I SHOULDN'T like this car.

In fact, I should hate it.

Its engine is too big, its design is too garish, it's not as roomy inside as you'd think it might be and perhaps worst of all it's American.

In fact, it should be the complete antithesis of what I like.

The fact that I found myself growing fonder of it by the day, then, is something that might merit a session or two on the psychiatrists couch.

As far as its looks are concerned the CTS can be best described as striking. It appears to have been hewn out of a single block of granite, all sharp edges and straight lines.

Motorists who saw it hove into view in their rearview mirror got out of its way pretty sharpish, while members of the public stopped and gawped, presumably looking to see if the person behind the tinted glass was in fact a relative of Tony Soprano.

Bigger than a 3-Series Beemer, but smaller than a 5-Series, the CTS aims to pinch sales from both Audi and BMW through its keen pricing.

A huge grille emblazoned with the Cadillac badge dominates the front, while from the rear it's the lights that grab your attention.

While its distinctiveness will attract some, its interior will put off some of those more used to the relative opulence from the aforementioned German manufacturers.

I found it pleasant, rather than luxurious. It's not so much what it has to offer in terms of kit that will disappoint, it's more the standard of some of that equipment.

It's an oft repeated claim, but the Americans just don't cater for the more demanding tastes of Europeans and the CTS does nothing to dissuade me from this opinion.

You do get leather seats, a BOSE ten-speaker surround sound entertainment system that includes MP3 playback, a DVD player and a television, satellite navigation, dual zone climate control, among other trinkets, but the overall quality is just OK, rather than outstanding.

There's a decent amount of space for four people, but try carrying five and you might encounter problems. My father is not what you would call tall and he found his head brushing the roof in the rear, making for a somewhat uncomfortable ride.

The boot, at 373 litres, is decent enough, but it narrows as nears the rear seats and is quite shallow making it difficult to load awkwardly shaped goods.

Powered by a 3.6 litre V6 petrol engine, the CTS has a decent turn of speed, hitting the 62mph benchmark in 6.3 seconds and going on to 150mph. Unfortunately, I encountered a degree of lag between the time I put my foot on the accelerator and the time the power kicked in, which somewhat spoilt the experience.

Once underway, this is a less of a problem and the car is a more than capable cruiser. However, you will find yourself getting on first name terms with your local petrol attendant as the CTS only managed 24 miles to the gallon and that was with a relatively light foot. Whats more there is no diesel alternative, so you better have deep pockets.

It doesn't handle as well as you might like and I spun a wheel on more than one occasion, but drive it sensibly and you will encounter few problems.

Having read this far you might think I have set out to convince you that I didn't really like this car.

But that couldn't be further from the truth. The problem is, I have no idea why. Answers on a postcard please.