic feet of trunk space, while the Cadillac CTS offers just 13.7 cubes of space despite being in a larger vehicle class.

ATS Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The 2019 Cadillac ATS comes standard with a ton of features. You’ll get a Bose stereo, three USB ports, wireless device charging, and a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot. The 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system has standard support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Cadillac User Experience (CUE) interface looks good and functions smoothly. The downside is that nearly all the car’s functions are controlled through the touch screen. When driving, it can be tricky to use the virtual buttons to adjust things like volume or temperature. 

Read more about interior »

ATS Performance

ATS Engine: Turbo Is So-So

The Cadillac ATS comes standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 272 horsepower. It’s peppy enough for most driving situations, and a standard eight-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth and precise shifts. However, some critics deride this powertrain combination for being loud (not in a good way) and somewhat unrefined. Your other main option is a 335-horsepower V6 engine, which is better suited to rocketing the ATS around. You can only get this engine in higher trim levels that come at a premium of several thousand dollars over the base model, so it may not be worth the performance gains for some buyers.

The crown jewel of the car’s lineup is the ATS-V. This high-performance model features a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that makes 464 horsepower. It’s also the only ATS variation you can get with a manual transmission, though an automatic is optional. The ATS-V comes with other goodies like launch control, performance traction management, a limited-slip differential, a premium steering system, performance brake linings, and performance, summer-only tires. You can enhance the driving experience with Recaro sport seats or a performance video and data recorder.

ATS Gas Mileage: Subpar

The 2019 ATS gets its highest fuel economy numbers with the standard engine and rear-wheel drive. However, at 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, it’s still less efficient than most rivals. The ATS with its V6 engine returns up to 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

ATS Ride and Handling: Sharp but Stiff

The ATS runs with the best cars in the class when it comes to handling and driver engagement. Its steering is well-weighted, and there's plenty of feedback from the road. You can take corners with enthusiasm thanks to good road grip. The obvious tradeoff for this sporty suspension is a stiff ride quality. The ATS rides fine over smooth surfaces, but it has a rougher ride over bumps and potholes.

Read more about performance »

ATS Reliability

Is the Cadillac ATS Reliable?

The 2019 Cadillac ATS earns a predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five from J.D. Power. That's a slightly above-average rating.

Cadillac ATS Warranty

Cadillac covers the ATS with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

ATS Safety

ATS Crash Test Results

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2019 ATS.

ATS Safety Features

The 2019 ATS comes standard with a rearview camera and General Motors’ Teen Driver monitoring system. That feature lets you set limits on audio volume and speed (among other things) for other drivers of the car. Other optional driver assistance and active safety features include a safety alert seat, automatic seat belt tightening, adaptive headlights, a head-up display, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, a following distance indicator, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, and forward and reverse automatic emergency braking.

Read more about safety »

Which Cadillac ATS Model Is Right for Me?

The 2019 Cadillac ATS coupe is available in four trim levels: base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Premium Performance. The base model and Luxury trim come with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the Premium Luxury and Premium Performance feature a V6. Rear-wheel drive is standard in every model, and all-wheel drive is optional in every model except the Premium Performance. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also standard.

While the base model includes most of the ATS’ available infotainment features, you’ll want to spend the extra few thousand to jump up to the ATS Luxury. That trim rounds out your convenience amenities with navigation and a 110-volt outlet, and it adds luxury features like leather and heated seats. It also gives you access to most of the optional driver assistance features in one package.

Cadillac ATS

The 2019 Cadillac ATS starts at $38,995 for rear-wheel drive and $41,395 with all-wheel drive. Standard features include leatherette upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity key entry, push-button start, remote start, a rearview camera, the Teen Driver system, and a power trunk. The standard infotainment system includes an 8-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, three USB ports, voice recognition, a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot.

A sunroof is optional for $1,050. Options in all trim levels include a performance exhaust system for $1,650 and an upgraded V-Sport brake package for $1,945.

Cadillac ATS Luxury

The ATS Luxury retails for $42,795, and you'll spend $44,795 for an all-wheel-drive model. This trim adds leather upholstery, a 14-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a 12-way power-adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation, a 110-volt power outlet, and adaptive HID headlights.

The optional Safety and Security package costs $1,500 and includes a safety alert seat, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, a following distance indicator, and forward collision warning.

Cadillac ATS Premium Luxury

The Cadillac ATS Premium Luxury trim starts at $48,395 for rear-wheel drive and $50,395 for all-wheel drive. This trims comes with a sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, sport aluminum pedals, a safety alert seat, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, a following distance indicator, and forward collision warning.

You can add semi-aniline leather upholstery for $1,295. The Driver Assist package ($1,900) includes a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic seat belt tightening, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and forward and reverse automatic emergency braking.

Cadillac ATS Premium Performance

The rear-wheel-drive-only ATS Premium Performance starts at $50,895 and comes with a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a head-up display, a magnetic ride control performance suspension, a limited-slip differential, and performance run-flat tires.

Options include the semi-aniline leather for $1,295 and the Driver Assist package, which only costs $1,300 in this trim because some features are already included. You can also spend $945 for a V-Sport performance suspension, and $695 will get you the Track Performance package with performance brake linings and heavy-duty engine cooling.

Cadillac ATS-V

The high-performance Cadillac ATS-V and its twin-turbocharged V6 engine start at $67,795. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed automatic costs another $2,000. Other standard features include launch control, performance traction management, a limited-slip differential, a premium steering system, performance brake linings, carbon fiber body pieces, and performance, summer-only tires. You can add 16-way power-adjustable Recaro performance seats for $2,300, and a performance video and data recorder is also optional.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Cadillac dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Cadillac deals page.

See 2019 Cadillac ATS specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2019 Cadillac ATS is a small, sporty, luxury coupe that offers driving enthusiasts a lot to like. However, those looking for a more well-rounded daily driver should consider other options.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "Eye-catching design, crisp handling and cutting-edge tech features make the 2019 Cadillac ATS a standout among today's crop of small luxury coupes. Tight cabin space and a small trunk limit its daily practicality, but overall the ATS is one of today's most distinctive luxury coupes." -- Edmunds
• "… [The Cadillac ATS] competes with popular entry-level executive cars like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and Lexus IS. While those rivals are more established and better known, the Cadillac ATS has done an admirable job of not only matching their talent, but in some instances beating them at their own game." -- Kelley Blue Book (2018)
• "The name Cadillac may be associated with big-car luxury and comfort, but the 2017 Cadillac ATS most definitely defies that convention. It is a sport sedan first and foremost, a driver's car intended to outdo the most athletic sedans from Germany with a chassis tuned on that country's famous Nurburgring circuit -- the very place where the world's best high-performance cars are tested and fine-tuned. For those looking for a sport sedan to engage and occasionally thrill, the ATS should definitely be considered." -- Autotrader (2017)