Cadillac BLS

Our verdict

The Cadillac BLS is basically a Saab 9-3 underneath and there’s nothing worrying about that. But the BLS isn’t earth-shattering – just a tidy, slightly odd small saloon.

Comfort

Rear passengers may suffer thanks to the sloping roofline, but up front you'll be more than happy with the space available. There's some road and wind noise at speed, but after a while you get used to the relatively muted humming. Not bad for Cadillac's first pop at the UK.

Performance

The Cadillac brand puts its name to a diesel for the first time, and the Saab/GM 1.9-litre, 150bhp is smooth and handy enough, though not as torquey as the best Germans. There are also a pair of two-litre turbos, one with 175bhp (62mph in 8.5, 137mph) and another with 210bhp (7.7secs, 146mph). Top of the tree is the 255bhp, 2.8-litre V6 that's a real surprise: 155mph and 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. Consider that for £31k.

Cool

‘I drive a Cadillac' sounds fantastic. But people will be imagining 18ft of finned glory, not a re-hashed small exec.

Quality

Hmmm, Cadillac is not a byword for top class in the European market, but the BLS is built by Saab to European levels of quality, so it's actually pretty good. You'll recognise most of it from the 9-3, so it should be reliable.

Handling

That ageing Saab undercarriage still puts up a fair front-wheel drive fight to remain in control, but you're looking at a car that's more comfortable than tyre-shred-tastic. The steering's a bit fuzzy and the suspension can jar on odd surfaces.

Practicality

The boot is pretty damn good at 425 litres and it's a handy shape - an often overlooked practical fact. The car itself isn't that big, but space inside is good, as long as you only carry headless horsemen in the back.

Running costs

The diesel gets 46mpg, but the 175bhp petrol gets a decent 37.2mpg too, so don't discount it. Insurance for that lower 2.0-litre is Group 15, rising through 16 for the 210bhp to 17 (phew!) for the V6. Residuals are truly terrible. You have been warned.