In our Car of the Year testing, we liked the
CT5’s carbon-fiber trim pieces but felt the
interior was otherwise uninspiring. The CT5-V
has done little to change that point of view.Quad exhaust tips and a unique diffuser help distinguish
the Cadillac CT5-V’s rear end from the base model.2020 Cadillac CT5-V
PRICE $48,690-$51,290
LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD/
AWD, 5-pass, 4-door
sedan
ENGINE 3.0L/360-hp/405-lb-
ft twin-turbo DOHC
24-valve V-6
TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT 3,850-3,950 lb (est)
WHEELBASE 116.0 in
L X W X H 193.8 x 74.1 x 57.2 in
0-60 MPH 4.6-4.8 sec (mfr est)
EPA FUEL ECON 17-18/25-26/20-21 mpg
ENERGY CONSUMPTION,
CITY/HWY187-198/210-222
kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.93-0.98 lb/mile
ON SALE Currentlyand 10-speed auto powertrain combo
that powers the Chevy Camaro ZL1?
Yeah. I’d guess power levels at around
650 hp and 650 lb-ft, just like the big
Camaros.
Prices start at $48,690 for the
rear-drive CT5-V and $51,290 for the
all-wheel driver. Insanely, Super Cruise—
Cadillac’s game-changing, best-in-
business, hands-free, sorta-autonomous
driving mode—isn’t available on the
2020 models. However, the 2021 CT5-V
is coming sooner than you think, and it
will have it. It’s such a great technology
that I recommend waiting.
Now we drive. The big difference
between a normal car and a performance
car (especially a real performance car)
is found during a corner. In a regular car
you worry about the turn you’re in. With
a performance car, because it handles
so damn well, you worry about the next
corner coming at you. I am happy, stoked,
elated, and surprised to tell you that the
CT5-V is squarely in the latter camp.
This thing drives fabulously. Again, my
surprise is simply due to how under-
whelmed we were with the base CT5.
From behind the wheel, you would have
a difficult time believing the V version
is in any way related to the standard car.
We’re talking vast differences in every
way a car performs.
To break it down, the engine is sweet.
Its 360 horsepower is plenty (though
why not 100 more?), especially because
the CT5-V is relatively light. We haven’t
weighed one, but we have weighed the
four-cylinder CT5: 3,693 pounds. Figure
another 100 or 150 pounds for the V
model. OK, “light” is the wrong word,
but (probably) less than the 3,875-pound
Mercedes-AMG C 43.
Really, it’s the CT5-V’s healthy torque
curve that makes it feel so good, espe-
cially when coupled with the 10-speed
auto’s closely spaced gears. It’s OK for
an auto (you can skip manual mode and
its reluctance to downshift). Even with
a stick, that 6,000-rpm redline would
be low. Still, acceleration is strong, and
thanks to all sorts of deceitful wizardry
from the speakers, it sounds good, too.
Yes, some of what you’re hearing is fake.
I’m too old to be outraged.
I’m not too old to recognize a great
performance car when I drive one.
Powerful enough, priced great, and
stacked with world-class perfor-
mance parts and a chassis that’s best
in segment, the CT5-V will take on
and beat whatever the Japanese and
German competition can throw at it. QMAY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 73