2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

CT5-V Blackwing

$94,890

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

More Features and Specs

Source: www.caranddriver.com