2024 Cadillac CT4

The smallest and most affordable Cadillac is an appealing option in the competitive field of compact luxury cars. The Cadillac CT4 is an upscale sedan at an attractive price point. This well-balanced luxury car delivers engaging performance, agile handling, and a comfortable ride. It’s also pretty high-tech, with impressive standard safety and infotainment features and the available Super Cruise hands-free driving system. When you upgrade to the V-Series models, things get really exciting, especially the muscular CT4-V Blackwing.

The CT4 competes on the more affordable side of compact luxury sedans against the Lexus IS, Genesis G70, and Acura Integra.

The CT4 has a new Midnight Sky Metallic paint option for 2024. The V-Series models get more new paint options: Velocity Red, Cyber Yellow Metallic, Coastal Blue Metallic, and Black Diamond Tricoat.

Another update for the V-Series models is a 20th Anniversary grille header decal and a unique cluster wake-up animation commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the first V-Series car, the 2004 Cadillac CTS-V.

Before buying a CT4, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Cadillac CT4 resale value is below average for the segment.

The Cadillac CT4 is powered by a 237-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear- or all-wheel drive. A turbocharged 2.7-liter 4-cylinder engine is available, making 310 horsepower in the Premium Luxury trim and 325 horsepower in the CT4-V.

The base engine in the CT4 strikes a nice balance of performance and efficiency. It makes more than enough power for a car this size, and we had no trouble passing on the highway. We found the ride quality comfortable, with handling that is agile in city driving, but its more expensive German rivals deliver a more refined driving experience.

The bigger 2.7-liter engine is a nice upgrade if it fits your budget. We prefer this engine over the base 2.0-liter mill for its noticeably quicker acceleration with only a minor fuel economy penalty. This engine makes more even power and torque in the CT4-V, which also brings upgraded brakes, exhaust, suspension, and differential for a sportier drive.

The CT4-V Blackwing represents peak performance in a small Cadillac sedan. It’s powered by a 472-horsepower twin-turbo V6 that turns this Caddy into a serious sports sedan at a comparably affordable price compared to the likes of the BMW M3, Audi RS 5 Sportback, and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Yes, you can get one with a manual transmission.

Notably, the Cadillac CT4 is one of the most affordable cars available with Super Cruise, which allows for hands-free driving on highways mapped by Cadillac. Hands-free driving is unique to the CT4 in this class.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of compact luxury cars, including this Cadillac CT4.

The interior quality of the Cadillac CT4 is commensurate with its price tag. It’s nicer than the average non-luxury sedan but not as luxurious as more expensive luxury cars. The bang-for-the-buck factor comes in the standard features you get at this price, like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a wireless charging pad, and the Cadillac Smart System safety tech suite.

We found the front seats of the CT4 roomy and comfortable in our testing. However, the rear seats are pretty cramped, even for a compact sedan. The CT4 has 33.4 inches of rear legroom, less than all its rivals except the Lexus IS.

We’re also unimpressed by the small trunk in the CT4, with only 10.7 cubic feet of room. Although it’s not much, the cargo space in the CT4 is about the same as the Genesis G70 and Lexus IS. For reference, the roomiest car in this class is the hatchback-like Acura Integra, with 37.4 inches of rear legroom and 24.3 cubic feet of cargo room.

Style is a strong suit of the Cadillac CT4. We love the sporty aesthetics, especially in the more aggressively styled V-Series models. It has the proportions of a traditional luxury sport sedan but with distinctively modern styling.

Super Cruise
This available feature allows for hands-free driving on highways mapped by Cadillac. It can even handle automatic lane changes without the driver touching the wheel.

V-Series models
The CT4-V and CT4-V Blackwing are formidable luxury sport sedans with exciting performance and aggressive styling. The CT4-V has a stronger version of the 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder and various other performance enhancements. The turbo V6 in the CT4-V Blackwing moves this Cadillac from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

Wireless smartphone connectivity
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard on the CT4, making it easy to link your phone to the screen in your car. Wireless charging also comes standard.

Cadillac Smart System
This standard safety tech suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a safety alert vibrating seat, rear parking sensors, and a Teen Driver mode.

Technology Package
This option package adds a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, a color head-up display, and additional interior air filtration to the Premium Luxury and Sport trims.

Driver Assist Package
This package bundles adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and reverse automatic braking. It’s standard on all but the base trim.

The most common engine in the Cadillac CT4 is the standard 237-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. A bigger, 310-horsepower 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine is optional in the Premium Luxury trim, and it’s standard in the CT4-V, where it produces 325 horsepower. This engine employs a 10-speed automatic transmission. With all of the above, rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.

The CT4-V Blackwing is powered by a 472-horsepower turbocharged V6 and comes exclusively with rear-wheel drive. It comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission, and a 10-speed automatic is optional.

With the base engine, the CT4 gets 27 combined mpg with RWD and 26 mpg with AWD. The 2.7-liter engine is still pretty efficient, returning up to 25 combined mpg with RWD and 24 mpg with AWD. The CT4-V Blackwing is rated at 19 mpg with the automatic transmission and 18 mpg with the manual. Every configuration of the CT4 requires premium fuel.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Cadillac CT4 is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s average for a basic warranty, but the powertrain warranty is better than what most luxury brands offer. Cadillac also includes one free maintenance visit.