www.hotcars.com 2022 Cadillac CT5-V: How The Luxury Sedan Fares Against The Competition

The all-new CT5-V, Cadillac's second chance this year to dethrone the kings of the super-saloon: The Germans. This is how it fares against them.

Cadillac’s V-Series in currently in the midst of brand refresh, and 2022 brought us four new additions to the Detroit automaker’s performance subsidiary. The biggest question for the brand will be if it can find a competent successor to the CTS-V. From first glance, it appears the new CT5-V, with its turbocharged V6, would not be the successor to the supercharged CTS-V. Instead, it finds itself more closely aligned to premium packaged CTS, which also featured a turbocharged V6.

That would mean the Blackwing version of the CT5-V, the highest tier available for the V-series, would be its direct successor. Another instance of a carmaker reshuffling its lineup to have a more streamlined, German-inspired three tier-level: the base model, the mid-level performance version, and a hyper-performance focused variant.

Having covered the CT4-V and Blackwing alongside its competition, we dive in-depth to introduce you to the CT5-V, its version of the Blackwing, and compare it alongside its direct competition. With the luxury performance sedan market being quite saturated, and a market share segment that gets even smaller for those not named BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi, Cadillac’s latest performance saloon and its racing-inspired brother aims to dethrone those responsible for perfecting the super-saloon: the Germans.

This is how the 2022 Cadillac CT5V and Blackwing fares against the competition.

The Cadillac CT5-V's Styling And Design

The CT5-V is classified as Cadillac’s mid-size luxury sedan, putting it in direct competition with BMW’s M550i xDrive, Mercedes-Benz’s E450 4MATIC, and Audi’s S6 Quattro. With a design, reminiscent of Cadillac’s lovely STS-V, the CT5-V makes its debut as the new successor to the CTS model. Ditching the sleeper look of the previous edition, Cadillac describes it as “refinement rooted in performance,” which sees a more aggressive design cues to the exterior, and a much more athletic stance than the CTS.

The Germans are much more subdued compared to the brash, American designing of the Cadillac, a statement that would seem foreign when compared to the history of super-saloons and the Germans being known for more aggressive styling in the ‘90s and ‘00s. Outside a few color options and badges, the European sedans appear to be shifting towards the sleeper look Cadillac just moved away from.

Technology Of The CT5-V

Like its CT4-V sibling, the CT5-V receives a striking list of technologies, blending comfort and performance inspired amenities; the ethos the original V-series put into place years go. Featuring a performance data recorder, 12” high-definition configurable cluster gauge, top of the line Bose stereo systems, heads-up display, and six different driving modes, the CT5-V is more than capable of competing with the top of the line automakers of Germany.

Not only does the Cadillac compete, but when it comes to performance related technology, it far surpasses the BMW, Audi, and Benz. All featuring similarities like premium sound systems, beautiful cluster gauges, and multiple driving modes, the Cadillac begins to pull away once its data recording, and its capabilities are introduced.

RELATED:This Is Our Favorite Feature Of The Cadillac CT5-V

Interior Of The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V

Inspiring a more driver-focused appeal is what the best interiors of super-saloons are capable of, and the CT5-V is no different. With alloy shifters, carbon fiber trim, bolstered front seats that are also ergonomic, an individually numbered racing-inspired steering wheel, Cadillac has made sure to leave no stone unturned when it relates to the minor details. Also, giving the option of four different interior colors, Cadillacs the decision, anything but easy.

If we’re being honest, European, performance sedans have been about power and speed, at the behest of things like the interior. This comparison is no different. Cadillac has long been the standard as it relates to interior design, options, and comfortability. And It’s been long assumed that the German automakers tend to build their car around the engine (Audi and MB’s lack of interior information on the website all but confirmed this), whereas the Cadillac’s attention to detail is based on the overall satisfaction of the driver; interior included.

Fuel Efficiency

Although still controversial to a wide array of gear heads, the normalization of forced induction engines in production cars have allowed automakers to achieve an amazing blend of performance and practicality as it related to its fuel consumption. Powered by the LGY engine, the CT5-V see an admirable 27 MPG on the highway, and a less stellar, 18 MPG in the city. But is to be expected on a performance saloon with an optional manual shifting that sounds this good.

As for fuel efficiency, the CT5-V falls towards the end of the list, although not the worse, unlike BMW’s 25 MPG highway, 17 MPG city. The S6 only sees a mile more than the Cadillac with 28MPG/19MPG respectively, with MB taking the win in this category with 30 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG in the city.

Power Figures

Seeing a rather large decrease in horsepower compared to its CTS-V predecessor, we can only assume the CT5-V is to be considered the mid-tier performance model, just like the German competitors it's going up against. Cadillac’s 3.0L twin-turbo V6 produces 360 HP, with 405 lb-ft of torque being sent to either the rear wheels, or all four, depending on options. It's capable of dashing to 60 MPH from a standstill in 4.6 seconds, and has been tested to top out around 156 MPH.

When it comes to the German opposition, the Cadillac unfortunately leaves more to the imagination. MB edges out the Cadillac by only a couple horsepower, but features 36 lb-ft of torque less than the CT5-V. Making the Benz the Cadillac’s closest competition in the power department. As it relates to the Audi and BMW, well, it isn’t even close. Audi’s twin-turbo V6 puts down 444 HP and 442 lb-ft of torque, while BMW’s massive twin-turbo V8 is capable of close to double the Cadillac with 523 HP and 553 lb-ft of torque.

Performance Variants

It’s quite common by today's auto standards to push the limits of what a luxury performance sedan can be, and offer its customers a hyper-performance focused option to satiate the gear heads who need high-revs and massive horsepower, while still being able to drive comfortably on their daily commute. Enter the CT5-V Blackwing. A 668 HP beast, capable of 659 lb-ft of torque thanks to its all new 6.2L, supercharged V8 engine. The Blackwing comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, and an optional ten-speed automatic, that can propel the car from 0-60 MPG in as little as 3.4 seconds. It’s so fast, Cadillac doesn’t even put an exact number for top speed, it just says greater than 200 MPH!

The Blackwing is also another example of an automaker trying to dethrone the ultra-performance variants of the German’s M5, E 53 AMG, and RS6 Avant. But if going by performance numbers alone then it’s safe to say Cadillac has a real winner on their hands. The closest to producing the same power out is the M5, and still trails by 50 HP. Making the Blackwing by far the best top-tier performance sedan in this competition.

Related: 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: Costs, Facts, And Figures

Pricing Of The CT5-V

With car prices at an all-time high, and dealership mark-ups running rampant, a car’s MSRP can be misleading and must be taken at face value. With that being said, the CT5-V does appear to be moderately priced (in relation to current car values) starting at $51,290, with its Blackwing brother, seeing an MSRP of $84, 990. Which is ultimately shocking when compared to the pricing of the German’s luxury sedans.

When taking a look upon the BMW’s, Audi’s, and MB’s price, it’s pretty easy to conclude who wins the competition. Because at the end of the day, when someone is about to spend close to $100,000 on a car, it better not possess any flaws. BMW sees its M550i start at $76,800, while its M5 has an MSRP of $103,500. The S6 sees a price point of $74,800, while the RS6 Avant starts at a staggering $116, 500. MB rounds out this competition as the closest to the Cadillac, but ultimately being more expensive, with the E450 starting at $66,100 and the E53 AMG beginning at $73,900.

Much like the result of the CT4-V and its competition, the CT5-V and its Blackwing variant are by and large the best mid-size luxury performance sedan. With the combination of styling, practicality, capability, and comfortability, not only does the Cadillac cost less; but its most expensive version, the Blackwing, is a serious steal when comparing performance and price to its German counterparts.

Jacob is a is a writer and gearhead splitting time between Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona. When he's not wrenching on his and his wife's questionable fleet of cars; he's learning DIY repair, researching car culture and history, or casually browsing used cars. Jacob cut his teeth writing for the now defunct, Oppositelock, before the website was blown up.