The Most Powerful Cadillac Ever Is Still Slower Than a 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat
The 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat has been the king of the hill in terms of outrageously powerful sedans for less than $100,000. However, last night, Cadillac unveiled its Hellcat-killer, the CT5-V Blackwing.
With a 668-hp supercharged V8 under the hood, it certainly matches up to the Hellcat. Despite this, the Hellcat’s 717-hp might be too powerful to dethrone. However, this doesn’t cover the whole story, as in this case, power isn’t the end all be all.
The 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat and its 717-hp V8 remain unmatched
Let’s face it, the main appeal of the ancient 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat is its 6.2-liter supercharged V8. With 717-hp on tap, the Hellcat can reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Additionally, it can cross the quarter-mile in less than 11 seconds and continue to a top speed of over 200 mph. When you consider that you can buy all of that for around $70,000, it is no wonder why people continue to flock to it.
Cadillac’s approach with the CT5-V Blackwing is quite similar. The Cadillac also has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. However, it produces 668 hp and 659 lb-ft. While it may seem underpowered compared to the Hellcat, 668 hp is an enormous amount of power that most drivers cannot handle. On top of that, the Blackwing can reach 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and continue to a top speed of over 200 mph.
While the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat is undoubtedly the faster of the two sedans, it isn’t by much. Despite a 49 hp deficit, the Cadillac isn’t exactly blown away by the Hellcat. On top of that, the Blackwing eclipses the Hellcat in one crucial area.
The Cadillac is more expensive for a good reason
If we’re looking purely at the base price, the 2012 Dodge Charger Hellcat still takes the lead. The Charger starts at $69,995, making it a 717-hp bargain. In contrast, the Blackwing starts at $84,990, making it almost $15,000 more expensive. Thankfully, that extra cash goes exactly where you want it to.
In order for the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat to be such an excellent value proposition, it needs to cut some serious corners. One of the weakest aspects of the model is without a doubt its interior. Thanks to a sea of hard plastics and many components shared with the standard model, the Hellcat doesn’t exactly scream luxury. Instead it focuses all of its efforts on outright speed.
In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has a completely different approach. Aside from offering savage speed, the Blackwing remains an all-out luxury car. As a result, its interior comes from another world when compared to the Hellcat. Additionally, you get luxury touches such as a fully digital instrument cluster, a sea of carbon fiber details, and beautifully appointed leather seats, to name a few. Add in Cadillac’s excellent magnetic suspension, and the Charger might be faster, but you’ll want to go in the Cadillac.
The Charger Hellcat lacks this 1 major feature
Aside from a fancy luxury interior, the Cadillac has one major advantage over the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat. The Hellcat utilizes an eight-speed automatic transmission to send all of its available power to the rear wheels. In contrast, the CT5-V Blackwing offers a 10-speed automatic to do the same job.
However, the main difference is that the Blackwing also offers a six-speed manual transmission. If you want a manual Hellcat, you’re stuck with the two-door Challenger. As a result, the Cadillac offers you an experience that the Charger Hellcat can’t match.
