Battle of the Brands: BMW vs. Cadillac

It seems like there is always a fierce competition among groups. Our two competitors are the 2013 BMW 335i X-Drive and the 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The question: Is there a real American made competitor to the BMW 3-Series?

Enthusiasts are already raising a red flag because the 2.0T and the 335i are a little mismatched on power, but just hang in there with us. Let’s take a look at the 2013 BMW 335i X-Drive first – after all, it is a standard in the compact sport luxury sedan market.

The 2013 BMW 335i X-Drive is an impressive machine with a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo in-line 6-cylinder engine that produces 300-hp and puts it to the road through the X-Drive AWD system. It is built for high performance and will sprint to 60 mph from a dead stop in about 4.8 seconds –and that is with the automatic STEPTRONIC. Ironically the manual is 0.3 seconds slower. The 335i is more than just a performance machine; it has an air of craftsmanship associated with the finer things in life and it is packed with the latest technology. All of this comes at a hefty price; as tested it tips the scales at $56,145. That is pretty inflated from the $45,150 starting price of the 335i, but you do get some cool options like Heads Up Display, side and top view cameras, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, a sunroof and navigation, to name a few.

To contrast, the 2013 Cadillac ATS is a new offering from the American luxury brand. Even though I had the 2.0T, the ATS model line-up tops out at just over $55K; right near the BWM 335i’s $56K price tag. The most remarkable thing about the ATS is the attention to detail and the design. The interior is available in a hand cut and sewn leather with Morello Red and Jet Black. It has an 8” full color touchscreen display. Moreover, it has a key fob and push button start, LED accent lighting that comes up the front fenders for a dramatic presentation and light up door handles. Even though our test car had the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 272-hp, you can get the ATS with the same 3.6-liter V6 engine known to CTS owners – and the 321-hp. The Cadillac’s as tested MSRP: $48,375.

So where is the contrast? The bottom-line is this; if you are looking for the status of a BMW, then only the 3-Series (in any form) will do. And you can get into one starting at about $33K for a 320i.

In the end, the winner is who ever makes their customer happy.