If you have ever searched “Cadillac dealer near me,” you likely know that Cadillac has a long history of building the best luxury cars America has to offer. What you might not know is that for the 2020 model year, the Cadillac product line has been refreshed with a rollout of no fewer than three brand-new models. These new vehicles include the Cadillac CT4 compact sedan, the Cadillac CT5 midsize sedan, and the Cadillac XT6 midsize SUV. All three of them offer an excellent blend of luxury and performance that continues to live up to the Cadillac name. And while these new Cadillac models already compete well with the foreign luxury brands on features and performance, the Cadillac offerings also represent much better value with their significantly lower prices.
Affordable Luxury – the Cadillac CT4
The first of the new Cadillac products is the Cadillac CT4 – a compact sedan that replaces the older Cadillac ATS and competes with cars such as the Mercedes C-class or the Lexus IS. As a proper luxury vehicle, the Cadillac CT4 comes in either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and provides top-notch performance as well as a host of interior comforts. Four trims are available – Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and the V-series. The Luxury trim is reasonably basic and lacks some of the more advanced features found on the other three trims. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims differ mainly in appearance, though the Premium Luxury trim has the option of a more powerful engine and represents the best value. Finally, the Cadillac CT4-V represents the true sport version of the car and comes with a more powerful engine and numerous other performance upgrades.
The base engine found on the Luxury and Sport trims is a 2.0L turbo producing 237 hp. While perfectly comfortable for normal driving, this does put the Cadillac CT4 a bit behind the curve when most of its competition has around 250 hp. However, given the significantly lower price tag of the Cadillac, this relatively small power difference is more than acceptable. But if you do desire more power, then the available 2.7L dual-volute turbocharged engine will fill that need. On the Premium Luxury trim, this engine produces 310 hp while on the V-series car, it has 325 hp, which is enough to get the vehicle to sixty miles per hour in less than 5 seconds. However, acceleration is not the only thing that is improved on the Cadillac CT4-V. This version also comes with all the features expected of a modern sports sedan, such as Brembo brakes, magnetic ride control, a limited-slip differential, and launch control. Together, this results in a true sports sedan that easily competes with the German cars in its price range.
But the Cadillac CT4 is a luxury vehicle first and foremost and has all the features that one would expect of a car in its segment. These include full LED lighting, heated and ventilated seats with power-adjustable lumbar support, a heads up display, and an automatic heated steering wheel. The Cadillac CT4 also has the full range of advanced driver’s aids, including adaptive cruise control, blindspot monitoring, and a collision alert system that flashes the windshield red to catch the driver’s attention. So while the Cadillac CT4 may not be the fastest vehicle on the road, it is neck and neck with the competition when it comes to comfort and safety – something that will soon be verified if you search for a Cadillac dealer near me and take one for a test drive.
Large and High Performance – the Cadillac CT5
But while the Cadillac CT4 is a comfortable ride those in the front seats, it is still a compact sedan, and its back seats may leave something to be desired in terms of space. If you do need a car that will commonly carry passengers in the back, then the midsize Cadillac CT5 is the option for you. Sharing most of the features of the Cadillac CT4 and available in the same four trim levels as the smaller car, the Cadillac CT5 replaces the Cadillac CTS and competes with vehicles such as the Mercedes E-class or the Lexus GS. However, the Cadillac CT5 offers superior performance and even more luxury when compared to its smaller sibling.
The base engine on the Cadillac CT5 is the same 237 hp unit found on the Cadillac CT4, although the larger car does come with a superior ten-speed automatic transmission. But for the Cadillac CT5, the upgraded engine on the Premium Luxury and V-series trims is a twin-turbo V6 with 335 hp. The extra power of this engine will boost the car to sixty miles per hour in close to 4.5 seconds, which is better than some of its competition. The Cadillac CT5-V also receives another valuable upgrade in the form of an electronic limited-slip differential that will adjust power between the tires for maximum cornering performance. This feature is extremely rare on cars under $50,000 and truly makes the Cadillac CT5-V a standout performer.
On the inside, the Cadillac CT5 has a nearly identical feature set to the Cadillac CT4. While there are some minor improvements, such as the addition of an extra speaker to both the standard and optional sound systems, the only real difference in overall comfort is that the larger car, of course, has a roomier interior. However, the base Luxury trim of the Cadillac CT5 does have access to a broader array of interior features, making it a better value option than the Luxury trim of the Cadillac CT4.
Escalade Beater? The Cadillac XT6
But if you are not shopping for a new sedan, Cadillac has also introduced the brand-new Cadillac XT6 midsize SUV for the 2020 model year. This vehicle sits above the Cadillac XT4 and Cadillac XT5, completing Cadillac’s crossover SUV lineup. Unlike the two smaller Cadillac models, which seat five, the Cadillac XT6 is a three-row SUV with seating for seven. While we can expect that the Cadillac XT6 will eventually have the three trim levels of the Cadillac XT4 and Cadillac XT5, for now only the Premium Luxury and Sport trims are available at Cadillac dealers and the Sport trim can only be had in AWD. However, the Premium Luxury trim is generally the best option on the new Cadillac products, so this is not much of a limitation.
The Cadillac XT6 is powered by a 3.7L V6 with 310 hp, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Unlike with the new Cadillac sedans, the Sport trim on the Cadillac XT6 offers several meaningful performance improvements. The foremost of these is its standard real-time damping suspension that adjusts damping forces to match the road conditions every two milliseconds to produce the best possible ride quality. Another advanced system found on the Sport trim is its twin-clutch AWD system that can redirect torque between the left and right sides of the vehicle for maximum traction. Finally, the Sport trim also includes more subtle but still valuable upgrades such as heavy-duty cooling and firmer suspension.
Inside, the Cadillac XT6 is filled with the luxury features that one would expect from a Cadillac product. The leather interior includes all the standard amenities such as a heated steering wheel and tri-zone automatic climate control. However, the Cadillac XT6 also includes several more unique features. Its 360-degree surround vision cameras can record and export video, allowing you to document what happens around your vehicle. The heads up display is more than just a speedometer and offers four different reconfigurable display options. Finally, the Cadillac XT6 offers a thermal night vision system for night driving. This will display a view of the road ahead of the vehicle in the driver’s instrument cluster and even highlight warm objects such as pedestrians and animals. While it may not be possible to visit a Cadillac dealer at night to test this system, it makes night driving a far safer activity.
Cadillac: Doing it Right
No matter what type of vehicle you are looking for, you can be sure you will find it in the 2020 Cadillac lineup. Bringing competitive performance, comfort, and safety features to every type of car, Cadillac is most definitely the best place to search for your next new vehicle.
