2023 Cadillac CT4
Overview
If you have your eye on a Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing but your budget can’t bear it the regular 2023 CT4 will give you a taste of sports-sedan goodness at a much more affordable price. Its handling is playful and its styling distinctive if not beautiful; a pair of turbocharged four-cylinder engines are on offer and the larger one provides a goodly amount of pep. The base powerplant is a 237-hp 2.0-liter, and the optional 2.7-liter makes up to 325 horsepower and amps up the CT4’s performance considerably. Inside, the CT4 does its best to live up to the standards of Cadillac’s more expensive models, and there are abundant standard tech features layered throughout the cabin. Rivals such as the Audi A3 and the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe out-luxe the Caddy, but their front-wheel-drive-based platforms don’t offer the same rear-wheel-drive road manners that make the CT4 so fun to drive.
What’s New for 2023?
Cadillac’s entry-level model sees no significant changes for 2023, but three new colors—Radiant Red Tintcoat, Argent Silver Metallic, and Midnight Steel Metallic—spice up the exterior color palette.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The mid-range Premium Luxury trim marks the high-value spot in the CT4 lineup. Moving up from the base Luxury model to the Premium Luxury brings niceties such as genuine leather upholstery and 18-inch wheels. We’d splurge and add the Bose premium audio system, which includes navigation and a 14-speaker stereo system. No matter which option packages you choose, do yourself a favor and spec the more powerful turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. But we have to admit to being tempted by the V; with its sportier suspension and more purposeful look it’s a credible sport sedan.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Buyers can choose between two turbocharged four-cylinder engines: A 237-hp 2.0-liter powers the base Luxury and mid-range Premium Luxury and Sport models, while a 2.7-liter is optional in the Premium Luxury and standard in the CT4-V. It makes 309 horsepower in the former and 325 horses in the latter. The smaller of the two engines is paired to an eight-speed automatic while the larger four gets a 10-speed. Rear-wheel drive is the standard arrangement and rare in this segment. Rivals such as the A3 and the 2-series Gran Coupe are both based on front-drive chassis. The CT4 offers all-wheel drive on all models as an option. We’ve driven the CT4-V and found it to be athletic, eager, and quick, although we would have preferred more refinement from the 10-speed gearbox. Even in this sportiest guise, the Caddy’s suspension handles potholes without punishing occupants and delivers sharp, rewarding handling that any car enthusiast can appreciate.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Both of the CT4’s turbocharged four-cylinder engines provide decent fuel economy. Rear-wheel-drive models with the 2.0-liter are rated as high at 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. The more powerful 2.7-liter engine is less efficient but not by much, with the rear-drive model coming in at 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The CT4’s key rivals boast similar fuel-economy ratings. For more information about the CT4’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside the CT4, Cadillac has wisely switched to a more user-friendly control setup versus the largely touch-sensitive interface found on its predecessor, the Cadillac ATS. Although the interior design and the quality of the materials at first appear attractive, they are ultimately unremarkable. Cabin space is tight for adults, especially in the rear seats, but Cadillac makes several luxury features standard even on the base trim, including 12-way power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. Moving up through the range provides more desirable features, such as leather upholstery, magnesium paddle shifters, ambient interior lighting, and memory settings for the driver’s seat and exterior mirrors.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
All CT4s come with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest CUE software. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces come standard, as does an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Cadillac offers navigation on all models. It comes bundled with a 14-speaker Bose stereo system that replaces the car’s standard eight-speaker arrangement.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Cadillac offers a host of driver-assistance features as standard but it reserves its high-tech Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving mode as an option available only on Premium Luxury and Sport trims. For more information about the CT4’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Available adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Cadillac outdoes its rivals with two more years and 20,000 more miles of coverage on the powertrain part of its warranty, but buyers of the 2-series Gran Coupe are treated to three years of complimentary maintenance whereas the CT4 offers only one free visit.
Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Cadillac CT4 450T AWD
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$46,515 (base price: $44,190)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
166 in3, 2727 cm3
Power
310 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque
350 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 11.8-in vented disc/12.4-in vented disc
Tires: Continental ProContact RX, 235/40R-18 91V M+S TPC
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 187.2 in
Width: 71.5 in
Height: 56.0 in
Passenger volume: 90 ft3
Cargo volume: 11 ft3
Curb weight: 3725 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.7 sec
100 mph: 12.6 sec
130 mph: 24.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.5 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.0 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.9 sec
1/4 mile: 13.4 sec @ 103 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 140 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.81 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 22 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 35 mpg
Highway range: 600 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 23/20/28 mpg
2020 Cadillac CT4-V
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$52,165 (base price: $45,490)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
166 in3, 2727 cm3
Power
325 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
380 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 12.6-in vented disc/12.4-in vented disc
Tires: Continental SportContact 6 SSR, 235/40R-18 95Y TPC Spec 3150
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 109.3 in
Length: 187.2 in
Width: 71.5 in
Height: 56.0 in
Passenger volume: 90 ft3
Trunk volume: 11 ft3
Curb weight: 3631 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.5 sec
100 mph: 11.9 sec
130 mph: 23.5 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.4 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.9 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.8 sec
1/4 mile: 13.2 sec @ 104 mph
Top speed (mfr’s claim): 164 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 322 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.91 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 35 mpg
Highway range: 600 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 23/20/29 mpg
More Features and Specs
