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2020 Cadillac CT5
The all-new 2020 Cadillac CT5 makes a poor first impression with underwhelming interior quality, lackluster performance, and a small trunk. We don't give it an overall score or ranking because it has incomplete safety data.
Is the Cadillac CT5 a Good Car?
No, the Cadillac CT5 is not a good car. Introduced as an all-new luxury midsize car to replace the outgoing CTS, it takes a step backward from its predecessor in nearly every way. The CT5 has so-so acceleration, a hesitant transmission, and numb steering. Inside, there are too many low-end plastics for a car in this class, and cargo space is among the worst in the segment.
Should I Buy the Cadillac CT5?
We don't recommend the CT5. Simply put, the CT5 doesn't offer any advantages over most of its rivals, except for a below-average starting price. This Caddy's pricing is more in line with small luxury cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is a much better vehicle overall. If you can stretch your budget, consider the highly ranked BMW 5-Series, as it ranks highly among luxury midsize sedans.
Should I Buy a New or Used Cadillac CT5?
The 2020 CT5 is an all-new model that replaces the CTS in Cadillac's lineup. There are no older CT5 models to choose from.
If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2017 CTS, 2018 CTS and 2019 CTS reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts you can find on used vehicles.
We Did the Research for You: 9 Reviews Analyzed
We analyzed nine Cadillac CT5 reviews - along with reliability ratings, fuel economy estimates, and more - to help you decide if the 2020 CT5 is the right new car for you.
Why You Can Trust Us
U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. To remain objective, we don't accept expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside team manages the advertising on our site.
How Much Does the Cadillac CT5 Cost?
Cadillac CT5 sedan pricing starts at $36,895, which is one of the lowest base prices for a luxury midsize car. Many class rivals start at over $50,000. The CT5 has a few higher trims that retail for around $40,700, $41,700, and $47,700.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great deals at your local Cadillac dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Cadillac deals page.
Cadillac CT5 Versus the Competition
Which Is Better: Cadillac CT5 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
Despite being a luxury small car, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class retails for several thousand dollars more than the CT5. It's worth the price of admission, as this Benz boasts a nicer interior, a plush ride, and a long list of technology. You can get the C-Class in coupe, convertible, and compact sedan body styles, and there are performance-oriented AMG versions that deliver ample engine power. The CT5 really doesn't offer anything that the C-Class doesn't, so we recommend the Mercedes.
Which Is Better: Cadillac CT5 or BMW 5 Series?
The BMW 5 Series tops our luxury midsize car rankings. It earns near-perfect safety and predicted reliability ratings, and it's one of the most fun to drive cars in the class. The 5 Series offers a half-dozen powertrain options, with everything from a plug-in hybrid to a high-performance twin-turbocharged V8. This BMW looks great inside, with its roomy second row and massive trunk. Basically, the 5 Series excels at being a luxury midsize sedan, while the CT5 falls short. That said, the 5-Series starts at almost $55,000, which is much higher than the CT5's price.
CT5 Interior
How Many People Does the CT5 Seat?
The Cadillac CT5 sedan seats five people. Up front, the cabin feels a little cramped. The seats have about a dozen power adjustments to help you get comfortable, but they're not that supportive on longer trips. Rear-seat legroom is excellent, though some reviewers noted second-row headroom is tight.
Synthetic leather upholstery is standard, and both genuine leather and semi-aniline leather are optional. Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats are also available.
CT5 and Child Car Seats
There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the CT5's rear outboard seats.
CT5 Interior Quality
The new CT5 has some nice interior touches, like upholstery stitching and available carbon fiber trim. Still, there are many hard plastics that detract from this Caddy's luxury quotient.
CT5 Cargo Space
At just 11.9 cubic feet, the CT5's trunk is smaller than that of nearly all other luxury midsize cars. Size isn't the only detriment here; the cargo hold is narrow, so you probably won't be able to fit in larger items.
CT5 Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
You can control the CT5's infotainment system using a 10-inch touch screen or a rotary knob on the center console. The system runs the latest version of Cadillac User Experience (CUE) interface, which is more user-friendly than earlier versions. It also comes with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The large screen sports sharp graphics, and the system employs haptic touch feedback to let you know when the system registers the press of a button. Physical buttons for things such as climate controls are located lower on the center stack, and they're clearly labeled. Some critics say that the volume and audio knobs can be confused for each other. The system responds quickly to inputs.
Other standard features include three USB ports, voice recognition, a nine-speaker premium stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Options include a 15-speaker Bose premium stereo, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, and wireless device charging.
CT5 Performance
CT5 Engine: Not Great Choices
The Cadillac CT5 is powered by a 237-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It feels powerful enough, but it fails to stand out in the class. Cadillac also offers a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which puts out 335 horsepower. The CT5 V-Series ups the output to 360 horsepower. After an initial split-second of turbo lag, the V6 really comes to life.
All CT5 models feature a 10-speed automatic transmission, which generally shifts smoothly and precisely. However, it can sometimes remain in gear for too long or hesitate to downshift when you hit the gas hard and need more power.
CT5 Gas Mileage: About Average
The 2020 CT5 returns fuel economy in line with most other luxury midsize cars. When equipped with the base engine and standard rear-wheel drive, the CT5 gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Models with the base engine and all-wheel drive return an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
The CT5 with the V6 and RWD gets 19/26 mpg city/highway, while opting for AWD lowers the city and highway estimate by 1 mpg. The CT5 V-Series is rated at 18/26 mpg with RWD and 17/25 with AWD.
CT5 Ride and Handling: Cool and Collected
This all-new Cadillac model lacks the athleticism of many sport-oriented luxury cars. It can take turns with composure, but the steering feels numb and lacks feedback in most situations. Ride quality is good, as the CT5's suspension soaks up bumps and imperfect road conditions.
CT5 Reliability
Is the Cadillac CT5 Reliable?
J.D. Power gives the 2020 Cadillac CT5 a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.
Cadillac CT5 Warranty
Cadillac covers the CT5 with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.
CT5 Safety
CT5 Crash Test Results
At the time of writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2020 Cadillac CT5.
CT5 Safety Features
The new Cadillac CT5 comes standard with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a rearview camera, a safety alert seat, and GM's Teen Driver monitoring system. This system allows you to set speed and audio limits for secondary drivers.
Cadillac has announced that its Super Cruise automated highway driving system will be available in the CT5 sometime in the 2020 calendar year. In the meantime, you can equip the CT5 with optional driver assistance features including rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a surround-view parking camera system, a rearview mirror camera, rear pedestrian alert, and automatic parking assist. Also available are adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic emergency braking, automatic seat belt tightening, a head-up display, a following distance indicator, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams.
CT5 Dimensions and Weight
The Cadillac CT5 is 16.2 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,659 to 3,974 pounds.
Where Is the 2020 Cadillac CT5 Built?
General Motors (GM) builds the 2020 Cadillac CT5 in Michigan.
Which Cadillac CT5 Model Is Right for Me?
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 is available in four trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and V-Series. The three lower trims come standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A twin-turbocharged V6 is optional in the Premium Luxury and standard in the V-Series. A 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive are standard, and all-wheel drive is available for $2,000.
The 2020 CT5 starts at $36,895. Standard features include synthetic leather upholstery, a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a 10-way power-adjustable passenger seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, proximity keyless entry, remote start, a universal garage door opener, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The standard 10-inch touch-screen infotainment system features Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, three USB ports, voice recognition, a nine-speaker premium stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Standard safety features include a rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, a safety alert seat, the Teen Driver monitoring system, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
The Sun and Sound package costs $2,800 and adds a sunroof, navigation, a 15-speaker Bose premium stereo, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, and wireless device charging. The Cold Weather package ($600) comes with a heated steering wheel and heated front seats.
The CT5 Premium Luxury starts at $40,695 and comes with genuine leather upholstery, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, driver's seat memory settings, wireless device charging, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.
The $2,090 Parking package adds a surround-view parking camera system, a rearview mirror camera, rear pedestrian alert, automatic parking assist, a hands-free trunk, a cabin air purifier, and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The Driver Assist and Advanced Security package costs $1,950 and adds adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic emergency braking, and automatic seat belt tightening.
The Navigation and Bose Premium Audio package ($1,350) comes with navigation, a 15-speaker Bose premium stereo, and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display. The Driver Awareness Plus package ($1,300) includes an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, a head-up display, a following distance indicator, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The $1,090 Climate package adds heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Platinum package ($8,330) combines several of the packages above with massaging front seats and semi-aniline leather upholstery. Finally, adaptive headlights are optional for $600.
This trim comes standard with the Navigation and Bose package. It's also available with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, which starts at $45,545.
The CT5 Sport retails for $41,695 and gains 18-way power-adjustable front seats, Brembo performance brakes, sport pedals, and a sport steering wheel. It offers most of the same features and packages as the Premium Luxury trim, but for slightly different prices.
The Cadillac CT5 V-Series starts at $47,695 and comes standard with a twin-turbo V6, a performance suspension, magnetic ride control, an electronic limited-slip differential, performance traction management, and launch control.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Cadillac dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Cadillac deals page.
The Final Call
The all-new 2020 Cadillac CT5 fails to impress against tough competition in the luxury midsize car class. Although it has a relaxing ride, it's not terribly fun to drive, its cabin has some low-rent materials, and there's a shortage of space. You're probably better off with nearly any other car in the class, or you may want to consider spending your money on a luxury vehicle from a different segment.
Don't just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.
Read the full 2020 Cadillac CT5 review on U.S. News & World Report for more details, photos, specs and prices.