Which Cadillac CT5 Trim is the Best Value?
The Cadillac CT5 is not only the largest sedan in Cadillac’s current lineup, but with the introduction of the Blackwing, is also the fastest Caddy ever made. But spec sheets and lap records are one thing, finding the best value in the Cadillac CT5 lineup means looking deeper.
Performance comes at a price
At a starting price of over $90,000, the tire-shredding Blackwing isn’t the best value CT5 for performance in the Cadillac sedan lineup. Instead, we’d give that title to the CT5-V, despite it being a V6.
With a 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder, the CT5-V offers 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque for 40-grand less than the Blackwing. Those so inclined could have one of these for daily driving and use the spare change from skipping the Blackwing to pick up a GR Corolla for track use.
The 10-speed automatic transmission offers slick shifts and a manual mode with paddle shifters, so there is a loss of engagement over the stick-shifted Blackwing. However, zero to 60 mph goes by in less than five seconds, and the CT5-V still gets the magical magnetic ride suspension that is soft over bumps and sharp in the corners.
Feature-packed function
Moving away from V-Series models altogether, the other three trims in the Cadillac CT5 lineup have their own claims to fame.
The base kit is respectable at just shy of $40,000, but without leather seats or the Driver Assist tech package, is far from the best value CT5 trim.
Meanwhile, the Premium Luxury trim adds those features plus dimming mirrors, front seat memory settings, and reverse automatic braking, making it a better deal.
For just a few bucks more, the CT5 Sport includes bolstered front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, paddle shifters, and a seat extension. However, it will lose the leather upholstery of the Premium Luxury model.
Which Cadillac CT5 is the best value option?
While Road and Track loves the Blackwing, and rightly so, but we’d have to say the CT5-V offers the most features and performance for money versus the rest of the lineup. With a price tag of just over $50,000, it is 7-grand more than the Premium Luxury and Sport models. But for that extra cheddar, it also comes with a host of luxury, tech, and performance features combined in one package.
The driver assistant package is standard, as are remote start and parking assist features. True leather upholstery is gone, but the leatherette seats look and feel just as nice, without the added upkeep of true leather seating.
A Bose 15-speaker audio system comes as part of the package as well, and wireless phone charging is standard kit. Plus, it’s all powered by that exhilarating twin-turbo V6 powerplant and magnetic ride suspension.
The base CT5 is the only true dud
Other than the feature-bereft base model, we love what the Cadillac CT5 lineup brings to the table. It’s comfortable, the engine choices are satisfying, and it offers plenty of premium tech for daily work. It’s not perfect, for example, the rear seat space does feel lacking and the styling isn’t much different from previous models. But overall, the CT5 does a lot of things, and it does them well.
