In effect, Catera amounts to an athletic sports sedan. It has the power and taut independent suspension system of a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan. But it also has the plush interior features of an American luxury car along with the sophisticated safety hardware of a Cadillac. As the only rear-wheel-drive car from Cadillac, the Catera runs against the Cadillac norm of large cars constructed with front-wheel drive and the resultant nose-heavy weight balance. The Catera is balanced and predictable when navigating a snaky set of curves, but energetic at high speed for long stretches on a freeway.

For 2000, Cadillac has honed the Catera by refining its exterior styling, reworking the interior gear and tweaking the suspension and powertrain. The result is a more aggressive character.