Overview
Twenty years after Cadillac introduced its V-series high-performance lineup, the 2024 CT5-V Blackwing shines as bright as the North Star in the sports sedan universe. There’s less competition now, but that only emphasizes how awesome this two-time 10Best award winner is. Cadillac stayed the course with towering power, brute-in-a-suit looks, and outstanding handling, and the CT5-V Blackwing is still our favorite. The supercharged V-8 engine makes a whopping 668 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. Our testing showed that combination can get three-pedal drivers to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds; a 10-speed automatic is available, but we implore you to consider the stick—this is the last row-your-own mid-size sports sedan in America. When pushed, the CT5-V Blackwing is a deft partner for experienced drivers. Competition like the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E63 offer more name recognition, but are also AWD-only and put layers of complicated tech between the driver and the road. The CT5-V Blackwing ultimately comes out on top thanks to its rear-wheel-drive, visceral engagement, relatively low price, and expertly tuned chassis.
What’s New for 2024?
The 2024 CT5-V Blackwing celebrates the 20thAnniversary of V-Series models with four new hues on 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. Cadillac also added “Blackwing” badges on the trunk to differentiate the big-daddy Caddy from the non-Blackwing CT5-V. Super Cruise hands-free driving tech joins the options list this year, but only for sedans fitted with the ten-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The standard six-speed manual gets the driver more involved; the optional 10-speed automatic transmission gets the driver to 60 mph a fraction of a second quicker. We’d stick with the manual because it is equally rare and fun. We’d upgrade to the performance front bucket seats at minimum and choose the carbon-backed high-performance seats if the budget allows. If the CT5-V Blackwing’s price is too high for your budget, consider the smaller and cheaper Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, which we review separately.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Despite the Blackwing name, the engine at work here is not the twin-turbo Blackwing V-8 from the now-discontinued CT6-V. Instead, an updated version of the old CTS-V’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, making a stupendous 668 horsepower, pairs with either a six-speed manual or an optional 10-speed automatic. The CT5-V Blackwing is a sharp-handling sedan that can ride quite comfortably despite its sporting mission. Standard magnetorheological dampers sense the road surface and your driving intention and adjust accordingly. Acceleration is explosive, and in our testing, the CT5-V Blackwing with the six-speed manual hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds; we estimate it will be capable of hitting 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds when equipped with the optional automatic transmission.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
With the optional automatic transmission, the CT5-V Blackwing earned EPA fuel-economy ratings of 13 mpg city and 22 mpg highway; going with the six-speed manual drops the car’s highway fuel-economy estimate to 21 mpg. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, our manual-transmission test vehicle managed an impressive 24 mpg. For more information about the CT5-V Blackwing’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The CT5-V Blackwing shares its cabin with the standard CT5, which gives the performance sedan a reasonably spacious interior with plenty of features and niceties. The regular CT5 cabin mixes mostly fine materials with some that are decidedly down market, but Cadillac dresses the CT5-V Blackwing better to match its much higher entry price. All models come with leather upholstery, heated-and-ventilated front seats with 18-way power adjustments, a digital gauge cluster, head-up display, and ambient lighting. High-performance sport seats with leather and microfiber upholstery are optional and come bundled with matching door panel inserts. The Blackwing’s trunk is the same size and shape as the regular CT5’s, into which we fit five carry-on cases during our testing. The gauge display includes a lap timer feature, and a performance data recorder is an optional extra.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The CT5-V Blackwing comes with the same 10.0-inch touchscreen display and CUE infotainment interface as the standard CT5. This system also features a secondary rotary controller on the center console for drivers who prefer not to touch the screen. Wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard, as is 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability. While the standard CT5 gets a Bose stereo system as an option, the Blackwing comes with a 16-speaker AKG system as standard. All models also come with a 12.0-inch digital gauge display with unique V-series–specific startup animation and a head-up display.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
A host of driver-assistance features are available as standard and optional, but some like the Super Cruise hands-free driving tech can’t be paired with the manual transmission. For more information about the CT5-V Blackwing’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Compared to rivals such as the M5 and the E63, the Cadillac’s standard powertrain warranty offers coverage for a longer period of time and greater mileage. But Cadillac only covers the first service visit, unlike BMW, which offers three years of complimentary maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: Base/As Tested: $87,090 /$114,645
Options: carbon-ceramic braking system with red calipers, $9000; tan and black semi-aniline leather seats with carbon-fiber seatbacks, $6090; carbon-fiber package 2, $5230; carbon-fiber package 1, $4100; performance data and video recorder, $1600; Electric Blue paint, $625; parking package, $610; faux-suede–wrapped steering wheel and shifter, $300
ENGINE
supercharged and intercooled V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 376 in3, 6162 cm3
Power: 668 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 659 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 15.7-inch vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc/14.6-inch vented, cross-drilled, carbon-ceramic disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
F: 275/35ZR-19 (100Y) TPC
R: 305/30ZR-19 (102Y) TPC
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.0 in
Length: 194.9 in
Width: 74.1 in
Height: 56.6 in
Passenger Volume: 98 ft3
Trunk Volume: 12 ft3
Curb Weight: 4092 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.6 sec
100 mph: 7.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.6 sec @ 125 mph
130 mph: 12.4 sec
160 mph: 21.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 7.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.2 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 205 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 154 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 321 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.02 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 13 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 24 mpg
Highway Range: 410 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 15/13/21 mpg
