2022 Cadillac CT5

Pros: Strong V6 engine; competitive pricing; rear legroom; availability of super-performance CT5-V Blackwing model

Cons: So-so refinement from base 4-cylinder engine; some mediocre-for-the-class interior materials; some safety features are not standard

CG Says: For 2022, Cadillac’s midsize sedan gains a super-performance model named CT5-V Blackwing. Also, availability of Cadillac’s Super Cruise—a hands-free, semi-autonomous driving aid that can control the car while traveling on freeways and includes the ability to change lanes—is expanded.

The CT5 (as in “five”) replaced the CTS (as in “ess”) as Cadillac’s midsize sedan for the 2020 model year. The CT5 is a bit smaller than its CTS predecessor; it is sized to compete more directly with European rivals such as the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series. (The Cadillac CT4, which was also new for 2020, replaced the ATS as Cadillac’s compact sedan.)

The 2022 Cadillac CT5 is available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport trim levels, as well as a performance-oriented V-Series model named CT5-V. The base engine is a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder that is rated at 237 horsepower. The step-up engine, available in Premium Luxury and Sport models, is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that is rated at 335 hp; the CT5-V comes standard with a 360-hp version of this engine. The new-for-2022 CT5-V Blackwing is fortified for high-performance track driving—it has a 668-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with a 6-speed manual transmission standard and rear-wheel drive; a 10-speed automatic is optional. All other CT5 engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and offer a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Available safety features include forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, surround-view camera with recorder, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and GM’s Buckle to Drive feature. Other available features include wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, a high-definition 12-inch instrument cluster, a digital-camera-display rearview mirror, and Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension.

Cadillac’s midsize sedan suffers from some interior materials that aren’t quite up to true luxury-brand standards, and its 4-cylinder engine isn’t particularly powerful or refined for the premium midsize car class. Still, with its competitive pricing, striking styling, and lengthy list of available features, the CT5 might sway a few European sport-sedan intenders. And, with Cadillac’s forthcoming shift to pure-electric vehicles, the ferocious new CT5-V Blackwing model is poised to be a particularly impressive last-of-a-breed super sedan.