2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Overview

Cadillac's V-series high-performance lineup is led by the dynamically excellent and totally brutish 2023 CT5-V Blackwing, which is our current favorite among today's sports sedans and a two-time 10Best award winner. A supercharged V-8 engine pumps out a stout 668 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. That combination is good enough for a 3.6-second rush to 60 mph in our testing; a 10-speed automatic is available too, but we implore you to consider the stick. The car's handling is just as entertaining as its explosive acceleration, and when pushed, the CT5-V Blackwing is a deft partner for experienced drivers. It faces off against heady competition such as the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E63, both of which offer more name recognition. Still, the CT5-V Blackwing ultimately comes out on top thanks to its relatively low price and expertly tuned chassis.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

STARTING AT: $93,390

2

Audi RS7

STARTING AT: $126,000

3

BMW M5

STARTING AT: $111,895

4

Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic

STARTING AT: $113,950

5

Mercedes-AMG SL55 / SL63

STARTING AT: $140,000

6

Mercedes-AMG GT43 / GT53 / GT63 / GT63 S

STARTING AT: $93,550

What's New for 2023?

To celebrate the 120^th anniversary of the brand, Cadillac will add a 120^th Anniversary Edition to the CT5-V Blackwing lineup. Only 120 will be produced, and the first one has already sold at a charity auction for $250,000. The limited-edition model comes with special doorsill plates and other commemorative badges incorporated into the exterior and interior design.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

While a 10-speed automatic transmission is optional and technically makes the CT5-V Blackwing a little bit quicker, we'd stick with the standard six-speed manual for the more engaging driving demeanor. We'd go easy on options, but we'd splurge on the high-performance sport seats and suede microfiber interior upholstery. If the CT5-V Blackwing's price is too high for your budget, consider the smaller and cheaper Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, which we review separately.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Even though Cadillac is calling it the CT5-V Blackwing, it isn't powered by the newly developed twin-turbo Blackwing V-8 from the now-discontinued CT6-V. Instead, an updated version of the CTS-V's supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, making a whopping 668 horsepower, pairs with either a six-speed manual or an optional 10-speed automatic. The CT5-V Blackwing is a sharp-handling sedan that can ride quite comfortably despite its sporting intentions. Standard magnetorheological dampers sense the road surface and your driving intention and adjust accordingly. Acceleration is explosive, and in our testing, the CT5-V Blackwing with the six-speed manual hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds; we estimate it will be capable of hitting 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds when equipped with the optional automatic transmission.

View Photos

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

With the optional automatic transmission, the CT5-V Blackwing earned EPA fuel-economy ratings of 13 mpg city and 22 mpg highway; going with the six-speed manual drops the car's highway fuel-economy estimate to 21 mpg. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, our manual-transmission test vehicle managed an impressive 24 mpg. For more information about the CT5-V Blackwing's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The CT5-V Blackwing shares its cabin with the standard CT5, which gives the performance sedan a reasonably spacious interior with plenty of features and niceties. We've found the regular CT5's cabin to be a mix of materials—some fine, some decidedly downmarket—but Cadillac dresses the CT5-V Blackwing to match its much higher entry price better. All models come with genuine leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats and 18-way power adjustments. High-performance sport seats with leather and microfiber upholstery are optional and come bundled with matching door panel inserts. The Blackwing's trunk is the same size and shape as the regular CT5's, into which we fit five carry-on cases during our testing. The gauge display includes a lap timer feature, and a performance data recorder is an optional extra.

View Photos

Infotainment and Connectivity

The CT5-V Blackwing comes with the same 10.0-inch touchscreen display and CUE infotainment interface as the standard CT5. This system also features a secondary rotary controller on the center console for drivers who prefer not to touch the screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be standard, as will wireless smartphone charging and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. While the standard CT5 gets a Bose stereo system as an option, the Blackwing comes with a 15-speaker AKG system as standard. All models also come with a 12.0-inch digital gauge display with unique V-series–specific startup animation and a head-up display.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

A host of driver-assistance features are available, both as standard and optional, but several are unavailable if you choose the desirable manual transmission. For information about the CT5-V Blackwing's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Compared to rivals such as the M3 and the C63, the Cadillac's standard powertrain warranty offers coverage for a longer period of time and mileage. But Cadillac only covers the first service visit, unlike BMW, which offers three years of complimentary maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit

More Features and Specs