NEWS
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 is a compact luxury sedan uniquely positioned between small luxury sedans (think Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series) and their larger, more expensive mid-size stablemates (Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class). Is the Cadillac CT5 the perfect fit for luxury car shoppers torn between big and small? Or does it end up getting lost in the middle?
Related: 2020 Cadillac CT5 Review: Get the Turbo Six, When You Can Find One
The short answer is that the Cadillac CT5 offers a lot of luxury car for your money. Upgrading to the optional twin-turbo V-6 and all-wheel drive in the model we recently tested doesn’t mean the base price rockets upward; that’s something that can’t be said in German rivals like the C-Class and 3 Series, where more powerful six-cylinder engines are lumped in with pricey sport packages and stand-alone trims.
To get the complete story on the 2020 Cadillac CT5, you can read our Joe Bruzek’s review by clicking the link above. For a quicker recap on the pros and cons of the CT5 with the optional turbo six and all-wheel drive, keep reading below. (We also spent time with the hotter CT5-V model; insight into that sedan can be found in a separate review.)
The standard engine in the 2020 Cadillac CT5 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends 237 horsepower to the rear wheels. Unlike some rival luxury sedans, adding the CT5’s optional 335-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 doesn’t mean automatically opting for a vastly sportier model. While firmer suspensions and heavily bolstered front seats can be fun, they’re not everyone’s cup of luxury sedan tea. Our Premium Luxury-trimmed test car came with the optional twin-turbo V-6 and all-wheel drive. Power is strong and the engine works nicely with the 10-speed automatic transmission. You won’t be blown away by the acceleration — Cadillac pegs the 0-60-mph time at 4.9 seconds — but it’s a significant upgrade from the urge provided by the base turbo four.
The CT5 cabin is spacious whether you’re seated up front or relegated to the second row. In some rivals (we’re looking at you, BMW 3 Series), the amount of rear legroom is at a premium; for taller folks or anyone who travels with space-stealing child safety seats, the extra room in the CT5 is greatly appreciated.
The predecessor to the CT5, the CTS sedan, had an infotainment system that went heavy on touchscreen surfaces; it was hard to tell you’d pressed a control, and the screen surface felt flimsy. Behold! Some buttons are back in the cabin of the CT5. There are knobs for volume and tuning, along with a row of silver buttons below the infotainment screen to control heating and cooling functions. Thank you, Cadillac.
There’s no doubt about it, the CT5 delivers a smooth and quiet ride. There’s little wind or tire noise, making the cabin a refined and relaxing place to spend your time. While we wouldn’t call the CT5’s passive shock absorbers a sport suspension, it does keep you feeling in control without bouncing everyone around over rough pavement.
The CT5 has a base price approximately $10,000 less than the CTS it replaced. That’s a significant amount of money even to someone looking for a luxury sedan. The base CT5 with the turbo four in rear-drive format starts at $37,890 (destination included), and our test car came to $52,155 with all options and fees. That’s many thousands less than what it costs to upgrade to a six-cylinder and all-wheel drive in an A4, 3 Series or C-Class.
Cadillac has sometimes lagged behind the competition when it comes to putting together a no-excuses luxury interior. Not so with the CT5; the materials used in the cabin have a premium look and feel to them. There are soft-touch surfaces where you want them most of all, and Cadillac didn’t cheap out by skimping on finishes in the second row.
Two tech items deserving an honorable mention in the CT5 are the high-resolution backup camera and Wi-Fi hot spot. The resolution of the camera is superb, and while Wi-Fi isn’t always the sexiest topic, the system in the Cadillac works well. It proved extremely handy during pandemic-related video conferences on the road even from the rear seat.
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Adding the turbocharged V-6 and AWD ticks fuel economy downward, and this Caddy requires premium. Our test car’s EPA-estimated figures are 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the 3.0-liter engine. That’s thirstier than many of the CT5’s direct rivals.
The drive-by-wire braking system takes getting used to, and even then, it’s not as linear as we’d prefer. The feel is more like an on-off switch, which can make coming to a quick stop awkward.
The steering is still good, but the CT5 lacks some of the edge that made the outgoing CTS so special. The handling here feels lighter and a little less centered than before.
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