Cadillac CT4

Model Years Produced: 2020 to Current

Summary

Don’t be fooled by the unfamiliar name – the Cadillac CT4 is really just a midcycle refresh for the second-generation Cadillac ATS, gaining a new look, new engines, and a new infotainment system along with some other miscellaneous interior upgrades. The CT4 can best be thought of as a Camaro with 4 doors and a nicer interior, with nearly identical dimensions to the Camaro and a very similar weight too.

The CT4 occupies a peculiar niche in the market that none of its competitors really do. Although it’s a similar size to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, and BMW 2-Series, only it and the BMW have a RWD drivetrain – and the BMW doesn’t even have four doors. This gives it driving and handling characteristics much more befitting that of a performance car (and a luxury car, for that matter).

There are three variants of the CT4: the base version, the CT4-V (which replaced the ATS Sport), and the CT4-V Blackwing (which replaced the ATS-V).

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CT4-V

The non-Blackwing CT4-V is overshadowed by its twin-turbo V6 brother – for good reason, considering how spectacular the Blackwing version is – but the standard “V” version of the CT4 is still an excellent sport sedan in its own right. Its 2.7L four-cylinder – donated from the Chevrolet Silverado, of all cars – still produces 325hp, which is not a bad number by any stretch. It still has excellent, playful handling thanks to its Camaro roots, and yet it also still has a remarkably comfortable ride thanks to the installation of GM’s downright-magic magnetic dampers. It may not be a 472hp fire-spitting sport sedan with a manual transmission, but it’s still an excellent vehicle in its own right.

Reviews

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CT4-V Blackwing

The CT4-V Blackwing is a swan song for gasoline-powered sport sedans. A 472hp twin-turbocharged V6, a standard manual transmission (with optional 10-speed automatic), RWD with a standard limited-slip differential, and a curb weight under two tons – sadly an increasingly-uncommon event in 2023 – combined with fantastic steering, suspension, and chassis tuning make the Blackwing one of the best “attainable” performance cars of the modern age.

Cadillac has gone on record to state that the CT4-V Blackwing and the CT5-V Blackwing will be the last purely-gasoline-powered performance cars it produces; future vehicles will likely be electric or hybrid. It’s clear that the engineers behind the cars understood the gravity of what that meant and put effort into ensuring they were going out with a bang.

Reviews