Motortrend Head 2 Head: BMW 328i vs. Cadillac ATS 2.0T

[vasillalov]

Either Caddy is overstating the performance of the motor..
.

The one reviewer thought the BMW was underrated as well.

Both are true!

BMW traditionally underrates their engines. The N54 in the e90 is rated 300/300 hp/tq stock, but it dynos around 280/285 whp/wtq.

The N20 engine in the F30 BMW 328 is similarly underrated.

[vrsexxy_GTI]

The ATS does look better but i'd still take the bmw.

[livingVoice]

Here's from Road & Track:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/co...ac-ats-premium

[aleksl]

Both are true!

BMW traditionally underrates their engines. The N54 in the e90 is rated 300/300 hp/tq stock, but it dynos around 280/285 whp/wtq.

The N20 engine in the F30 BMW 328 is similarly underrated.

Despite the 32 hp rating advantage in the Cadillac they make the same HP

[Mazda 3s]

Here's from Road & Track:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/co...ac-ats-premium

The Caddy's manual gets dinged again:

The ATS was ultimately tripped up by two things that left it especially vulnerable against the BMW: its engine and gearbox.

Cadillac claims the ATS achieves peak torque at 1700 rpm (the BMW can call up full grunt as low as 1250 rpm), but you’d never know it. Launching the Caddy proved difficult, with the car either bogging or frittering power away through excessive wheelspin. And though there’s power lurking in its little 4-banger, the ATS suffers from turbo lag, a congested-sounding exhaust note and a power curve that feels too compressed. All the urge seems concentrated between 2500 and 6000 rpm, where the more flexible BMW zings and sings anywhere from 1500 to 7000 rpm.

Worse, the manual gearbox recalls the Ghost of Saabs Past, clanking its awkward chains. Throws are a bit long and loose-jointed; the Camaro ZL1’s manual is a paragon in comparison. Chasing the BMW on wooded back roads, I occasionally jammed the 3rd-to-2nd shift, killing forward progress.

With a tight powerband and short gearing, the Cadillac requires two shifts, three gears and 6 seconds to reach 60 mph. That puts the ATS over a halfsecond behind the BMW, which needs only one shift to pass 60 mph. Yet, when the ATS carries its ample momentum through curves, this is still a fun and confident sedan. Though we did find ourselves wondering whether another ATS, with the stronger V-6 and an automatic transmission, will end up being the enthusiast’s choice, clutch pedal or not.

[urogolf]

Dammit GM!

"Okay! I must have put a decimal point in the wrong place or something. S**t! I always do that. I always mess up some mundane detail."

HAHAHAH
still cant get past the grille/ light transition on the 3

[Saintor]

I got my C&D... here are interesting figures;

2013 ATS L4 2.0T 272HP / 2013 328i L4 2.0T 240HP / 2006 330i I6 3.0 255HP All manual.

Weight 3477lbs / 3390lbs / 3458lbs
On 1200miles+ 19mpg / 23mpg / 25mpg
0-60mph 6.3s / 5.6s / 5.9s
5-60mph 7.4s / 6.6s / 6.5s

Those ridiculous 2.0T don't perform any better the larger NA engines of yore, not even direct injected neither are they significantly lighter. What a joke.

[Lucidd]

The Caddy's manual gets dinged again:

Ouch!
But hey, it's Gm's first try at it!
Wait for Next year or Next 2017 ATS model! Then they'd be VERY SERIOUS and really be "ATS VS THE WORLD".

[vasillalov]

I got my C&D... here are interesting figures;

2013 ATS L4 2.0T 272HP / 2013 328i L4 2.0T 240HP / 2006 330i I6 3.0 255HP All manual.

Weight 3477lbs / 3390lbs / 3458lbs
On 1200miles+ 19mpg / 23mpg / 25mpg
0-60mph 6.3s / 5.6s / 5.9s
5-60mph 7.4s / 6.6s / 6.5s

Those ridiculous 2.0T don't perform any better the larger NA engines of yore, not even direct injected neither are they significantly lighter. What a joke.

Internet racing at its finest! LOL

Overlay the torque and HP curves from the 2.0T engine over the straight 6 and we'll talk again.

[Saintor]

Internet racing at its finest! LOL

Overlay the torque and HP curves from the 2.0T engine over the straight 6 and we'll talk again.

Well I prefer more real world figures like 5-60mph and actual mpg. Even more interested in NVH and engine sound; at 7/10 the ATS 2.0T is ordinary. The N20 got that poor rating as well in a previous comparo.

[Ross1013]

I know Saintor is a bit of a flame magnet but he does make some good points.

But between these two, I'll take the 328i all day, every day.

[curvedinfinity]

I know Saintor is a bit of a flame magnet but he does make some good points.

But between these two, I'll take the 328i all day, every day.

I'd toss you into the flamebait and German worship buckets while we're at it.

The 3 series is a great car, and I was at one point considering a 135i instead of my CTS-V, so I won't knock it. The ATS is a legitimate competitor that is better than it in some ways, worse in others. The best car is the compromise which fits a personality.

[choochoo]

finally saw a ATS on the road for the first time. The ATS looks more distinctive and less boring.

I'm also one that still thinks the front of the new 3 series looks a bit.... odd...

[B3sat16v]

I got my C&D... here are interesting figures;

2013 ATS L4 2.0T 272HP / 2013 328i L4 2.0T 240HP / 2006 330i I6 3.0 255HP All manual.

Weight 3477lbs / 3390lbs / 3458lbs
On 1200miles+ 19mpg / 23mpg / 25mpg
0-60mph 6.3s / 5.6s / 5.9s
5-60mph 7.4s / 6.6s / 6.5s

Those ridiculous 2.0T don't perform any better the larger NA engines of yore, not even direct injected neither are they significantly lighter. What a joke.

I have driven both the 335i and the 328i and the 328i felt nimbler and more toss-able. And I find it hard to believe that they get 23 MPG. Something sounds like BS here.

I have a similarly rated 2.0T to the N20 and even when I drive the piss out of it I get better than 23 MPG.

[mx5er]

Looks like GM is listening to the initial impressions from the press regarding the feel of the manual transmission: http://www.leftlanenews.com/cadillac...ort-issue.html

Good for them Glad to see GM it taking things seriously and putting things in steps to address them regarding the ATS

[livingVoice]

finally saw a ATS on the road for the first time. The ATS looks more distinctive and less boring.

I'm also one that still thinks the front of the new 3 series looks a bit.... odd...

The front end of that thing looks like a mess. BMW probably played it too safe and it backed fire on them.

[Impeccable]

Ouch!
But hey, it's Gm's first try at it!
Wait for Next year or Next 2017 ATS model! Then they'd be VERY SERIOUS and really be "ATS VS THE WORLD".

Im tired of hearing this caddy im dissapointed, I thought theyw ere going to get this right out of the gate.

I have to say kudos to BMW yet again they run with 1st place like Mr Pink ran with the diamonds in the end

[Minority5]

Looks like GM is listening to the initial impressions from the press regarding the feel of the manual transmission: http://www.leftlanenews.com/cadillac...ort-issue.html

Good for them Glad to see GM it taking things seriously and putting things in steps to address them regarding the ATS

I know this is going to get glossed over--but this fixes the feel of the manual. I'll say this again: the ATS is a more entertaining drive.

[PlatinumGLS]

Looks like GM is listening to the initial impressions from the press regarding the feel of the manual transmission: http://www.leftlanenews.com/cadillac...ort-issue.html

Good for them Glad to see GM it taking things seriously and putting things in steps to address them regarding the ATS

Awesome