In 1956, carl perkins lyrically declared, “It’s one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready...” Perkins’ song “Blue Suede Shoes” was an instant classic, wildly popular with a new generation of Americans. Cadillac was doing pretty well too, regarded by young and old as the standard of luxury. Somewhere along the way it lost that reputation, but in the late 1990s it began to rebuild, and in 2002 the first CTS announced Cadillac’s return. The new 2008 CTS model seals the deal: this car really is one for the money.

With a base price of $32,990, the CTS is the volume leader in Cadillac’s lineup. It shares entry-level premium sedan territory with the Mercedes C-class, BMW’s 3 Series, and Infiniti’s G35, among others, and its design makes it pretty stiff competition. To start, the CTS offers a lot of interior room (98 cubic feet), more than its German competitors and as much as its Japanese counterparts. So there’s ample utility (as I found on a trip to the mall to purchase two longboard skateboards for my brother and me). The CTS’ trunk (13.6 cubic feet) would easily swallow both, but I stashed the 4-foot boards on the rear seat so I could admire them.

The 2008 CTS sports softened exterior lines, a considerable improvement on the first-generation car in my opinion. It’s a more flowing design, avant garde but looking less like a piece of origami. The large, handsome grille gives the vehicle imposing presence, but the front fascia is rather low; beware of driveway clearance and parking space blocks. The rear end displays an interesting array of compound shapes including a semi-diffuser under the bumper.

It’s fun studying the CTS’ derriere, but trying to see over the high trunk through the narrow rear windshield is less enjoyable. As in many recent cars, the various imperatives that drive exterior styling and safety serve to limit driver visibility. Turn your head forward and the view is better. My CTS had Sapele wood trim and two-tone leather (dark on the upper dash, with cream seats, doors, and console) nicely accented with pleasing stitch detailing. The combination creates a lighter mood than the dour classic black interiors popular in BMW and Audi sedans.

The steering wheel, instruments, and center control module, which now tapers downward in a V shape, are all more attractive and made with higher-quality material than in previous models. The climate control/navigation system buttons and the radio display are a bit small though, and the automatic window controls are alternately comical and frustrating. Efforts to lower the window just part of the way lead to a bizarre up-and-down dance of glass and switch. The optional UltraView double sunroof lets light shine in divinely from above. A ventilated seat function fans cool air through the bottom cushion and is useful, if a little funky-feeling at first.    

In a hectic week I made one long trip and many short jaunts in the Caddy, finding it a competent, athletic road partner. The CTS4 I drove was equipped with optional all-wheel drive (an additional $1,900). You may want that feature if you live in the snow belt, but elsewhere it’s redundant. The system adds 245 pounds to what is already a fairly hefty midsize sedan, with minor consequences for fuel economy (16 mpg city/25 mpg highway versus 17/26 with the standard rear-wheel drive). The optional 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6 still pulls well, with power enough to take the car from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, but the rear-wheel-drive version is quicker (5.9 seconds), and with the standard V-6 (263 hp), the CTS4 might be a tad sluggish.

On the highway, it’s stable and comfortable. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and the cabin quiet. On twisty two-lanes the Caddy hustles admirably, though it lacks steering feel. The suspension (mine had the performance package) is well sorted, tackling corners and bumps with confidence. The CTS doesn’t offer quite the driving joie de vivre of BMW’s 3 Series, but it’s arguably a better all-rounder, with fit and finish to match the Japanese sedans. Goodies like a 40-gig hard drive with USB port for your iPod and a 10-speaker Bose sound system sweeten the deal. 

It’s satisfying to praise Cadillac again. With a tweak or two, the CTS could be the luxury standard. Right now, it’s one for the money.