The Cadillac CTS is one of the finest sedans on the market, and a big part of what is right about it is its performance.

Traditionally, Cadillac has been a brand that has been all about luxury, with performance being an afterthought.

GM (ENLARGE)

The performance-oriented CTS is stylish enough to add a younger group of customers to the usual Cadillac lovers.

CADILLAC CTS Engine: 3.6-liter V6 with variable valve timing and direct injection Horsepower: 304 Torque: 273 pounds-feet Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual mode EPA fuel-economy estimates: 18 mpg city, 26 highway Trunk space: 13.6 cubic feet Front head/leg/shoulder room: 38.8/42.2/56.7 inches Length/wheelbase: 191.6/113.4 inches Curb weight: 3,874 pounds Related: Affordable Kia Forte priced to move  New Touareg is a terrific off-road ride  Top vehicles for summer road trips  GM's Camaro maintains its mystique  Chevy passion drives couple  Photos: AJC Cars Showroom Galleries Find the car of your dreams More Cars stories

Caddy decided to flip the script with this ride, making performance a strong part of its appeal.

That's not to say that it's not also luxurious; you have to be to wear the Caddy badge.

But the test model, a CTS DI Performance Sedan, had a 3.6-liter V6 direct injection engine that makes 304 horsepower.

Steering is deliciously responsive, and the suspension is plenty taut.

The fuel economy numbers for the CTS are 18 mpg city and 26 highway, but the cool thing is you can use regular unleaded gas; most performance-oriented cars of this sort recommend or require premium.

At highway speed, you might swear that this engine is a V8, so robust is its ability to get up and go.

But again, make no mistake, there's abundant luxury here.

Such as the beautiful leather in the interior, the polished wood trim and the subtle accent lighting.

The goodies for comfort are present, too, such as heated-and-cooled seats and dual-zone climate control.

Everything inside is so easy to use, a nice change from some of those European brands that require you to take a few engineering courses before you tune the radio.

The sticker price on the tester was $46,940.