2022 Cadillac CT5

The CT5 is a sedan despite the fastback look that often lends itself to a hatchback design. Many of the details work, like the character lines along the lower portion of the body, the flared fenders, and the short front and rear overhangs, but the window line resolves awkwardly at the rear. That doesn’t detract from an overall sporty stance. 

The Blackwing model controls airflow with a pair of carbon-fiber packages. The base version includes a rear spoiler, front splitter, and wheel well deflectors, and the second package adds rocker panel moldings, a grille header, and a rear diffuser. These features only add to a sporty look enhanced by low-profile 19-inch wheels and a lower ride height. 

Inside, the CT5 places all the controls within easy reach. The standard 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen create a techy feel, while available diamond-tufted leather upholstery and carbon-fiber or wood trim contribute to the luxury and sportiness. We prefer the gray or tan upholstery as the standard black can look bland.

How fast is the CT5?

The CT-5 is reasonably quick with its base turbo-4, rambunctious with its twin-turbo V-6, and supercar fast with its supercharged V-8. We rate it an 8 out of 10 for performance, adding one point for its strong engines and two for crisp handling that only gets better as you move up the lineup.

The base engine sends 237 hp through a smooth and responsive 10-speed automatic transmission. The 0-60 mph run takes about seven seconds.

A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 makes 335 hp when chosen for the Premium Luxury model and 360 hp in the CT5-V. It launches the CT5-V from 0-60 mph in a tidy 4.6 seconds, according to Cadillac, while bellowing a mid-range wail. The supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 sings a deeper, more raucous tune while delivering a wall of power that slingshots the CT5-V Blackwing from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and pushes it to a top speed above 200 mph. 

The CT5 rides a modified version of the Alpha 2 platform from the Chevrolet Camaro and it has the slick moves to prove it despite a curb weight that can top 4,000 lb. Communicative steering tells drivers what the tires are doing, and available magnetic dampers balance a comfortable ride quality with agility. 

The CT5-V Blackwing is a track star with big brakes, plenty of cooling, and that ungodly engine that conjures up 668 hp. However, its magnetic dampers also provide everyday comfort. Cadillac also offers carbon-ceramic brakes, a first for the brand, that do an even better job of dissipating heat on a racetrack for better performance. 

A 6-speed manual transmission with short, positive throws, active rev matching, and no-lift shifting is available for the Blackwing. It’s the most powerful car on the market offered with a manual, and it’s the gearbox we’d choose.

While the cabin is spacious, the trunk is small at 11.9 cubic feet, which is smaller than you’d get in most compact sedans.

Materials throughout the cabin impress with soft surfaces on touch points complemented by wood, aluminum, and/or carbon-fiber trim. The CT5-V Blackwing adds diamond-tufted leather upholstery and tactile synthetic suede on the steering wheel and shift knob.

The NHTSA gives the CT5 five stars overall for acing every crash test, but the IIHS has yet to crash one. 

Cadillac adds standard safety features for 2022. It comes with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear parking sensors, GM’s safety alert seat that vibrates in the direction of a potential danger (for instance, it vibrates on the left when a car is in the left blind spot), a rear-seat reminder, and teen driver. Buyers can also get a surround-view camera system, blind-spot monitors, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway driver-assist system.

Standard equipment on the $38,190 base Luxury model includes a synthetic leather upholstery, a 12-way power-adjustable driver seat and a 10-way seat for the front passenger, a wi-fi hotspot, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 9-speaker audio system, remote starting, a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, LED headlights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Notable options for the CT5 include a sunroof, navigation, heated and cooled seats, a 15-speaker Bose audio system, and 20-inch wheels. Cadillac provides a good CT5 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, but it doesn’t include scheduled service like many rivals.

Which CT5 should I buy?

Priced at $48,990, the CT5-V comes standard with the equipment to improve performance, including a sport-tuned suspension, magnetic dampers, an electronic limited-slip differential, GM’s Performance Traction Management adjustable stability control system, Brembo front brakes, launch control, and 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires.

How much is a fully loaded 2021 Cadillac CT5?

The CT5-V Blackwing starts at $84,990 with the manual transmission and $88,165 with the automatic. In addition to the CT5-V’s performance features, it gets heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation, a head-up display, a rear differential cooler, a line lock, larger Brembo brakes, a 16-speaker AKG audio system, and a power tilting/telescoping steering column. Options can push the CT5-V Blackwing above $110,000.

The 335-hp twin-turbo V-6 engine is rated at 19/27/22 mpg, and the 360-hp version gets 18/27/21 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 18/26/21 mpg with all-wheel drive.

CT5-V Blackwing models drink gas to the tune of 13/22/16 mpg with the automatic transmission and 13/21/15 mpg with the manual.

All ratings are based on engines that run on premium fuel.