I drove a $65,000 Cadillac CT5 to see how it stacks up against rivals from BMW and Mercedes

Business Insider

02-05-2025

The Michigan-made CT5-V starts at $56,995
The base four-cylinder CT5 starts at $47,595 while the fire-breathing, supercharged V8 CT5-V Blackwing ups the asking price to $95,595.
My mid-tier CT5-V starts at $56,995, about $3,000 less than the comparable BMW M340i and $5,000 less than the Mercedes-AMG C43.
With fees, the addition of all-wheel drive, and a host of premium upgrades, the as-tested price rose to $65,160.
The CT5-V's refreshed styling is headlined by a new front end
The new front fascia, which includes a redesigned mesh grille and new stacked LED headlights framed by vertical waterfall running lights, gives the CT5-V a lower, wider, and more athletic front profile.
At 195 inches long, the Caddy is about six inches longer than the Mercedes C-Class and nearly a foot longer than the BMW 3-Series
At just under 4,000 lbs, the base CT5-V is about 100 lbs heavier than the comparable M340i and 100 lbs lighter than AMG's C63 which comes standard with AWD.
Under the hood lurks a powerful twin-turbo V6
The CT5-V is powered by a 3.0, twin-turbocharged, all-aluminum V6 producing 360 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque. It's paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. However, my test car came with all-wheel drive, a $2000 option.
The turbo six fits between the 237 horsepower turbo-four-cylinder and 335 horsepower V6 that power the regular CT5, and the 668 supercharged V8 that lives under the Blackwing's hood.
The CT5-V boasts EPA fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined, two and nine mpg below the more powerful offerings from Mercedes and BMW, respectively.
The Caddy handles beautifully
Cadillac spent a lot of time and money on the CT5-V's suspension, and it shows. Through the corners, the Caddy feels remarkably surefooted, even for a sports sedan.
The car feels balanced and neutral with only minor hints of oversteer, helped greatly by its standard limited-slip differential that moderates power delivery to the rear wheels to optimize traction, and its magnetic dampers that make constant adjustments based on road conditions.
Stomp on the gas and the CT5-V launches without hesitation. The twin-turbo V6 delivers plenty of oomph while the 10-speed automatic shifts quickly and crisply. The engine and quad-exhaust also team up to produce a very pleasant rumble.
According to Cadillac, the rear-wheel-drive CT5-V can do 0-60 mph in a solid 4.6 seconds, on par with the comparable BMW and AMG's respective 4.4-second and 4.3-second manufacturer-claimed times.
My only real complaint is that the CT5-V could use some more power to fully take advantage of its excellence handling, without upgrading to the Blackwing and its six-figure price tag.
For a sports sedan, that's a good problem to have.
My test car came with GM's Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system
The CT5-V functioned perfectly on the highway as a quiet and relaxed luxury cruiser. That experience was certainly helped by its hands-free driving capabilities.
Super Cruise proved incredibly easy and intuitive to use while cruising and in stop-and-go traffic.
It operated like a normal adaptive cruise control system until it detected a stretch of highway suitable for hands-free driving. At that point, it gave me the green light to take my hands off the steering wheel.
The CT5-V's cabin boasts classy design and easy-to-navigate controls.
The cabin's black soft-touch surfaces and gray carbon fiber accents give off a very business-like feel. There aren't many design flourishes; the only pops of color come from the massive 33-inch digital screen on the front dash.
However, as monotone as the interior may be, it's very well designed with a good mix of logically placed digital controls and easy-to-use physical controls. Build and material quality are both solid.
The centerpiece of Caddy's tech suite is a massive 33-inch screen mounted atop its front dash.
The screen is home to Cadillac's Google-based infotainment system, which allows for integration of helpful features like Google Maps on the instrument display in front of the driver.
The system, found on many recently updated GM products, is very sorted. It's highly responsive, easy to navigate, and packed with features.
The massaging black leather front seats were comfortable with aggressive side bolstering to hold you firmly in place while cornering.
My test car's heated and ventilated seats looked elegant but a bit plain. Fortunately, Cadillac does offer different colors and designs, including a lovely quilted leather option.
The CT5-V's rear seats are pretty standard issue for a sports sedan of its stature, with contoured leather seats and dedicated charging sockets.
Behind the driver is a moderately sized 11.9 cubic foot trunk that's on par with the Mercedes C-Class, but trails the BMW's 16.9 cubic foot compartment.
My verdict: The Cadillac CT5-V is a fun, high-tech, American alternative to the German status quo.
The Cadillac CT5-V is a true sleeper. It doesn't get nearly the attention of its Teutonic rivals nor does it garner the praise of its pricier, fire-breathing Blackwing sibling.
But make no mistake, the CT5-V is a fine sports sedan that handles like it's riding on rails and is packed with industry-leading tech.
All that for thousands less than the Mercedes. Count me in.