2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Sedan

　　

2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　, rating written byKurt NiebuhrContributor

　　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.

　　Cadillac might not be the first brand to pop into your head when it comes to purveyors of fast sedans, but the 2022 CT4-V Blackwing will likely rectify that. Boasting a 472-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine, fully adaptive suspension dampers and some of the best performance-oriented stability control on sale today, the little Blackwing (the larger and more powerful CT5-V Blacking is covered in another review) will absolutely hold its own with most established European rivals. And did we mention it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, too?

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing 4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl Turbo 6M) 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

　　$254/mo  for CT4-V Blackwing Base

　　CT4-V Blackwing Base

　　4dr Sedan (3.6L 6cyl Turbo 6M) (Most Popular) - $58,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Cadillac's new naming scheme can be tricky to follow, but here's the short version: The CT4-V Blackwing is a high-performance luxury sedan that's a direct competitor to rivals such as the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C 63. How does the naming convention work? Start with the CT4, which is a standard luxury sedan offering similar to a BMW 330i. The CT4-V is a sportier version with a slightly more powerful engine, but it's not the successor to the high-performance V-Series models you may remember from Cadillac such as the ATS-V or CTS-V. That duty falls upon the cars called Blackwing. Got it?

　　Speaking of those European rivals, the new BMW M3 is a performance-sedan benchmark, and even though you might not like to look at it, it is a blast to drive. And competition comes in all forms, and fuels, so we'd be remiss to not mention the impressive Tesla Model 3 Performance as another competitor to the Cadillac. Can the CT4-V Blackwing hold its own in this fast company? Check out our Expert Rating below to see what our editors think of its performance, value and more.

　　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.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the CT4-V Blackwing drive? It's a joy to drive the CT4-V Blackwing. The car is quick, aggressive and engaging, and it's a whole lot of fun on the road. Our manual-equipped test car hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds in our testing. That's unremarkable for a modern performance car — the automatic transmission would undoubtedly make it quicker — but the sensation that stays with you is the consistent surge ahead with each toss of the gear shifter. You'll miss driving when you park it for the night.

　　It feels buttoned-up in other aspects too. The brakes are strong, with a smooth and stable feeling that didn't fade over several laps around our test track. The steering is quick and responsive, with easy operation when you're cruising around town. Best of all is the handling capability. The Blackwing posted an impressive 1.09 g on our skidpad and handled our test track and back roads with a natural balance, tons of grip and drama-free stability control. A truly enjoyable drive.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the CT4-V Blackwing? It's leaps and bounds better than standard CT4 models, which suffer greatly when it comes to comfort. Instead, the CT4-V Blackwing has additional soft surfaces, excellent seats and dual-pane windows to keep outside noise outside. Most crucially of all, Cadillac includes the superb MagneRide suspension as standard. It does a fantastic job of absorbing impacts on the highway and hunkering down during aggressive canyon carving.

　　Our test vehicle came with the Climate package, which earns a hearty recommendation. It includes front seats with both ventilation and a massaging function, elevating the CT4-V Blackwing's luxury experience to another level.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below