2020 Cadillac CT5 Review: 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Is A Promising Package, But Is That Enough?

After three generations and nearly two decades, Cadillac has retired the CTS.

The once popular model has been replaced by the all-new CT5 and, like its predecessor, the sedan faces an uphill battle as it has to fend off German competitors while also staying relevant in the crossover era. That’s no easy task, but the CT5 has a lot going for it.

A New Look For Cadillac Sedans

The new CT5 has an elegantly styled exterior

Besides ditching the CTS moniker, the car adopts a new design that incorporates a number of styling cues from the well-received Escala concept.

The front end is dominated by a wide grille that features bright accents which are unique to Luxury models such as our Premium Luxury tester. It’s flanked by slender LED headlights and vertical LED daytime running lights. The Escala-like design continues further back as there’s a steeply sloping roofline and faux third quarter glass. The latter feature has proven controversial and we’re not huge fans of it either.

That’s our only major styling complaint as the CT5 is otherwise relatively handsome. The model also has hints of sport as there’s a bulging hood, an integrated rear spoiler and a dual exhaust system.

A Straightforward And Upscale Interior

Our tester came with an optional 8-inch Driver Information Center

While the interior isn’t as eye-catching as the one in the 2021 Escalade, the cabin features an upscale design and mostly high quality materials.

Drivers sit behind a leather-wrapped steering wheel and find themselves looking at a highly legible instrument cluster. However, the gauges are largely redundant thanks to an optional 8-inch Driver Information Center which provides a wealth of information via its multiple displays.

To the right, is a 10-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Besides being fast and easy to operate, it has three separate volume controls on the steering wheel, center console and center stack. That’s probably overkill, but you certainly won’t struggle to adjust the volume.

The Premium Luxury edition includes leather seats and wood trim

Below the infotainment system is slender air vents and some rather ho-hum looking switchgear. While they may not be as stylish as the controls used on the CTS, the physical buttons are much easier to operate.

Continuing down, there’s a center console with wood trim and a wireless charging pad. There’s also a minimalist shifter, a phone holder and a leather-wrapped armrest which opens to reveal an assortment of charging options.

The CT5 Premium Luxury comes nicely equipped with 14-way power front seats which are wrapped in leather and feature a stylish chevron accent on the backrest. They’re an excellent place to spend some time as they’re spacious and supportive. The optional Climate Package ups the amenities by adding heating and ventilation as well as a heated steering wheel.

There’s more room at the back than the CTS

Rear seat passengers aren’t as lucky as the split folding bench feels a bit too firm and there isn’t much headroom for those over 6 feet (1.83 meters). On the bright side, there’s 37.9 inches (963 mm) of legroom which dwarfs similarly priced models such as the Audi A4 (35.7 inches / 907 mm), BMW 3-Series (35.2 inches / 894 mm) and Mercedes C-Class (35.2 inches / 894 mm). However, the Lexus ES offers a more generous 39.2 inches (996 mm) of rear seat legroom.

Speaking of space, the trunk feels larger than its 11.9 cubic feet (337 liters) capacity suggests. However, the figure is less than the Germans and the Lexus ES.

Plenty Of Power, But It Comes At A Price

The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is paired to a standard 10-speed automatic

While the entry-level CT5 features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 237 hp (177 kW / 240 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque, our tester came equipped with the optional twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. It develops 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS) and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque in the Premium Luxury, but it raises the price by $3,500.

That’s a hefty increase, but the engine has plenty of power and refinement. Turbo lag is negligible but, once the turbos spool up, prepare for takeoff.

The engine is connected to an excellent ten-speed automatic transmission which delivers quick and smooth shifts. While the car has steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, they’ll probably see little use as the CT5 feels more geared towards comfort than sport.

In terms of efficiency, the entry-level CT5 is rated at 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined. The twin-turbo drops those numbers to 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined, while the optional all-wheel drive system cuts off an extra mpg in both city and highway driving.

Customers looking for something more engaging can spend $48,690 to get the CT5-V which has an even more powerful twin-turbo V6 developing 360 hp (268 kW / 365 PS) and 405 lb-ft (548 Nm) of torque. There’s also a CT5-V Blackwing on the horizon and it promises to be a proper successor to the CTS-V as it will be offered with a manual transmission as well as a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that is rumored to produce around 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS).

Getting back to our Premium Luxury tester, the engine is quiet and more than capable of propelling the CT5 around town. The car also handles well as it’s based on an updated version of the rear-wheel drive Alpha platform.

While rear-wheel drive is always a plus, our CT5 didn’t feel particularly sporty. You can chuck the car into corners at decent speeds, but it doesn’t feel very rewarding. However, as we’ve mentioned before, there are sportier variants if that’s your prerogative.

While the CT5 Premium Luxury isn’t very engaging, it does come equipped with an excellent braking system. The ride is also comfortable as only major imperfections upset the otherwise relaxing driving experience. Speaking of comfort, the interior is hushed thanks in part to an acoustic windshield and laminated front side glass.

While many cars are equipped with a drive mode selector, the one on the CT5 makes some pretty noticeable changes in regards to steering. Tour mode favors a light feel, while Sport mode has considerably more heft. I was drawn to the latter, but that’s just a matter of personal preference.

Safety Comes Standard

The CT5 comes standard with an assortment of driver assistance systems including Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking and a Safety Alert Seat. The Premium Luxury variant goes even further as it adds Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert. Our tester was also equipped with the Driver Awareness Plus Package which adds IntelliBeam headlights, a Head-Up Display and Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning. The latter is particularly nice as it gently turns the steering wheel to keep you in your desired lane.

Customers looking for more safety and technology can add the Driver Assist and Advanced Security Package. It adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking and Automatic Seat Belt Tightening. The package also includes an assortment of security features including locking lug nuts as well as inclination and interior motion sensors.

The semi-autonomous Super Cruise driver assistance tech enables hands-free driving in more than 200,000 miles of compatible highways in the United States and Canada

Cadillac’s enhanced Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system will be offered on 2021 models and it was upgraded to provide better steering and speed control as well as an automated lane change function. The system can operate on more than 200,000 miles (321,868 km) of compatible highways in the United States and Canada, so it’s a bummer that enhanced Super Cruise is not available at launch.

A Comfortable And Spacious Cruiser With A Far More Compelling Price

While the CT5 isn’t perfect, it’s a lot more affordable than the CTS as pricing starts at $37,890. That’s $10,100 less the CTS and it also means the CT5 is more affordable than the entry-level Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and Lexus ES. The price difference is so great that even the $41,690 CT5 Premium Luxury undercuts the base BMW 330i.

Of course, there are some trade offs as the CT5 isn’t necessarily as sporty or luxurious as some its competitors. That being said, it’s larger and cheaper than the Germans and this should help the model to stand out.

On top of the size and pricing advantages, the CT5 is comfortable and will be pretty high-tech once enhanced Super Cruise arrives. While it might not be a knockout, the CT5 is certainly worth your consideration.