2018 Cadillac CTS-V Review

Name: 2018 Cadillac CTS-V Review
Brand: Cadillac

Price Range: $46,998 - $79,991

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$65,269 avg. price

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Cadillac CTS-V model years

Cadillac CTS-V for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by James Riswick^{Edmunds Contributor
James Riswick has been testing cars and writing about them for more than 20 years. He was the senior reviews editor for Autoblog and previously served multiple editor roles here at Edmunds. He has also contributed to Autotrader, Car and Driver, Hagerty, JD Power and Autoguide Magazine. He has been interested in cars forever; his mom took him to the Toronto Auto Show when he was 18 months old and has attended at least one every year since (OK, except in 2020). He owns a babied 1998 BMW Z3 in James Bond blue and a 2023 Kia Niro EV.}

Pros

One of the most powerful sedans on the road
Far cheaper than comparably powered performance sedans
Ultra-sophisticated suspension delivers world-class ride and handling
Superior support from optional sport seats

Cons

Less luxurious cabin than those of competitors
Small trunk
Tech interface may frustrate
Ride may be too rough for some

What’s new

For 2018, the CTS-V gains an updated infotainment system interface and two USB charge ports for the rear passengers.

Vehicle overview

Once upon a time, Cadillacs drew inspiration from the Space Age, with grand tailfins and taillights inspired by rockets and a fanciful future that never came. Well, the real future is here, and the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V definitely doesn't look like a rocket. It does, however, move like one, boasting a mighty supercharged V8 that slams 640 horsepower to the rear wheels. It's even faster than even that sounds.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Arlington, TX

18 listings

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2018 Cadillac CTS-V
Base Sedan
$52,991
fair price
- 96,455 miles
- 2 accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 14 City / 21 Hwy MPG
- RPM Garage (23 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Dallas, TX
RPM Garage is a specialty car dealership conveniently located off I-35E in Dallas, Texas. With over 100 cars in stock, and new inventory arriving ever...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
17 Combined MPG (14 City/21 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G6A15S69J0153383
Stock: 153383
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-25-2025
2018 Cadillac CTS-V
Base Sedan
$79,991
- 25,252 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 14 City / 21 Hwy MPG
- RPM Garage (23 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Dallas, TX
RPM Garage is a specialty car dealership conveniently located off I-35E in Dallas, Texas. With over 100 cars in stock, and new inventory arriving ever...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
17 Combined MPG (14 City/21 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1G6A15S60J0123835
Stock: 123835
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 05-09-2025

See all for sale

However, the CTS-V is not some ham-fisted muscle car. No, the CTS-V has a truly state-of-the-art chassis and suspension that allow it to take corners better and impart more communication to the driver than other high-performance luxury sedans. Oh, and it does so while costing considerably less.

That suspension also allows it to have an impressively comfortable ride for a performance car, though if you're looking for a comfy Cadillac couch, this definitely isn't it. Another thing to keep in mind is that although the CTS-V undercuts its German competitors on price, its cabin just isn't up to the level of an Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Cadillac has come a long way, but you do get what you pay for in this regard.

Overall, we're quite fond of the CTS-V. If you're looking for one of the most thrilling high-powered sedans on the market, this Caddy has to be on your shopping list.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

4.0 / 5

The 2018 Cadillac CTS-V blends all-American muscle, a precisely tuned chassis, a luxury-trimmed interior and sharp looks. Together, they make the CTS-V a truly world-class performance luxury sedan.

Trim tested

The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V (supercharged 6.2L V8 | 8-speed automatic | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current CTS-V has received a few minor updates, including a revised infotainment system. Our findings remain applicable to this year's CTS-V.

Scorecard

Overall	4.0 / 5
Driving	5.0
Comfort	3.0
Interior	3.0
Utility	2.5

Driving

5.0

Classic American muscle with state-of-the-art handling capabilities. This is where the CTS-V shines and has a leg up on its staunchest German rivals. Others have evolved into softer and more comfort-oriented machines; Cadillac has only sharpened its edges and packed on more muscle.

Acceleration

5.0

Taking just 4.1 seconds to reach 60 mph, the CTS-V offers genuine sports-car-shaming speed, camouflaged in the skin of a practical family sedan. The biggest issue with having 640 hp on tap is finding enough road to relish it.

Braking

5.0

The ultra-solid brakes are an excellent match to the engine and easy to modulate. The pedal travel is short, firm and reassuring. Emergency braking is executed without much noise or drama, needing only 102 feet of asphalt to stop from 60 mph.

Steering

5.0

The steering response isn't as crisp as we'd expect, but the effort in Touring mode feels spot-on and delivers decent feedback. Track and Sport modes are a little heavy for normal driving and clearly tuned for stability demands at higher speeds.

Handling

5.0

Layers of electronic safety nets make the CTS-V manageable for virtually any driver. Turn them off, and experienced drivers will enjoy skating around on all that torque with relative ease. The amount of tire grip available borders on ludicrous.

Drivability

3.0

The transmission's shifting can get a bit uneven and rough, even in Touring mode. This might be expected of a dual-clutch automatic, but not the CTS-V's automatic transmission. Throttle response is otherwise smooth and user-friendly.

Comfort

3.0

Soft and cushy may come to mind when you think of the Cadillac brand, but the CTS-V is not your grandfather's Caddy. Speed, agility and proper seat support are priorities with this car, so you may want to consider something else if you're expecting a rocket-powered couch.

Seat comfort

5.0

The optional Recaro performance seats deliver excellent support and adjustability. The cushions and armrest padding are on the firm side, but that's to be expected. They even performed well on a lengthy road trip. Unfortunately this upgrade can't be paired with ventilation.

Ride comfort

3.0

This Caddy is pleasant over smooth highways, but bumpier streets will reveal its true stiff-legged nature, even in Touring mode, which can get tiring. In fact, we didn't notice much separation between any of the magnetic suspension settings during casual driving.

Noise & vibration

3.0

Wind noise is well-isolated, but a moderate amount of road noise finds its way into the cabin, a likely trade-off for sticky tires. Under hard acceleration, the supercharger whine is most prominent.

Interior

3.0

Cadillac's efforts to up its interior game are apparent but flop when it comes to execution. The capacitive controls look slick, but they aren't as easy to operate as dials or real buttons. Also, the basics, such as easy access to seat adjustment controls, have been grossly overlooked.

Ease of use

2.5

The infotainment system response is much improved, but the tilted screen isn't sufficiently recessed, so glare and fingerprints are highly visible and distracting. The steering wheel buttons require too much physical effort and lack convenient placement.

Getting in/getting out

3.0

Front-seat access is great; the doors open wide. The seat height makes it easy to slip right in. The rear door apertures are smaller and have less head clearance due to a sloping roofline.

Roominess

3.5

Space is generous in the front seats but not so much in the rear. The front buckets have solid backs and sit low, so there's not a lot of room for feet or knees in back. With adults, four is optimal due to a short middle seat that straddles a wide center tunnel.

Visibility

3.5

The thick front and rear pillars and small sideview mirrors don't lend themselves to great visibility. The parking cameras aren't great in low-light situations.

Quality

3.0

Tight panel tolerances, a leather dash, carbon trim and contrast stitching all look stylish and of high quality. Ambient lighting is also subtle and well-done. What doesn't look great is the heavy use of chrome trim and thin, simulated suede surfaces. Other brands do it better.

Utility

2.5

Narrow door pockets, a smaller glovebox and armrest bin, and a nook behind a motorized cover constitute the cabin storage options. Trunk volume is lackluster at 13.7 cubic feet with a laughably small ski pass-through and a split-folding feature that's optional.

Technology

Cadillac updated its tech interface for 2018 and we have yet to sample it. Feature content is to be commended, however, with standard accident avoidance tech, parking aids, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G LTE Wi-Fi and three USB ports.

Compare 2018 Cadillac CTS-V trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Cadillac CTS-V models

The 2018 Cadillac CTS-V is a high-performance version of the regular CTS sedan, which is reviewed separately. The V version packs a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that produces 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. You can only get it with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Only one trim level is available.

Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer performance tires, Brembo performance brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, a magnetically controlled adaptive suspension, an automatic parking system, xenon headlights with auto high beams, automatic wipers, a driver auto-dimming mirror, remote ignition, keyless ignition and entry, forward collision warning, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, lane departure warning and intervention, and rearview and curb-view parking cameras.

Comfort and entertainment features include dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power-adjustable front seats (with heating, manual thigh extenders and power-adjustable bolsters), driver-seat memory settings, leather and simulated suede upholstery, a heated power-adjustable steering wheel, a simulated suede headliner, a 12.3-inch all-digital gauge display, a head-up display, an 8-inch touchscreen interface, OnStar communications (with 4G LTE and a Wi-Fi hotspot), wireless smartphone charging, Bluetooth, three USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a navigation system, and a 13-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with satellite and HD radio.

The Luxury package adds tri-zone climate control, a split-folding back seat, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, manual rear side sunshades, a 110-volt power outlet and Cadillac's rearview camera mirror. A panoramic sunroof can be added to the Luxury package. The Carbon Fiber package adds a carbon-fiber hood vent, spoiler, front splitter and rear diffuser.

Also available are 20-way power front seats, which can be upgraded with ventilation or replaced by Recaro performance seats.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.54 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$258/mo

$170/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Cadillac CTS-V Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.1

8 reviews

5(75%)

4(0%)

3(0%)

2(12%)

1(13%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Awesome car in every way

Michael Jones, 02/11/2017

2016 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A)

This car is amazing on performance. quiet and simple to drive . Gas milieage is very good based on the exotic car performance . Back seats are nice. Easy long travel driver. Its not a S class or a 750 bmw . I say that so that you realize its not designed to be cushy. Its designed for folks that want a Z06 in a sedan package. The only downside is that the Cadillac dealers are not quite …

CTS-Vroooom

Rob Crawford, 02/28/2019

2016 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A)

The V as I affectionately call it is essentially a 4 door Corvette with a smoother ride. Its so much fun its hard to keep your foot from flooring it. Its like having your own personal amusement park ride. The downside is you can watch the gas needle move as you play so if you are eco conscious this is not the ride for you.

a future classic

acjuice, 02/07/2021

2017 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A)

Great car. fast as anything when you need it and subtle and smooth when you want it. I had a 2006 STS-V, 2010 CTS-v and bought my 2017 CTS-v new. 53k miles and still love it. i was at Nobu Malibu and there was a McLaren event. guy gets out of his McLaren and is all over my V. my date didn't understand. i like it because it's silver and looks relatively tame but it is a beast when you …

Not your daddy’s Caddy

Frank Iovinelli , 11/17/2020

2016 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A)

I had a 2015 Chevy SS and wanted the CTS V but couldn’t swing it at the time. When 2016 came around I got my hands on a CTS V. I added a lingenfelter performance package to it and it turned a great performance sedan into an amazing performance machine. Needless to say I leave a lot of SRT Hellcat owners wondering what just happened. I’m 66 years young and this is by far the best …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V, so we've included reviews for other years of the CTS-V since its last redesign.

See all 8 reviews of the Cadillac CTS-V

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2018 CTS-V Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$86,295
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	17 MPG
Cost to Drive	$258/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the CTS-V models:

Forward Collision Alert: Uses sensors to detect stopped vehicles ahead, warning the driver through visual and audible signals.
Lane Change Alert w/ Blind Zone Alert: Monitors blind spots and alerts the driver should a lane change be attempted when there's a car in a neighboring lane.
Lane Keep Assist: Warns the driver should the car start to drift from its lane and can take corrective steering action if needed.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.1%

2018 Cadillac CTS-V Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale near Arlington, TX

2018 Cadillac CTS-VBase Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2018 Cadillac CTS-VBase Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Technology

Which CTS-V does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Cadillac CTS-V models

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.54 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.

Cadillac CTS-V Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Awesome car in every way

CTS-Vroooom

a future classic

Not your daddy’s Caddy

2018 CTS-V Highlights

Safety

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2018 Cadillac CTS-V
Base Sedan

2018 Cadillac CTS-V
Base Sedan

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Cadillac CTS-V 4dr Sedan (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.54 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.}