Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

2025 Cadillac CT5 Review: The Sporty Alternative to SUVs, but at What Cost?

Cadillac CT5 2025 | Photo: K.Soltani
  • EPA Category: Luxury compact car
  • Price: 53599 $ - 53599 $
  • Consumption: 11,8 - 11,8 L/100km
  • Warranty: 4 years / 80000 km

strong / weak points

  • Advanced tech, Super Cruise system
  • Strong performance (with the twin-turbo V6)
  • Spacious and comfortable cabin
  • Elegant design

  • Absence of hybrid or electric version
  • Uneven quality of some interior materials
  • Fuel consumption
  • High price
Results80 %
Obtain the best financial rate for your car loan at Automobile En DirectTecnic
Khatir Soltani
The CT5, a luxury sedan trying to stand out in a world of SUVs.

In an automotive market dominated by SUVs, the 2025 Cadillac CT5 persists by offering a luxurious and sporty alternative to utility vehicles. With its very classy design and dynamic driving, the CT5 tries to attract drivers looking for a more sporty and refined driving experience. However, facing fierce competition and rising prices, does the CT5 manage to justify its existence?

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 - what's new?

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 gets a fresh look with a major technological update. The cabin is now dominated by a new 33-inch curved LED colour screen, which replaces the old 10-inch screen. This modern interface, which stretches across the entire width of the dashboard, combines the infotainment system and the digital instrument cluster, offering a pleasant experience.

In addition to this screen, the 2025 CT5 enhances its offering with the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system, now included as standard on the Premium Luxury and Sport versions. These models also benefit from a state-of-the-art AKG 15-speaker audio system, ensuring advanced acoustics, as well as a dual-panel sunroof, adding a touch of luxury and brightness to the interior.

| Photo: K.Soltani

Design of the 2025 Cadillac CT5 - 8.0/10

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 is a sedan that doesn't go unnoticed. Its exterior design is both elegant and sporty, with fluid lines and sculpted curves. The imposing grille and slender headlights give it a sharp look, while the alloy wheels give it a dynamic appearance.

| Photo: K.Soltani

Interior
The interior of the CT5 is just as impressive as its exterior. The materials are high quality, with soft leather and wood accents. The front seats are comfortable and offer excellent support, while the rear space is generous, even for tall passengers. The dashboard is sleek and modern, with a large central touchscreen that integrates all vehicle functions.

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 combines style, performance and technology. It's perfect for drivers looking for a luxury sedan that stands out from the competition.

However, some interior design elements may seem less successful. The quality of materials, while generally good, is not always up to expectations in this price category. Notably, there are hard plastics that contrast with the leather and wood elements.

Technology of the 2025 Cadillac CT5 – 8.5/10

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 sets a high bar for technology. The highlight is undoubtedly the immense 33-inch curved LED colour screen that spans the entire width of the dashboard. This touchscreen is not only impressive in size; it's also the vehicle's nerve centre. It combines the digital instrument cluster, which displays essential information like speed and fuel level, and the infotainment system with an intuitive and customisable interface. The left part of the screen, also touch-sensitive, allows manual control of several pieces of information such as mileage, fuel consumption and head-up display settings.

Connectivity is also a priority with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, allowing for easy smartphone integration.

Music lovers will be delighted by the AKG 15-speaker audio system, now offered as standard on the Premium Luxury and Sport versions. This high-end system delivers exceptional sound quality, with clarity and depth that transform the cabin into a concert hall.

The 2025 CT5 also stands out for its advanced driving aids. The Super Cruise system, which enables semi-autonomous highway driving, is included as standard on the Premium Luxury and Sport versions. This system uses sensors and cameras to keep the vehicle in its lane, manage distance to other vehicles and adapt speed according to traffic conditions. It offers a more relaxing and safer driving experience, particularly on long journeys. Other notable technologies include the head-up display, which projects essential information onto the windshield, and the night vision system, which improves visibility in the dark.

The Super Cruise system, offered as standard on the Premium Luxury and Sport versions, allows for semi-autonomous highway driving. This system uses cameras and sensors to keep the vehicle in its lane and at a safe distance from other vehicles.

| Photo: K.Soltani

Safety
The 2025 Cadillac CT5 is equipped with a range of active and passive safety features. These include automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring.

Powertrains of the 2025 Cadillac CT5 – 7.5/10

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 offers two powertrain options. The base engine is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder developing 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This engine offers adequate performance for daily driving but lacks punch during strong accelerations or when passing on the highway.

For those seeking more power, a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 developing 335 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque is available as an option. This engine provides more vigorous accelerations and better responsiveness. Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which generally proves smooth and efficient.

The 2025 CT5 is available in rear-wheel drive or with all-wheel drive.

Fuel consumption
The 2025 CT5's fuel consumption varies depending on the engine and transmission type. Models equipped with the four-cylinder engine show a combined fuel consumption of 9.0L/100 km with rear-wheel drive and 9.6L/100 km with all-wheel drive. The twin-turbo V6 consumes more, with a combined average of 10.7L/100 km.

Our winter fuel consumption was 11.8L/100 km in combined driving, which is still a high figure.

| Photo: K.Soltani

Driving the 2025 Cadillac CT5 – 8.0/10

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 equipped with the 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine offers a driving experience that might leave some drivers, seeking more vigour, wanting more. With 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, it sits in the average of its category, on par with the BMW 330i (255 hp, 295 lb-ft) and slightly behind the Audi A4 45 TFSI (261 hp, 273 lb-ft).

This engine is suitable for daily commutes and long highway journeys thanks to the CT5's notable comfort and successful soundproofing. However, as you've noticed, overtakes require planning, as the engine lacks responsiveness. The BMW 330i and Audi A4, with more spirited engines, offer superior acceleration performance.

Despite this lack of dynamism, the CT5's driving remains pleasant. The car absorbs road irregularities well, and the precise steering contributes to a comfortable and reassuring experience. On this point, the CT5 compares favourably to the BMW 330i, which prioritises a sportier drive, and the Audi A4, which offers an interesting compromise between comfort and dynamism.

If you're looking for a sportier character, the model with the V6 engine is undoubtedly a better option. With 335 hp, it largely surpasses the base engines of the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, offering faster response and more dynamic behaviour.

| Photo: K.Soltani

2025 Cadillac CT5 Canadian pricing

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 is offered at a competitive base price, but options can quickly drive up the cost. The base model, the CT5 Luxury with rear-wheel drive, is listed at $52,899. If you prefer the security of all-wheel drive, you'll need to pay an additional $2,200, for a total of $55,099. The better-equipped Premium Luxury and Sport versions are both offered at the same price of $55,099 in rear-wheel drive and $57,299 with all-wheel drive.

Some of your questions about the 2025 Cadillac CT5

Is the Cadillac CT5 offered with a manual transmission?
No, the CT5 is only possible with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

What is the cargo space available in the CT5?
The CT5 offers 337 litres of cargo space. It's not huge, but we're not in the SUV world here.

The final word
The 2025 Cadillac CT5 is a luxury sedan that will appeal to drivers looking for comfort, performance and technology. Its elegant design, spacious cabin and versatile road behaviour are undeniable assets.

Despite a few weaknesses, such as its high price and the absence of a hybrid version, the CT5 stands out for its sporty character, its very modern screen and its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.

The CT5 deserves to be considered by luxury sedan buyers who want to drive differently than in a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4. It remains to be seen how Cadillac will evolve this model in the coming years to meet new market trends, such as electrification and autonomous driving.

Competitors of the 2025 Cadillac CT5

  • •    Audi A4
  • •    BMW 3 Series
  • •    Genesis G70
  • •    Lexus IS
  • •    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada