2019 Cadillac CTS-V Review

Name: 2019 Cadillac CTS-V Review
Brand: Cadillac
Price: 48172 USD

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCalvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Supercharged V8's powerful acceleration
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

Champion Edition package discontinued
Part of the third-generation CTS-V introduced for 2016

The 2019 Cadillac CTS-V is a great example of getting the best of both worlds, serving as a practical companion during the week and turning into a track-day weapon on the weekend.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$324/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Just like Cadillac's regular CTS, the CTS-V has four doors, a comfortable interior, and loads of features. Unlike the CTS, though, the CTS-V has a Corvette-derived supercharged V8 good for 640 horsepower. It also comes with an adjustable suspension and high-performance brakes to give it absurdly high levels of capability.

There are other rivals to consider, of course, with the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E 63 the most well-known. These German high-performance sedans typically have nicer-looking interiors and more in the way of advanced infotainment features. Yet we like the CTS-V all the same. This bold American sedan easily matches the world's best when it comes to performance, and it does so at a more affordable price.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

8.0 / 10

Trim tested

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

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2016, 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	8.0 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.0

Driving

9.0

The CTS-V shines with its combination of classic American muscle and state-of-the-art handling capabilities, giving it 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

9.5

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

9.5

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

9.0

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 typical driving and clearly tuned for stability demands at higher speeds.

Handling

9.0

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

6.5

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

7.0

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

9.0

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

6.5

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

6.5

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

7.0

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

6.0

The infotainment system response times are quick. 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

7.0

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

7.5

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

6.5

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

6.5

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

6.0

Narrow door pockets, a smaller glovebox and armrest bin, and a nook behind a motorized cover constitute the cabin storage options. The 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.

2019 Cadillac CTS-V models

The 2019 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 highlights include 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, and keyless ignition and entry. The CTS-V also has forward collision warning, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, lane departure warning and intervention, and rearview and curb-view parking cameras.

Inside the cabin, you'll find dual-zone automatic climate control, 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, and a simulated-suede headliner. Cadillac also fits the CTS-V with 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, three USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a navigation system, and a 13-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with satellite radio.

The optional Luxury package adds tri-zone climate control, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, manual rear side sunshades, a 110-volt power outlet, and Cadillac's rearview camera mirror. The Carbon Fiber package adds a carbon-fiber hood vent, spoiler, front splitter, and rear diffuser.

Also available as stand-alone options are ventilated front seats, Recaro performance front seats, an onboard data and video recorder, a simulated-suede steering wheel and shift knob, as well as a sunroof.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Cadillac CTS-V.

5 (75%)

4 (0%)

3 (0%)

2 (12%)

1 (13%)

4.1

8 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 8 reviews

Most helpful consumer 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 2019 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

Write a vehicle review

2019 CTS-V Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$86,995
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$324/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

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%

2019 Cadillac CTS-V Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

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?

2019 Cadillac CTS-V models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Awesome car in every way

CTS-Vroooom

a future classic

Not your daddy’s Caddy

2019 CTS-V Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 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 $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}