CADILLAC CT4 TAKES ON THE WORLD'S BEST
CADILLAC CT4 REVIEW BY: RICK WALKER
With the CT4, Cadillac is taking on the world's best.
This is the smallest vehicle in the Cadillac line up, but you really aren't making any "sacrifices" with this choice of vehicle. The quality of the materials is still up to the same standard that you will find in other Cadillacs, and even though this may be the smallest Cadillac availale, it still feels spacious inside.
If you are expecting a big flating boat type of ride with this car you really need to get your head out of the past. Cadillac is no longer your grandfather's car. The CT4 is a very capable touring car, and the ride is sporty. The CT4 handles extemely well, and is many ways offers superior handling when compared to some of its competitors. The chasis is stiff, and the ride for me, really hits the sweet spot between comfortable and the sport oriented. The suspension provides excellent road feel. There is good transmission of road feel from the wheels right through the steering column to your hands on the steering wheel, and that makes you feel like you are in control and in communication with the car.
There are basically two engine options available. There is a 2.0-litre four cylinder base motor which is turbocharged and produces 237-horsepower. There is also a 2.7-litre turbocharged four, that produces 310-horsepower, which is the option we had in our CT4 with the 500T model badge, which is the premium luxury version. Our engine was "detuned" to just 310-horsepower. The same motor is also used in the CT4-V but it produces 325-horsepower. I would definately recommend the 2.7-litre engine over the base motor. The additional horespower is a blessing.
The 2.0-liter inline-four offers active fuel management, which allows the engine to run on just two cylinders when cruising to save fuel. The transmission offered as standard in the CT4 is an 8-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is an option. EPA-rated fuel economy is 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined with RWD and 23/32/26 with AWD.
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Premium Luxury models with the 2.7-liter turbo inline-four are rated for fuel economy at 21/31/25 mpg with RWD and 21/29/24 with AWD.
Our test vehicle with the 500T package, was nicely appointed with sunroof, heated power seats, leather, steering wheel audio controls and with the 2.7-litre turbocharged engine we got the 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. That transmission is simply one of the best on the market. It is bullet proof. The tranny is tough and smooth.
The styling is Cadillac all the way. The front mesh grille is distinct. The taillights are trademark Cadillac. The design is clean and elegant. It's a gorgeous car.
The infotainment system offfers up an 8-inch touchscreen with a pair of old school-style control knobs which I really liked and they allow you to scroll through options on the screen, and lists for radio stations or other menu functions. One is adjacent to the screen and volume knob, while the bigger one is on the center console. The base setup includes wirelessly connected Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus Amazon Alexa integration and a choice of USB Type-A and Type-C charging. Upgrades are available and include navigation and multiple Bose audio packages, and those upgrades will also get you wirless phone charging.
The trunk offers up 10.9 cubic feet of storage capacity. It is one of the smallest trunks in this market segment but it's still large enough to get the job done.
The CT4 competes directly with front-wheel-drive-based German rivals like the Mercedes CLA , BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe and Audi A3 .
There is also a "Blackwing" version of the CT4 which is a performance topping option but it's almost an entirely different car, because it offers up a Supercharged V6- engine producing 472-horsepower, and a zero to 100-kmh time of just 3.8-seconds. It seems there is a CT4 to cover a very wide spectrum of drivers.
Our CT4 test vehicle was truly a pleasure to drive. it was responsive, comfortable, and handles extremely well. Cadillac has done a lot to improve its products and deserves every bit of praise it gets as it continues to transform the brands image into something that is more modern and appeals to a younger demographic. Today's Cadillac's peform and are the CT4 is a worthy competitor, especially when you compare prices.
The CT4 comes loaded with safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance and eventually the CT4 will get GM’s Super Cruise feature, which allows for some hands-free driving on the highway.
The CT4 starts at just $35,998. Our test vehicle in the Premium Luxury trim is listed at $51,000. Compared to competitors the CT4 offers up incredible value. Our recommendation is to go for the 2.7-litre engine option with the 10-speed automatic transmission. It's a great drive train that feels solid.
When consumers arrive in showrooms to compare products, much will depend on incentives, finance rates, and estimated resale value or lease options. However when you drive the CT4 and experience its performance and then look at the price tag the obvious conclusion is that for the money the CT4 is tough to beat. If you're in the market for a car in the market segment, make sure you check out the CT4. It's actually one of the best in its class.