CadillacCT4

　　

2024 Cadillac CT4 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　If you're one of the few shoppers seeking an American-made luxury sedan, Cadillac is the only choice and there are notably few choices there too. The CT4 is the smallest sedan in Cadillac's stable, slotting under the larger CT5 and the forthcoming all-electric Celestiq. We like the CT4 for its sporty performance but it trails rivals in critical areas. For 2024, the CT4 returns largely unchanged, but we're hopeful a refresh for 2025 will address some of its shortcomings.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Cadillac CT4 Luxury 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$178/mo  for CT4 Luxury

　　CT4 Luxury

　　Luxury 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $34,595 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,495 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,695 MSRPV 4dr Sedan (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $47,095 MSRPV Blackwing 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl Turbo 6M) - $61,495 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Power over refinement

You have three engines to choose from in the CT4 lineup. There's the 237-horsepower base engine, the 325-hp CT4 V-Series and the 472-hp V-Series Blackwing variant. Any of these choices will get you up to speed with authority, but overall performance in the first two is hampered by a lack of agility and polish. The suspension is tuned to sports car stiffness but doesn't seem to benefit cornering abilities to the same degree, making this small Caddy feel a bit rough. That lack of refinement also carries over to the interior, which has too much hard plastic for our tastes. Check out our Expert Rating below for more details on where the CT4 could use improvement.

　　

Competitors to consider

The Cadillac CT4 has an uphill battle when it comes to the competition. European sedans deliver more performance, luxury, comfort and refinement. These include the venerable BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Audi A4. To its credit, the Cadillac is quite a bit less expensive, but that ends up making a stronger case for entry-level luxury sedans from Acura and Lexus, which benefit from much nicer interiors. Knowing a refresh is coming, we suggest waiting to see what improvements are made, or extend your budget to include the more well-rounded CT4-V Blackwing.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the CT4 drive? The CT4 certainly has power, and it can get going in a hurry. Our all-wheel-drive test car with the upgraded 2.7-liter engine accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. Unfortunately, the driving experience is better on paper than in reality. The turbocharged engine wheezes when pushed, and it lacks responsiveness when you need it. The brake pedal on our test vehicle audibly clicked upon almost every touch, but worse was its wooden feel that made it difficult to consistently come to a smooth stop.

　　Most aspects of the CT4 seem reluctant to do what you ask. Its steering is unceremoniously heavy, and its chassis struggles when asked to transition from one quick turn to another. The 10-speed automatic transmission issues thumpy shifts, and the automatic engine stop-start system is one of the loudest around.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the CT4? The vehicle we tested came in the Premium Luxury trim, but we found little evidence to back up that lofty claim. The CT4 feels neither premium — the seats lack support — nor luxurious — the leather feels generic — and it gets worse from there. Drivers will notice that road noise is present inside the cabin at nearly all speeds on nearly all surfaces. That's disappointing in a vehicle at this price, wearing this badge.

　　Worst of all, though, is the choppy suspension. You don't just hear every crack and bump in the road; you feel them. There are many affordable economy sedans that provide a much smoother ride. It's simply uncomfortable.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below