Used 2020 Cadillac CT4

The 2020 Cadillac CT4 is an all-new car from the American luxury brand. With the ATS gone from Cadillac’s lineup, the CT4 is now its smallest and least-expensive sedan, slotting below the CT5. The Cadillac CT4 has a tempting starting price of less than $33,000 that undercuts entry-level sedans such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. But the CT4 is a size larger than those competitors. Dimensionally, the 2020 CT4 is in line with more expensive models like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The all-new Cadillac CT4 has good driving manners, boasting standard rear-wheel drive (or optional all-wheel drive), a choice of two turbocharged engines, and sleek design. A higher-powered version, the CT4-V, is also available and reviewed separately.

This new Cadillac grants quite a bit of metal for the money, especially among lower trims. But even higher trims could use more premium touches in their cabin materials. And it’s disappointing that base models don’t include basic active safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. All of those are standard on a Honda Civic or the highly recommendable Genesis G70 luxury sedan. The Genesis is only about $2,500 more and has more standard horsepower, offers a manual transmission, and boasts a best-in-class a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Also note that Cadillac’s ace card – the innovative Super Cruise automated driving system – won’t be available in the all-new CT4 until the 2021 model.

The CT4 has good ride and handling, nicely splitting the difference between the tautness of a BMW and the plushness of a Mercedes. The model we tested had the optional 2.7-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 310-horsepower. It provides plenty of kick and eager acceleration – around 5 seconds for 0-60 mph. We also like the rear-wheel-drive setup of the CT4, which gives it a sport sedan feel.

Base models use a smaller, 2.0-liter turbo-4 that makes 237 horsepower. That’s about the norm for small luxury sedans and competent for this car’s size. Cadillac pegs that model’s 0-60 mph time at 6.2 seconds – pretty quick.

CT4 models use either an 8-speed automatic transmission with the base engine or 10-speed with the 2.7-liter like the model we tested. We found it worked very well. The transmission is seamless and quickly kicks down gears when the accelerator pedal is nailed.

Switching between the Tour and Sport mode noticeably changed the character of the car. Tour mode is great for everyday driving, while the Sport setting adjusts the throttle and transmission for more aggressive driving.

Overall the CT4 is a well-balanced, nicely driving entry-level luxury sport sedan.

The Cadillac CT4 has a pleasant but not exactly groundbreaking interior. The front seats are relatively roomy, and we like that even base models come with 2-way lumbar support, while 4-way lumbar support with massaging function (see Favorite Features) is optional. Leatherette upholstery is standard, with genuine leather optional.

Cabin materials feel only OK for a luxury car. Padding on the dash and windowsills feels thin. The steering-wheel-mounted audio controls are arranged a bit oddly, with the tuning buttons at a perpendicular angle to the volume buttons. We like the optional rotary infotainment control available on Premium Luxury models that makes it easy to access audio, navigation and more.

At 8 inches, the infotainment screen is only just big enough, and will likely look small in the years to come. That said, the infotainment system is responsive. At just over 33 inches, rear-seat room is about what you’d expect for this class. The trunk is smaller than expected, with less than 11 cubic feet of space.

Our eyes think the new Cadillac CT4 is a pretty sharp-looking sedan. Up front is an elegant grille that is nicely proportioned and flanked by Cadillac’s boomerang-shaped running lights. The CT4 has a distinctly tapered tail. The rear window flows drastically into the nub of the trunk, which is flanked by its own set of boomerang taillights. Wheels range in size from 17 to 19 inches. CT4 Sport trims include a rear spoiler, body-color rocker panels, and black window surrounds.

MASSAGING SEATS
Optional on CT4 Sport models, this enables the driver and passenger to get a lumbar massage while on the road.

2.7-LITER TURBO ENGINE
Optional on CT4 Premium Luxury trims, this engine adds extra potency and a sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Cadillac CT4 is available in three trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. The base Luxury trim includes dual-zone climate control, faux leather upholstery, keyless entry and start, 12-way adjustable driver’s seat and 10-way adjustable passenger seat, paddle shifters, remote start, rear air vents, and acoustic laminated glass. The standard infotainment system bundles an 8-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, two USB ports, an 8-speaker audio system, and subscription-based 4G LTE with Wi-Fi connectivity. Unfortunately, this base Cadillac CT4 does not include the kind of active safety systems that are now standard on a budget Kia or Nissan. In fact, just to get automatic emergency braking, you have to step up to the Premium Luxury trim, thereby defeating the value proposition of the base model.

Because the base Cadillac CT4 is not available with active safety features, we recommend at least stepping up to the Premium Luxury model. In addition to features like automatic emergency braking, it also includes leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, ambient interior lighting, memory seats, rear parking sensors, universal garage remote and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The CT4 Sport trim has more aggressive aesthetics like a sport grille, rocker panels, and rear spoiler, plus Brembo performance brakes, alloy driver pedals, and 18-way front seats. Interestingly, the higher-powered engine is not available on the Sport trim – only the Premium Luxury model. All-wheel drive is available on any model.

Options – most of them reserved for Premium Luxury and Sport trims — include blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, digital instrument cluster, navigation, heated/ventilated front seats, and heated steering wheel, sunroof and in-cabin air ionizer and front parking sensors.

On the infotainment front, a Bose audio system is available, but it sounded muddy to our ears, even when playing high-res, lossless FLAC audio files. A wireless phone charging cradle is optional, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — available in the new Chevy Trailblazer (the CT4’s General Motors cousin) — is not offered in this new Cadillac.

The Cadillac CT4 offers a choice of two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines. Standard is a 2.0 that makes 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Optional on Premium Luxury trims is a heartier 2.7-liter that makes 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine that’s in the performance-oriented CT4-V, in which it makes 325 horsepower/380 lb-ft torque.

All CT4 models use an automatic transmission: an 8-speed with the 2.0-liter engine and 10-speed with the 2.7. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. At up to 34 mpg, the CT4 is quite efficient. All models use an engine start/stop system that cuts power at idle to save fuel. The system can be disabled with the press of a button.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
237 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/34 mpg (RWD), 23/32 mpg (AWD)

2.7-liter turbocharged inline-4
310 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
350 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/30 mpg (RWD), 20/28 mpg (AWD)