2024 Cadillac CT4 V

　　

2024 Cadillac CT4 V 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 V 4dr Sedan (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 10A) 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

　　$196/mo  for CT4 V

　　CT4 V

　　V 4dr Sedan (2.7L 4cyl Turbo 10A) (Most Popular) - $47,095 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

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the CT4-V drive? The CT4 V-Series has the power to reach 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, which is quick for the class. And thanks to its high-performance tires, the V-Series needs only 109 feet to stop from that speed. But it doesn't feel that powerful or inspiring from behind the wheel. Handling is capable, but there isn't much feedback for the driver to confidently explore this Caddy's limits.

　　The brake pedal is far too sensitive, resulting in a grabby initial application, and it's difficult to stop smoothly. We experienced some less-than-smooth transmission shifts too, but they are fairly rare and mostly occurred during initial acceleration after a rather slow automatic engine restart. In everyday driving, the CT4 V-Series is otherwise well behaved.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the CT4-V? The front seats are flat and firm, resulting in some uncomfortable hard spots after only an hour. These are by far the biggest detriment to comfort. Unbelievably, there's a badge that is placed right in the middle of your back that is almost immediately irritating. We're surprised Cadillac got these seats so wrong.

　　It's a shame because the ride quality is smooth for a higher-performance sedan in the class. It smooths over small road imperfections well, but the stiff suspension means bigger undulations result in noticeable jostling. The cabin remains quiet on the highway, though the engine sounds coarse and downmarket under hard acceleration.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below