The CT5 was all-new for 2020, replacing the long-running CTS as Cadillac’s medium sedan that splits the size difference between compact sport sedans and their midsize counterparts. The strategy of pitching a BMW 5 Series-sized car against the compact 3 Series on price has always helped Cadillac in terms of perceived value, but value only goes so far with premium sedan buyers, for whom the competition is fierce.

Being bigger on the outside gives the Cadillac more presence and more room on the inside, but it also invites comparisons to fancier more expensive midsize machinery. Cadillac aims the CT5 straight at the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Lexus ES, and Genesis G70, but only the ES is similarly sized. Overall size is impressive, but with a tiny trunk, a tepid base engine, and some sub-par interior materials, size alone doesn’t conquer all.

The 2021 Cadillac CT5 has a sloping, almost coupe-like profile, which is in perfect step with the times as automakers look to make their sedans sleeker as more utility-minded buyers gravitate to crossovers. This gives it a sporty flair but also eats into rear-seat headroom and trunk space.  Cadillac

There are two basic kinds of CT5, and choosing the right one is essential to getting the most enjoyment out of this sedan. 

The Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport trims come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The basic luxury model starts at $38,190, including a $1,195 destination fee. That’s a bit cheaper than the Germans or the Lexus, but on par with others like the Volvo V60 or Genesis G70. Aimed at the bargain hunters and lease specials of the segment, the four-cylinder CT5 offers little in the way of enjoyment or enthusiasm. 

The CT5 comes alive, however, with its other engine, a 3.0-liter V6 optional on the Premium Luxury and standard on the CT5-V. 

In Premium Luxury form, it makes 335 horsepower and a robust 400 pound-feet of torque. It added to the CT5 more than enough power for both daily driving around town, plus it was plenty for the kind of spirited thrill-seeking some drivers plan on their weekends. Plus, its exhaust lets out a delicious pop and cackle during hard acceleration; it’s just enough to make you smile without sounding like an escapee from a Fast and Furious film.

The CT5’s interior is a Jekyll and Hyde scenario: Most of it is covered in rich, high-quality materials that impress, but a few pieces, mostly lower in the cabin but also some of the button and dials, seem a class below this price point or worse.  Cadillac

The CT5-V gets even more power from another version of this engine, 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, and mates them with some extra performance hardware. Both V6s are paired with a responsive 10-speed automatic transmission.

Our tester also had the standard rear-wheel drive, integral to the car’s fun quotient when you tossed it around corners. The Caddy was predictable and responsive in these situations, giving the driver a very clear idea of exactly what the car is doing at all times. For those who want more grip,  all-wheel drive is optional for $2,600 on Luxury and Sport trims and $3,090 on the Premium Luxury and V-series.

The CT5 also offers a set of personalities depending on which setting you put the car in. Many cars today have adjustable drive modes but there’s often little difference between the default and the sport-tuned settings. Not so here; each version gave the CT5 a surprisingly unique character. 

Goodbye cords. For 2021, Cadillac gave the CT5 wireless charging (as an option, though it is standard on the Premium Luxury model) and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. This made an already strong infotainment setup even better.  Cadillac

Inside, the CT5 is a pleasant place to be. The car’s fastback roof scrunches headroom for tall folks in the rear, but otherwise everyone has plenty of room. The CT5’s size means passenger volume, legroom, and headroom measurements all favor the Caddy compared to the A4, 3 Series and C-Class. The CT5 fares less well against the even-larger Lexus ES. 

With just 11.9 cubic-feet of cargo space, however, you’ll wonder where all the size went. Among its competitors only the G70 has a smaller trunk, but the Cadillac is 9.4 inches longer than the Genesis.

Some of the interior materials, namely the matte-finish wood trim, brushed metal door handles and speaker grilles, and leather-lined seats and dash, look great; but the bottom panels of the doors were made of work-truck-grade plastic that you wouldn’t find anywhere near a Mercedes. This, plus some other cheaper plastic cabin fittings made the CT5 feel like it was missing the added layer refinement that you find in many competitors—smaller and larger.

Scrunched head room for six footers in back notwithstanding, the CT5’s interior is a pleasant place to be and comfort-wise compares well to rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Genesis G70. Trunk space, however, is small for what is truly a mid-size car.  Cadillac

Standard equipment on the Luxury trim includes a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Wi-Fi connectivity, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen itself is responsive to your inputs and there’s a nice level of redundancy built into a rotary controller on the center console or physical buttons lower in the dashboard. Standard equipment also includes faux leather seats, forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and forward collision alerts, a nine-speaker audio system and 18-inch alloy wheels. 

Next up is the Premium Luxury trim ($41,990, including destination). This is the trim we tested and the one we’d recommend. It adds to the base model things like real leather seats, wireless phone charging, and unique exterior trim, plus, it makes the V6 available as a very worthwhile $3,500 upgrade. The Premium Luxury also adds active safety features like lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts. 

The Sport trim ($42,990) is next up, but comes only with the 4-cylinder engine. For the money you get larger 19-inch alloy wheels, sportier exterior trim, magnesium paddle shifters and 18-way adjustable sport front seats. 

The CT5-V gets a 360 horsepower version of the V6 and a few mechanical upgrades. Cosmetically it also gets more subdued blackout trim. This new V is a bit more subdued than the outgoing CTS-V from 2019, and a proper 668-horsepower replacement for that car, the CT5-V Blackwing, arrives in 2022.  Cadillac

Then there’s the V-Series ($48,990). The V’s upgrades over the Premium Luxury are mostly performance related, including its extra horsepower, A CT5-V Blackwing, the most powerful Cadillac ever with a cool 668 horsepower, will arrive late this year as a 2022 model, but isn’t here just yet. The V also opens up option packages including GM’s excellent semi-autonomous Super Cruise, a $2,500 addition.

Though the CT5 does well in IIHS’s crash test evaluations, like Super Cruise many of its best active safety features are optional. The base-model Luxury comes with relatively minimal driver-assist gear compared to many luxury rivals and makes little gear optional. Items like adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane keep assist can add up to $2,450 on the higher trims. Even on the V-series lane departure warnings and lane keep assist are a $500 ask.