Motor Trend Magazine has named the Cadillac CTS ‘Car of the Year’ for 2014, the second time the model has received the award in the last six, after first taking top honors in 2008.

After testing twenty-one cars at the Hyundai proving grounds in the southwest California desert, Motor Trend whittled down the pack to seven finalists. In addition to the CTS, the BMW 4-series, the Chevrolet Corvette, the Jaguar F-type, the Kia Forte, the Mazda3, the Mazda6 and the Mercedes-Benz S-class all advanced to the final round.

Motor Trend editor in chief Ed Loh said that the “responsive powertrains and masterful balance of smooth ride and sporty handling” of the 2014 CTS was what set it above the rest. The CTS takes the trophy from the 2013 car of the year, the Tesla Model S.

The 8-speed 2014 CTS Sport Sedan has a base MSRP of $45,100, and ships with a direct-injection Twin Turbo V6 engine. This version of the CTS can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, with 420-horsepower and 430 lb.-ft of torque.

The CTS is also available with a 272-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, as well as a 321-horsepower V6. Motor Trend described the four-cylinder engine as being “the most surprising,” saying that if offers “class-leading power with competitive fuel economy.”

The 21 cars tested were ranked using six criteria – Advancement in design, engineering, efficiency, safety, value and performance. “The CTS’s intended function was to take the fight to BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – and win. And it has,” Motor Trend said.

In related news, Elon Musk, CEO of the aforementioned Tesla Motors, has called the media coverage over Tesla Model S crash-related fires “extremely unreasonable.” As Tesla runs damage control on its reputation, its stock has fluctuated since the first fire incident was reported on October 1, dropping almost $50 from its highest point, at $176 per share.

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