History/Overview
Cadillac's midsize sedan changes name more often than most of its buyers probably change what their favourite restaurant is, but despite that constant change, the cars themselves continue down the same path. Chasing the likes of BMW and Audi and trying to break the links between today and the barges it built decades ago.
What's New
For 2021, the year-old CT5 gains wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and trade an 8.0-inch digital dash display for a 12-inch one. Super Cruise, Cadillac's hands-off driver assistance system joins the options list mid-year, sometime in early calendar year 2021.
Available Trims
The CT5 follows Cadillac's so-called Y trim levels, where the base is Luxury and that splits out into the comfort-focused Premium Luxury and the sport-focused Sport. Sitting atop the lineup is the CT5-V, the highest performance version currently offered. Luxury and Sport offer a 2.0L turbocharged four making 237 hp while Premium Luxury offers that engine and a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 335 hp. The CT5-V offers the six with 360 hp, and all offer a 10-speed automatic and the option of rear or all-wheel drive.
Standard Features
Luxury trim starts with 18-inch bright silver wheels with self-sealing tires. Body colour mouldings and bright window surrounds set off this version, and there are LED headlights with accent light-pipes. Auto-function heated seats (and heated wheel) come standard with leatherette upholstery. 12-way driver, 10-way passenger adjustment is the minimum. The 10.0-inch infotainment system uses wireless phone capability and has nine speakers standard. A 4G LTE hotspot is included as is OnStar connected vehicle tech. Driver assistance includes automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert with front pedestrian braking.
Premium Luxury adds a bright accented grille and special wheels on the outside, as well as wireless phone charging and leather seating. The front seats are ventilated and are 14-way adjustable. Rear parking assist is added along with lane change and blind spot alert, rear cross traffic alert, and buckle to drive that won't let you drive off until your seat belt is buckled.
Sport swaps the grille and fascias for new ones with black trim. The steering wheel is thicker and has magnesium paddle shifters. 19-inch wheels are also included, as are 18-way power-adjust sports seats with adjustable bolsters. Apart from that, Sport is equipped like Premium Luxury with the exception of ventilated front seats.
CT5-V includes performance parts like magnetic ride control adjustable dampers, a quad-tip exhaust, electronic limited-slip differential, and performance traction management. Launch control is included as are four-piston Brembo V Performance front brakes.
Key Options
Luxury offers a panoramic moonroof, Bose 15-speaker audio, and navigation as a package. On Premium Luxury, a Platinum Package adds cushion length adjustment, power massage for front seats, and includes a dual pane sunroof, semi-aniline seats with special leather colours, navigation, and premium Bose audio. Super Cruise is offered as is a Parking Package with rear camera mirror, power-fold mirrors, power tilt column, and automatic parking assist with braking. A tech pack adds a larger center cluster and head-up display, and conventional adaptive cruise is available along with automatic belt tightening and an improved theft deterrent system. Sport offers the same packages with the exception of Super Cruise. V offers the same packages as Premium Luxury.
Fuel Economy
Rear-drive CT5's should manage 10.4 L/100 km city, 7.3 highway with the four, 12.3/8.5 with the 3.0 and 12.7/8.7 in V-spec, while all-wheel drive cars are rated for 11.0/7.7, 12.7/9.1 and 12.7/9.1 respectively, and yes, the duplicate figures are correct.
Competition
The Cadillac CT5 competes with the likes of the Volvo S60 sedan as well as the BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Audi A6.
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