2025 Cadillac CT5-V First Drive Review: The Sports Sedan You Shouldn’t Ignore

Back in 2020, Cadillac shocked its most loyal enthusiasts when it repositioned the V Series models as mid-level rivals for BMW M Performance, Mercedes-AMG Sport, and other premium sports sedans. Vehicles with the V logo were no longer treated as halo vehicles that rival M and AMG proper, because that was left to the Blackwing versions.

The recently refreshed 2025 Cadillac CT5-V is one of the models that carries on this new mid-performance ethos. It loosely competes against luxury sedans such as the Acura TLX Type S (which impressed us when we drove it earlier this year), BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43. On paper, the CT5-V looks pretty competitive thanks to its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that produces 360 horsepower. But after experiencing this facelifted Caddy, we believe it may actually be superior to those aforementioned models from Germany and Japan. Here’s why.

Exterior and Interior: Lyriq Injection

Every CT5 model, including the base model and the CT5-V Blackwing, receives a new front end that looks more aggressive than the outgoing car. For CT5-V, the changes include stacked vertical lights with animations when you walk up to or away from the car and a revised grille. We slightly prefer the simpler pre-facelift front end, but this new design is far from unattractive, and puts the CT5-V more in-line with other Cadillac models, like the Lyriq. Thankfully, 19-inch wheels remain the standard and only option, keeping the CT5-V excellent ride comfort intact.

The exterior paint palette gets three new colors for 2025:

• Drift Metallic
• Deep Space Metallic
• Typhoon Metallic.

There are more significant changes inside, where a massive 33-inch LED screen replaces the old 10-inch touchscreen and the analog gauge cluster. Some purists may prefer the old school setup, but it’s hard to argue that the new infotainment makes the cabin feel more upscale and futuristic than before. Those same people may be happy to hear that Cadillac left plenty of buttons and knobs, so you don’t have to rely on the touchscreen for everything. As before, customers get a wide choice of interior colors with available heated/ventilated seats that offer a light massage.

Performance: Hidden Gem Of An Engine

The Blackwing may get all the shine, but the regular CT5-V should get more credit for having a special engine within the General Motors lineup. Though it was previously used in the CT6, this 3.0-liter LGY twin-turbo V6 is not used in any other Cadillac or GM vehicle. It delivers 360 hp in this application, which is the middle of the pack for this segment, but the 410 lb-ft rating is much greater than most competitors.

Power is sent to the rear wheels or optional all-wheel-drive through an excellent 10-speed automatic transmission. Cadillac claims a 4.6-second 0-60 mph time, but we could not replicate that in the real world, taking 4.9 seconds in the rear-drive version and 5.1 seconds with AWD. Despite the slower than estimated acceleration times, the CT5-V launches off the line with vigor, but then the acceleration trails off slightly. Fuel economy is rated at 18/27/21 mpg city/highway/combined (17/26/20 with AWD), which isn’t class-leading but is far from the worst.

Driving Impressions: Soft Fun

The CT5-V rides on an improved version of the GM Alpha Platform, which previously underpinned the Cadillac ATS and CTS as well as the Chevrolet Camaro. This architecture is known for its comfortable ride and world-class handling, two elements that the CT5-V retains. In fact, we believe it is among the most quietly underrated vehicles in its segment. The chassis is athletic and talkative without compromising one iota of comfort, and the steering is natural with near perfect weighting and responsiveness. If you want a stellar daily driver that can hustle quickly down a back road, this is it.

It may not have the supercharged monster V8 like the Blackwing, but the CT5-V twin-turbo V6 is a stellar power plant. This engine emits a trumpet-like exhaust note that sounds better than most of its six-cylinder competitors. The 10-speed automatic is also a gem, ripping off shifts with a satisfying thwack from the exhaust. Shifts are nearly imperceptible in normal driving, but a Performance Shift Mode activates automatically when you pin the throttle to deliver razor fast changes.

Pricing & Verdict: Deserves More Attention

You can purchase a 2025 CT5-V starting at $56,995. Options and packages can pull the price over $60,000, but a full configurator is not currently available to talk about how expensive the car can get. Cadillac has the CT5-V fairly priced, undercutting the Acura TLX Type S ($57,000), BMW M340i ($59,600), and Mercedes-AMG C43 ($62,500). The Genesis G70 3.3T does undercut the CT5-V by a nice margin ($50,450), but that car is smaller than the Cadillac.

If you are cross-shopping mid-level luxury performance sedans, the Cadillac CT5-V needs to be added to your list. For more than a decade, Cadillac has proved it can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best sedans, out-delivering in terms of pure handling and driving pleasure. While the CT5-V may not be the company’s ultimate expression of performance – that honor goes to the CT5-V Blackwing – the CT5-V proves that even a medium sports sedan can put a giant smile on your face. It may take some mental gymnastics to convince yourself that the Cadillac crest belongs in the same conversation as BMW and Mercedes-AMG, but in many ways, the CT5-V actually makes those cars look silly. Give it a chance, you won’t be disappointed.