Auto review: Caddy's sharp, athletic CT5 takes a back seat to no one
![The 2021 Cadillac CT5. (Cadillac/TNS)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AODc1NDQyMWUtNzIyZS00%3AMWUtNzIyZS00YTYwZjM3%2Fbzrev21084_photos.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
The 2021 Cadillac CT5. (Cadillac/TNS) Credit: TNS/Cadillac
Cadillac has set itself on a bold course to go all-electric by the end of this decade. Call it the Yankee battle strategy as Cadillac follows California's Tesla — the only U.S. automaker to best the German juggernaut of Mercedes/BMW/Audi on the luxury front.
Caddy's decision comes after two decades following the European's performance model of crafting sleek, Nurburgring-tested stallions with racing pedigrees. But GM's luxe brand couldn't beat the Germans.
But it's not for lack of trying.
The 2021 Cadillac CT5 Premium Luxury sedan in my driveway is a gem. In fact, it's one of the smoothest drivetrains in luxury autodom, and its surge of torque encouraged more misbehaving as I headed west in Michigan and lake-country roads became more twisted. Caddy essentially rebadged the last-generation CTS midsize sedan, then dropped it a segment to take on the compact Bimmer 3-series and Audi A6. So this is a big compact car — but the AWD system grips the road, transferring 405 pound feet of torque to the road without drama.
The buttery drivetrain is electric-like, but with more personality. The twin-turbo V-6 barked as it threw off shifts like machine-gun shells. Hard into a right-hander and the transmission rev-matched on downshift, the exhaust exhaling — HNUGGH! HNUGGH! It never gets old.
The CT5's V-6 is a reminder of the badge's huge performance bandwidth, which extends from the base twin-turbo inline-4, to the V-series I tested last year (with a healthy bump to 360 ponies) and the beastly 668-horsepower, V-8-powered CT5-V Black Wing (release the Kraken!). When you have the need for speed ...
Otherwise, the CT5 is a sharp gentleman in a black suit. Once overly masculine with a full-fascia grille and blocky corners, Cadillac's Art and Science design has matured. Its elegance is an interesting contrast to BMW's recent evolution to a macho full-fascia front grille. CT-5 proportions are classic: long hood, wheels pushed to the front corners, coupe-like roof draped over big rear haunches.
The doors open with a squeeze of rubber pads on the inside of fixed handles — a properly firm handshake welcoming you to the club — and you are inside the roomiest cabin in class.
A comparably equipped AWD BMW M340i will run you eight grand more. For the extra dough, Bimmer gives you more sophisticated all-digital instrumentation and dash design. But functionally, the 3-series and CT5 are similar. Their roomy consoles are anchored by monostable shifters and remote infotainment screen controls (the screen responds to touch as well, which is my preference). Goodies like head-up display and the V-series configurable drive modes are available.
In a nod to Cadillac's ambitious Tesla-like future of smartphone-like electronics, the CT5's voice recognition system is excellent (superior to the Bimmer). The infotainment and climate controls are also easy to use. CUE (Cadillac User Experience) stumbled out of the blocks last decade — a friend traded in his Caddy for that reason alone — but the current system is a snap to use.
I barked the names of restaurants as well as Michigan towns at the navigation system, and the Caddy responded obediently, like I was talking to my phone's Google Assistant.
State-of-the-art, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and smartphone charging are on hand.
Curious, then, that Caddy does not make adaptive cruise control and self-park assist standard. Even a Mazda 3 comes with standard ACC for under $30,000. Cadillac advertises a sci-fi future of Super Cruse and hands-free driving — yet forces you to pay an extra five grand for ACC that's common in mainstream vehicles costing thousands less.
2021 Cadillac CT5
Price: $41,790
Price as tested: $51,455
Power: 335 horsepower, 405 pound-feet of torque
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds
EPA fuel economy estimates: 18 mpg city, 26 highway
Bottom line: Love that Caddy
Woman pleads not guilty in mother's death ... Dead whale washes up on LI ... East End sushi bar closes ... Holiday movies
Woman pleads not guilty in mother's death ... Dead whale washes up on LI ... East End sushi bar closes ... Holiday movies