The V6 has a lusty snarl under acceleration and will haul the reasonably light ATS Coupe from standstill to 100 km/h in about 5.7 seconds (the V6 AWD weighs 1,675 kg). In manual mode the transmission responds to shift requests quickly and crisply, making the paddle shifters a pleasure to use. Where the drivetrain slightly misses the mark is in the amount of time it takes to downshift and get going if you’re loafing along in Drive and suddenly want a burst of acceleration: The car feels wound up and ready to pounce, but when you punch the throttle it pauses for a fraction longer than expected before it gathers itself up, downshifts, and launches forward with authority.

Interestingly the turbo-four is hardly any slower to 100 km/h (it still comes in under six seconds, thanks in part to its lighter 1,550 kg curb weight), and it is certainly somewhat more efficient, rating 11.5/8.5 L/100 km (city/highway) in the automatic AWD Coupe, versus 12.8/8.9 for the AWD V6 Coupe. I used a good deal more fuel than the rating might suggest, averaging 14.8 L/100 km over the course of a week of mostly city driving. Highway economy isn’t the problem – there I was able to match the 8.9 L/100 km rating without too much attention to my driving habits – but around town the big V6 has an enthusiastic appetite for fossil fuel, and I saw numbers as high as 18 L/100 km. The V6 does have the advantage that it runs on regular fuel.

In the corners the ATS Coupe really shines. Sadly the AWD cars aren’t available with Cadillac’s magnetic ride control, but my test car still displayed a nice balance between ride comfort and handling, and the all-wheel drive system adds confidence and grip without being intrusive – dynamically the car retains much of the enviable character of a rear-drive car. The ATS Coupe is more firmly sprung than BMW’s entry-level 428i, and it handles better too, at least subjectively. It turns in with speed and precision, and it offers decent steering feedback, a flat cornering attitude, and abundant lateral grip. Brake performance is excellent too, with good pedal feel and short stopping distances. The upshot is that when you get the ATS Coupe out onto some twisty pavement, all the little foibles that car reviewers are paid to point out simply melt away: Cadillac’s two-door carving knife is an absolute joy to drive on serpentine roads.

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