Once upon a time, Cadillacs were the vehicles of the rich and famous. Now, it’s your grandparent’s car. But Cadillac is trying to reclaim the throne it once held, and it’s actually making some headway with the 2020 CT5.

It’s been a long road, with more misses than hits lately, but things may be turning around. Cars.com thinks there are more pros than cons on the 2020 Cadillac CT5. Is this enough to turn it around for Cadillac, however?

The good definitely outweighs the bad

The Cadillac CT5 has had a bit of a rough start. Critics weren’t sure what to make of it and were on the fence at first. Now, the tides are turning, and both consumers and review sites are beginning to accept that the CT5 is here to stay, and that this might actually be a good thing for a number of reasons. 

The biggest factor that really impressed Cars.com was the two engine options. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 237 hp. Higher trim levels give you the option of upgrading to a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with 335 hp. The 2020 CT5 can also go from 0-60-mph in 4.9 seconds. That’s not excessive speed, but it’s not bad either.

The ride is also a huge improvement. It’s smooth, quiet, and you don’t have to carefully arrange your legs when getting inside because there is plenty of room. 

Cadillac has also returned to its luxury roots and used quality materials inside the cabin. No longer will owners be subjected to cheap plastics that have no place in a Cadillac. Even the back seat has quality materials that give the 2020 CT5 a feeling of comfort that has been missing from Cadillac for a long time now.

Cadillac is also upping its game on the tech front. The touch screen is still functional and easy to use, but Cadillac has added in buttons that make’s life much easier for those of us who grew up with physical knobs. The back up camera and the Wi-Fi are also top notch, making life easier if you tend to spend more time in your car than you do at home.

There’s still room for improvement in the 2020 Cadillac CT5

There is one area on every vehicle that is either a blessing or a curse, and that’s the fuel economy. It’s either great and everyone loves it, or its lackluster and needs improvement. 

In this case, the 2020 Cadillac CT5 is in the latter category. It only gets 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the 3.0-liter engine. Many of the CT5’s competitors get much better fuel mileage.

Another factor that hinders the CT5 is the brake system. According to Cars.com,

“The drive-by-wire braking system takes getting used to, and even then, it’s not as linear as we’d prefer. The feel is more like an on-off switch, which can make coming to a quick stop awkward.”

The final factor that prevents the CT5 from being the perfect sedan is the handling. It’s not bad. It’s actually rather nice when compared to other vehicles. But the CTS had a little something extra when driving that the CT5 sadly lacks.

The Cadillac CT5 has a model for everyone

The 2020 Cadillac CT5 has three trim levels. All of them are affordable when compared to the competition, which gives Cadillac a bit of a boost for bringing down the price while upping the quality.

The base trim level is the Luxury. It starts at $36,895, and offers quite a bit. It comes with the 2.0T engine that is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive comes standard, but you can always upgrade to AWD. Inside, you’ll find a 10-inch touchscreen. For safety tech, Cadillac offers forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking.

The mid-level is called the Premium Luxury. The MSRP is $40,695. It includes all the same features as the Luxury trim, but adds on premium wheels and bright accented grille. The interior includes leather-appointed seats, wireless charging, and lane change alert with side blind zone alert.

The highest trim level is the Sports. It starts at MSRP $41,695. For that price, you’ll get the Sports grille, fascias, rockers and spoiler, Brembo performance front brakes, a performance steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters, and 18-way adjustable front seats with sport bolsters. Each trim level has a lot to offer, so if you’re on the fence, try a test drive.