2020 Cadillac CT5 Review

With the CTS-V taking a bow this year, the only hot sedan remaining in Cadillac's lineup would be the CT6-V. But Cadillac has unveiled new performance variants of its upcoming sedans, including the 2020 Cadillac CT5-V.

The CT5 looks to address a number of the CTS' shortcomings, making it an all-around more appealing vehicle. Notably, rear legroom has increased, materials quality seems to have improved, and the capacitive touch buttons have been tossed in the dumpster where they belong and replaced with a much friendlier-looking interface.

So far, so good, but the CT5 was missing a V performance variant. Some faithful souls held out hope that it might receive Cadillac's newly developed and romantically named Blackwing V8 and match or exceed the insane 640 horsepower of the CTS-V.

It turns out that is not the case.

Apex or Nadir?

Under the hood, the CT5-V is down two cylinders and more than 300 horsepower from its predecessor, sporting a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that Cadillac estimates will make 355 hp. That's a much more accessible number than the 640 hp the CTS-V made, but some V fans are sure to be disappointed, and the drop in power takes the V branding down several notches in terms of raw performance, closer to where V-Sport models used to compete.

The CT5-V's V6 engine is coupled to General Motors' 10-speed automatic transmission, a sharp unit that we like in other performance applications. Power is sent to the rear wheels, although all-wheel drive is available as an option. Also standard are Brembo brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, 19-inch wheels and Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension.

All of the parts suggest that the CT5-V will be fun to drive. Cadillac has proven it can make engaging and entertaining sporty sedans — in recent years that's been a consistent strength. But will an engaging driving experience be enough to tempt buyers the brand has trained to expect supercar-challenging power?

Pricing and Release Date

Perhaps if the more accessible power number equates to a more accessible price tag, we can call the whole thing a draw, but Cadillac won't release official pricing until closer to the car's early 2020 on-sale date. Stay tuned for Edmunds for updates on the 2020 Cadillac CT5 and CT5-V.

Is one sedan better than two? Cadillac is hoping the answer is "yes!" Its new 2020 CT5 sedan serves as a replacement and upgrade for the Cadillac's outgoing ATS and CTS sedans. A harder question to answer might be: "Should you consider this alongside an Audi A6 or a BMW 5 Series?"

New Features, Including Cadillac's Super Cruise

Sized similarly to the current BMW 5 Series sedan, the CT5 will be available with two powertrains and three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque will be standard, while an optional turbocharged V6 provides 335 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both engines will come with a 10-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive will be optional.

Most of the CT5's technology features are similar to those currently available on the larger CT6. That includes front collision mitigation, a camera-based rearview mirror display, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert. But the best technology transfer from the CT6 to the CT5 is Cadillac's auto-drive system, Super Cruise, which uses GPS and high-resolution map data to self-steer the car on designated highways. When driving on a pre-scanned highway, Super Cruise allows for near-indefinite hands-free driving, so long as the driver is paying attention to the road. We've tested this system before and found it to work well.

Upscale Interior With Lots of Legroom

On the inside, the CT5's interior is a clear progression from those found in the CTS and ATS models. It features broad expanses of material with a more traditional layout of buttons. A rotary knob, like the one in the CT6, is used to control the features found on its 10-inch high-definition touchscreen. Higher trim models will get an 8-inch display in the dash. Rear legroom is listed at 37.9 inches, which is 2.5 inches more than what the 2019 CTS has.

You'll want to be on the lookout for the CT5's optional Platinum package. This option, which is only available on the Premium Luxury and Sport trims, includes upgraded leather seating surfaces, 18-way power front seats (with heating, ventilation and massaging), and unique materials and piping throughout the interior, including magnesium shift paddles and carbon trim.

Driving Enjoyment Should Be Included

While Cadillacs of old were soft highway cruisers, the CT5 will be similar to the brand's more recent sedans. That means we can expect crisp handling and precise steering. The driver will be able to alter electric power steering, transmission and even brake calibration through modes selected at the touch of a button. It will also change torque distribution between the front and rear axles if equipped with all-wheel drive. Top-trim Sport models will even come with Brembo brakes.

Cadillac CT5's Pricing and Release Date

So far, we like what we see. The 2020 Cadillac CT5's size and power specs are appealing, and Super Cruise will be an interesting competitive advantage. But, of course, we won't know for sure how the CT5 stacks up until we get one in for testing.

Pricing information wasn't available as of publication, but we expect the CT5 to start in the upper $30,000s and top out in the mid-$50,000s. We also expect the CT5 to hit dealers in the fall of 2019. Check back with Edmunds as more information becomes available.

Cadillac's on-again, off-again relationship with the car is on again thanks to the 2020 Cadillac CT5. For a while, Cadillac was fully invested, like season two Ross and Rachel — embracing their blossoming relationship and growing their range of sedan offerings. But Cadillac recently went full season three and decided it and sedans were on a break, announcing the end of first the ATS, then the CTS, XTS and CT6.

At the upcoming New York Auto Show in April, Cadillac will reveal its replacement for the CTS midsize sedan, the CT5. But will the CT5 be the false promise of season four Ross and Rachel, or will Cadillac and the sedan skip right to a happily ever after?

A CTS by Any Other Name

We don't have all the details about the 2020 CT5, but we know the basics. The exterior and interior are both totally refreshed, and there's very little visually to tie the cars together, beyond the general profile. Under its skin, the CT5 will continue to be built on GM's Alpha platform, which also underpins the Chevy Camaro and Cadillac ATS. We've never had complaints about how cars built on this platform drive (unusually well) although we have had complaints about how they ride (choppily).

As with the CTS, the base engine in the CT5 will be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. But we don't have confirmation whether it will carry over the old 268-horsepower unit from the CTS or adopt the newer 2.0-liter found in the XT4. That engine only makes about 240 horsepower in its current application. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, like the one found in the CT6 where it makes 404 hp, will be available as an optional upgrade. There's no word on whether the six-cylinder will be retuned for duty in the smaller CT5.

The CT5 will also switch to a 10-speed automatic. And having driven GM's quick-witted 10-speed in other cars, we're all in favor of that change.

The One With the Reveal

Cadillac says it'll be standing by the sedan, and it's true that sedan sales continue to be strong in foreign markets. Still, with Chevrolet following Ford in abandoning sedans in favor of crossovers and SUVs, we have to wonder how strong GM's commitment to keeping sedans in the U.S. market will be going forward.

We'll get the full story on the CT5 in mid-April when it officially debuts at the New York Auto Show, but we might still have to wait a bit longer for official pricing and availability. So if you don't happen to live in New York — like the friends from "Friends" (my metaphor totally works) — stay tuned to Edmunds for more information on the 2020 Cadillac CT5.