The Cadillac CTS is one of the finest sedans on the market, and a big part of what is right about it is its performance.

Traditionally, Cadillac has been a brand that has been all about luxury, with performance being an afterthought.

Photo: Cadillac (ENLARGE)

2009 Cadillac CTS

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Caddy decided to flip the script with this ride, making performance a strong part of its appeal.

That's not to say that it's not also luxurious; you have to be to wear the Caddy badge.

But the test model, a CTS DI Performance Sedan, had a 3.6-liter V6 direct injection engine that makes 304 horsepower.

Steering is deliciously responsive, and the suspension is plenty taut.

The fuel economy numbers for the CTS are 18 mpg city and 26 highway, but the cool thing is you can use regular unleaded gas; most performance-oriented cars of this sort recommend or require premium.

At highway speed, you might swear that this engine is a V8, so robust is its ability to get up and go.

But again, make no mistake, there's abundant luxury here.

Such as the beautiful leather in the interior, the polished wood trim and the subtle accent lighting.

The goodies for comfort are present, too, such as heated-and-cooled seats and dual-zone climate control.

Everything inside is so easy to use, a nice change from some of those European brands that require you to take a few engineering courses before you tune the radio.

The sticker price on the tester was $46,940.

ABOUT THE CADILLAC CTS