Motor Trend has named the 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan its Car of the Year for 2014, the publication announced Thursday.

"The all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS prevailed over one of the most competitive fields in recent memory because it best met our award’s key criteria. Our judges were particularly impressed by the CTS's responsive powertrains and masterful balance of smooth ride and sporty handling," said Ed Loh, editor-in-chief.

Motor Trend editors put vehicles considered for the award through a series of performance tests that measure acceleration, braking, and limit handling.

Out of 22 contending models, Motor Trend judges picked eight finalists, including the BMW 4 Series, Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar F-Type, Kia Forte, Mazda3, Mazda6, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The 2014 Cadillac CTS is offered with three powertrains. A 272-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is standard and EPA-rated for 20 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. A 321-hp naturally aspirated V-6 is available. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional. Exclusive to the rear-wheel-drive CTS Vsport is the all-new 420-hp 3.6-liter Cadillac Twin-Turbo V-6 engine.

The 2014 CTS is also the first Cadillac vehicle to receive the brand's eight-speed automatic. Pricing starts at $46,025, including a $925 destination charge.