2025 Cadillac CT5 Review

Cadillac may be more about SUVs these days, but it still has a couple sedans in its lineup.

Among them is the 2025 Cadillac CT5, which has received a mild refresh for this year. That includes new front-end styling, along with some new features. It comes in the choice of Premium Luxury or Sport trims. Both start at $55,999 with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or $58,199 with all-wheel drive (AWD), including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,400. The Sport AWD version tested here further had $11,115 in options, bringing it to $69,314 before taxes.

Styling 8 / 10

This year’s updates include a new grille and redesigned lighting. The two trims share a price due to a comparable level of features, but the Sport has a monotone appearance, while the Premium Luxury has more brightwork. The Sport’s standard wheels measure 19 inches, while my tester had optional 20-inch alloys. The most notable interior update is the dash, where the previous centre touchscreen and instrument cluster are replaced with a 33-inch screen that incorporates both.

Safety 9 / 10

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2025 CT5 its top five-star rating. It hadn’t been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time of this writing. Standard driver-assist features include Super Cruise hands-free highway driving, emergency front and rear braking, blind-spot monitoring with emergency steering assist, automatic high-beam control, surround-view cameras, side bicyclist alert, and traffic sign recognition. Warnings for these systems include vibrations through the so-called safety alert seat. 

Features 8 / 10

Along with the 33-inch screen, the CT5 Sport includes expected features such as an auto-dimming mirror, heated power-adjustable steering wheel, 15-speaker stereo, and a wireless charger. However, some stuff that might also be expected are extra-charge add-ons instead, such as this tester’s ventilated seats, power-folding mirrors, and head-up display.

User-Friendliness 8 / 10

Most of the CT5’s functions are simple to use, since many are operated by hard controls, including the climate and seat functions. The centre touchscreen can also be accessed via a console-mounted joystick or voice control. There’s also a touch panel on the screen’s left side that’s used to configure the instrument display or access the head-up display; but it and the centre screen can take multiple taps to operate when they’re cold.

Practicality 8 / 10

The CT5 is spacious, including good headroom and rear-seat legroom. The trunk isn’t class-leading at 337 L, but will handle luggage or a trip to the grocery store, and the rear seats fold flat to provide a pass-through.

Comfort 9 / 10

The seats are very supportive, with three levels of heating or ventilation, and they stayed that way during a drive that was several hours long. The ride is smooth and bump-free over all but the worst pavement, adding to the comfort level.

Power 7 / 10

The CT5 Sport uses a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder that makes 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Premium Luxury has the same setup, but also exclusively offers an optional 3.0L V6 that puts out 335 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. You’d think that extra output would be offered with a trim called Sport — and while the four-cylinder gets the CT5 where it needs to go, its gruff tone and noisy acceleration don’t sound very Cadillac-like. The 360-hp CT5-V and 668-hp CT5-V Blackwing remain on the books as well.

Driving Feel 7 / 10

The CT5 has sharp steering response and a well-planted feel. It’s smooth and confident through curves, and it really is fun to push because it’s got that part down pat. Its weak point is its 10-speed transmission, which seems like it has two too many gears for the engine. It frequently hunts for the right gear, especially on hills, and sometimes takes the edge off the otherwise good performance.

Fuel Economy 8 / 10

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the 2.0L with AWD at 11.0 L/100 km in the city, 7.8 on the highway, and 9.6 combined. I averaged 12.8 L/100 km — quite a bit worse, but still reasonable given the bitter cold during my week with it. Premium fuel is recommended, and the output numbers are calculated on it, but it isn’t required.

Value 7 / 10

At a starting price of $58,199 with AWD, the CT5 undercuts its German-brand rivals, but it doesn’t take long for the price to rise once you start adding some options; and if you want the more powerful V6 in the Premium Luxury, it’s an extra $4,025. The value cross-shop here might be the Genesis G70, with 300 hp, AWD, and items that cost extra on the CT5, but it’s $54,500.

The Verdict

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 has some welcome updates, and it’s a sharp-handling and very comfortable car, but a livelier engine and smoother transmission would really elevate it. Give it a test-drive, but cross-shop it as well to see if it’s the right choice for you.

Specifications