2023 Cadillac CT5

Pros:

• New technology and safety features from Cadillac are available.
• The car has sharp steering and a powertrain that shifts smoothly.
• A lot of cars for the money.
• The Super Cruise feature helps you drive without using your hands.

Cons:

• limited visibility
• Both the trunk space and the headroom in the back are negligible.
• The build quality and luxury feel are not there.
• The V-Series version doesn’t have much more power than the other ones.

How does the CT5 move? The CT5 we tested had a V6 engine with 335 horsepower. On our test track, it took 5.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Even though this speed is average for a midsize luxury car with a six-cylinder engine, it is still fast. In the city, the V6 feels solid and easy to drive.

The engine is supported by a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission that keeps the engine revving at the correct rate. The engine’s automated stop-start system doesn’t get in the way, so the main problem when driving in traffic is that the brake pedal tends to be sensitive, which makes it hard to stop smoothly. We liked how safe and solid the CT5 felt to drive. The CT5 isn’t a performance sedan, but it’s more fun than it looks, thanks to its well-tuned suspension and sharp handling.

How lovely is the CT5 to ride in? Luxury vehicles must prioritize passenger comfort and exterior design. Some of these are places where Cadillac falls short. The seats in the front and back are primarily supportive and comfortable. However, for a luxury car, the ride could be better. The CT5 goes over bumps instead of soaking them up, and rough roads can make it shake like a boat.

Most of the time, the climate control system works well. All of the controls are buttons, which is unusual for a class that usually uses touch screens that are smooth but distracting. The seat heaters that work quickly are also helpful. The fans bring the temperature in the car back to normal right away, but they are too loud for a luxury sedan.

What’s the inside like? The interior of a luxury car should shine, but we were let down. Even though CT5 has a lot of actual buttons instead of a lot of virtual ones on the screen, some of the buttons are in strange places. Even though the driving position is acceptable, some drivers like a steering wheel that can move in more ways. Because the gas and brake pedals are so far apart, moving your feet in traffic is more complicated than it should be.

There is enough space inside, with enough headroom in the front and enough legroom in both rows. If you are taller than 6 feet, there is little room for your head in the back. Also, it is hard to see. Because the side mirrors and back window are small, there are more blind spots.

How are the gadgets? The CT5 has all the high-tech features you can expect in a luxury car. Overall, the driver assistance systems work well, but the adaptive cruise control brakes and speeds up with some jerkiness.

The navigation and entertainment systems also did a great job. Even though the Cadillac doesn’t have as many features as its German rivals, the technology in the CT5 is sleek and easy to use. It’s well-organized and easy to use, and if you’d instead use your phone, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are built-in and work wirelessly. There are several USB ports if you need to charge your device quickly.

How are things with the storage? The CT5 is relatively tiny compared to other vehicles in its class, so it can’t transport as much as some of them can. The trunk is the smallest in its class, with only 11.9 cubic feet of space. The space is ample and valuable and can fold down the back seats in a 60/40 split.

It’s much better to keep things inside the cabin. Luxury cars often need more storage space inside, but the CT5 does an excellent job. Large bins, cupholders, and a vertical wireless charger take up less space than most other chargers.

A car seat for a child should be easy to put in. There is plenty of legroom in the back, the anchors are easy to reach from behind plastic covers, and larger seats face backward.

How well does it burn gasoline? The combined city/highway fuel economy for the CT5 with the standard engine and front-wheel drive is 27 mpg. With the V6 and all-wheel drive, it gets 21 mpg. That’s fine, but it’s not all that interesting. On our 115-mile mixed-driving test route, our rear-wheel-drive CT5 with a V6 engine got an average of about 21 mpg, which suggests that the EPA estimates should be possible.

Should I invest in a CT5? Yes, that’s the answer. The list of standard features is enough for a luxury car, and most of the extras aren’t as expensive as they would be on other luxury cars. The base price of the CT5 is less than $40,000. This is almost $15,000 less than Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. But the quality of construction could have been better in its class. Some parts of the interior look more like Buicks than Cadillacs.

The warranty on a Cadillac could be better. The basic warranty on the CT5 is for four years or 50,000 miles, and the security on the powertrain is for six years or 70,000 miles. Cadillac is in rust-prone Michigan, so its corrosion warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles is much shorter than the 12 years that Audi and BMW offer. Roadside help is included for six years or 70,000 miles with a Cadillac.

The new CT5 has a sharp and attractive look like the Cadillac CTS. Even though it doesn’t look very different from what we’ve seen before, it’s changed enough to be both new and appealing. The style of the room as a whole is also quite lovely. We only wish that it was as fun to drive as the CTS.

The Premium Luxury package is a worthy investment of a few thousand dollars beyond the Luxury package it upgrades from. In addition to the other features, the Premium Luxury package unlocks the more powerful V6 engine, the Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance system, and the luxurious Platinum package. Even though the V6 isn’t an option, we like the Sport model because it has an optional adaptive suspension system, upgraded Brembo brakes, and a limited-slip differential.

Cadillac CT5 Models

There are four trim levels for the Cadillac CT5: Premium, Premium Luxury, Sport, and V-Series. A turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 335 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque is optional for the Premium Luxury and standard for the V-Series, where it makes 360 hp. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque is standard. Power is sent to the rear wheels or an optional all-wheel-drive system via a 10-speed automatic transmission.