Overview
The 2024 Cadillac CT4 does its best to mix entry-level pricing with meaningful helpings of interior luxury and athletic handling. The result is a tempting sports sedan that hits the important notes for a lot less money than a CT4-V Blackwing. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 237 hp. The turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder is the choice option, and it cranks output to as much as 325 hp and doesn’t suffer from the 2.0-liter’s uncouth engine note. The sedan’s stern exterior styling gets softened by abundant tech features in the cabin, and certain CT4 trims are available with a digital gauge cluster and GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance system. The Audi A3 and the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe out-luxe the Caddy, but their front-wheel-drive-based platforms can’t match the rear-wheel-drive CT4’s playful handling.
What’s New for 2024?
Two small changes come to the regular CT4. The first is a new extra-cost color, Midnight Sky Metallic. The second is that the Onyx Package, which adds dark accents and wheels, will include a black spoiler. With Cadillac celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the V sub-brand in 2024, the CT4-V receives more attention. Four new hues join the exterior color palette: Coastal Blue Metallic, Cyber Yellow Metallic, and the limited-edition Black Diamond Tricoat and Velocity Red. Special 20th Anniversary badging will be found in places like the grille, rockers, and in the animated gauge cluster. A facelifted CT4 is expected to debut sometime during the 2024 model year or for 2025.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The CT4-V’s sportier suspension, upgraded brakes, and bolder look draw our enthusiast hearts, but the Premium Luxury trim makes the best overall argument. Compared to the base Luxury, it sweetens the equipment list with items like ventilated, 14-way power front-row seats with leather surfaces and memory settings, adaptive cruise control, front and rear park assist, reverse automatic braking, and standard 18-inch wheels. Premium Luxury also opens access to options like the Technology Package and its 12-inch digital gauge cluster, and Super Cruise hands-free driving. Just make sure you swap the base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the more powerful turbocharged 2.7-liter four.
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 buttons and switchgear are far more user-friendly than the largely touch-sensitive interface of the CT4’s predecessor, the Cadillac ATS. The fabrics and textures haven’t made the same leap in quality, and cabin space—especially in the rear—remains tight. That counts for the trunk, too, offering 10.7 cubic feet of cargo room. Away from the base model, though, a range of standard and optional luxury and tech amenities, plus that lively handling, smooth over most weaknesses.
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.
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 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 6 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
