Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing vs. CTS-V Comparision Review

European car makers seem to love making super sedans that have enough horsepower to replace a full blown sports car. No one else has really been able to capitalize on that segment except for these big boys. Today we'll be looking at two cars from Cadillac's flagship V series.

Recently, I feel like there are a couple old school American car manufacturers that are really struggling to keep themselves relevant. Buick, Lincoln, Cadillac. Those are the ones that come to mind. Cadillac obviously being the most popular at the moment, but it's no secret that for a long time they've been trying to reinvent themselves as a car brand that's not only luxurious, but sporty and desirable too. In a lot of ways. I feel like they're copying the recipe that BMW, Mercedes and Audi have been perfecting for a long time. And while it's debatable if it's actually working or not, today we're going to be comparing the two Cadillacs that I feel like push them in the right direction. The last generation Cadillac CTS V and the latest successor, the CT5V Blackwing. But before we do, I want to talk about our sponsor. This episode is brought to you by Motor Envy and we're actually shooting up here in Motor Envy showroom in Clifton, New Jersey today. Which means that both of these Cadillacs in the video were provided by them. Motor Envy is a premium car subscription.

Service that specializes in all sorts of high end vehicles.

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Let's start with the similarities on the outside. Despite being named differently, they're technically the same model line being aimed at the same midsize luxury sedan segment. That means both cars are front engine, rear wheel drive, four door sedans that can seat up to five passengers. The CT5 has a slightly longer wheelbase, which in theory should give you a little bit more rear seat room. But the CTS V is oddly about two and a half inches longer in physical dimensions. I think that's because Cadillac decided to make the CT5 more of a fastback design versus a conventional sedan where there is less of a sloping rear roof line. Some people hate the departure to the fastback look, but I'm personally a fan. It makes it sportier and also gives it the potential for slightly more trunk space. The front end is also a lot less angular and more futuristic looking than the Blackwing, but it loses the muscular raised hood lines and the vents on the CTs. So although the Blackwing looks good on its own, it doesn't feel as masculine or aggressive when you put it next to the CTS V. I also really like what they did with the side fender vent on the Blackwing, but the one on the CTS V is also pretty classy looking too. On the back they both have quad exhaust tips and options for larger deck lift spoilers, but the Blackwing is significantly more modern looking with everything being more angular. Couple that with an almost 2 inch wider stance and wider 305 tires, it makes the CTS V look a little bit dated here. In terms of powertrain, they are both using the tried and true LT4 from the C7Z06. For those who aren't familiar, that's the 6.2L supercharged small block V8 on the CTS V. It makes 640 horsepower and 630 pounds of torque. The only available transmission is GM's own eight speed automatic, which is actually a pretty terrible gearbox for any high performance sports car. I'm honestly disappointed that Cadillac didn't do anything different with the Blackwing except add 38 more horsepower and 29 pounds of torque to the recipe. Sure I get the if it ain't broke mindset, but a whole new generation deserves a little bit more in my opinion. The major advantage that the Blackwing has over the CTS though is the fact that you can spec it with a six speed manual gearbox and that's honestly a rarity in this day and age. None of the Germans give you that manual option anymore, so for those who are purists, this is the one. Otherwise you're stuck with a pretty quick shifting 10 speed auto that's a big step up from the trashy eight speed. Things get really different on the inside where the black one gets a host of interior upgrades. The seats, the steering wheel, the center stack layout and the gear shifter are the obvious differences that I noticed first, but because the CTS V already had a pretty decent digital instrument cluster, it doesn't feel like it lags too far behind. In fact, the infotainment on the Blackwing isn't that much better despite being newer and having a higher resolution picture. The digital dash in the Blackwing also isn't too much more advanced than the CTS either. Sure it's more responsive, brighter and crisper with more data screens, but I don't feel like you're missing much with the older version. You can spec recaro race seats on the CTS, but the diamond stitching on the CT5 make it look sleeker, more luxurious and sportier. However, they aren't nearly as comfortable as the front and rear seats in the old CTS. Speaking of seats, the CT5 has this weird feature where it vibrates your butt as an alarm for your 360 optical detection system. The moonroof is also not my cup of tea. I prefer the normal one in the CTs versus the weird dual roof situation in the Blackwing. Both steering wheels here are wrapped in Alcantara, but I feel like GM's version of Alcantara just doesn't really hold up to long term use. The pallets on the Blackwing look pretty cool on their own, but the material and the feedback on the old CTS V1s are actually better and more satisfying to operate. The new AKG sound system also isn't a big upgrade, but I feel like in cars like these the exhaust note is way more important, so let's listen to those and see which one sounds better. Keep in mind that they both rock the same engine so it might be pretty close. They do sound similar for sure, but the CTS V actually sounds a little better to me. It's got a deeper growl to it, whereas the Blackwing is a little bit more high pitched sounding with some crackles and pops. Kind of like Borla versus Corsa here. You can't go wrong either way, but now let's take them for a drive. Weighing in at £4,200, it's actually rather light for a midsize super sedan. Performance stats on this car can be found online, so I'll be brief. 060 in 3.7 seconds, 12 second quarter mile time at roughly 120 and a potential top speed of almost 200 miles per hour. On the other hand, the Blackwing is surprisingly not much heavier than its predecessor. Recent trends have luxury cars getting heavier and heavier with each generation, but the Blackwing weighs roughly the same as the cts V at £4,200. Unsurprisingly though, with all that extra power it's also a little bit faster all around. Zero to 60 is still 3.7 seconds, but quarter mile time is an impressive 11.7 at 124. Potential top speed is also up significantly to almost 205 miles per hour. But for cars like these, performance isn't necessarily everything. So how do they feel from a driving standpoint? Well, one word that I would use to describe the CTS V is antiquated. It feels like old school money, but driving it around felt like an aging platform, not because of the cockpit, but because of the suspension. It has magneride like all high end GM sports cars, but it doesn't feel like it. Even in tour mode. It's stiff, a lot like the fixed rate suspension in a Camaro ZL1.1 LE car. It feels raw and connected, which is a good thing, but the power delivery isn't what you would expect from a flagship performance car. It's fast, don't get me wrong, but it just felt a little sluggish on the uptake. The transmission also feels the same as the 8 speed from my old C7 Z06, and I really disliked that gearbox despite it being relatively quick in its upshifts. It's the downshifts and the response that really bugged me. Other than that, steering was pleasantly heavy. Cornering felt good, but not as spectacular as some of the other reviews would indicate. And you could also hear a bit of that blower whine when you chugged along, which is always appreciated. Overall, this vehicle just felt like it came from an era of GM cars that predated the C7 Corvettes. It was definitely not their heyday, and if I had to compare the driving experience of this car to a BMW M5, it would be the E60 generation and even then it would be no contest because of the V10 and the Beamer. The Blackwing, though described in only one word, would simply be sophisticated. The suspension is smoother, the different drive modes actually feel like they make a difference, and the cockpit feels more intuitive, despite the fact that the infotainment still uses a pretty primitive operating system. The steering is lighter and less direct, but it's still pretty good in overall feedback. I also like having all the PTM controls right on the steering wheel, but what really makes a difference to me is the power delivery and transmission. It just gets up and goes. Unlike the CTS V, which felt like it had a more narrow power band, the Blackwing's gearbox also shifts with more confidence. Not dual clutch levels of satisfaction you'd find on the C8 Corvettes, but enough for you to feel engaged as a driver. The heads up display looks a little bit smaller than the Blackwing, but it's crisper, brighter and displays more data. Something I didn't particularly like about the car was the seats not being as supportive as they looked. Great for larger folks, but don't expect a Recaro hug in here. Other than that, I would say that if you put an F90 M5 and a Blackwing in front of me, I would have a pretty hard time picking the Beamer because the Blackwing just has that much more appeal. Obviously there's a lot to like about the CTS V successor, and frankly, who.

Wouldn'T want to take the newer, fancier, shinier, faster car?

But I don't know.

There's something about the CTS V. It's like a strange charm. It's nowhere near as refined, but it feels more manly, sort of hellcat ish, and is more comfortable. You're not actually driving the car, but.

The current market value of both vehicles.

Is about 30 grand apart. CTSVs are in the high 60s low 70s, whereas the Blackwing is in the upper 90s low 1/ hundreds. If you're looking for a modern luxury experience that you would normally only find in something like an M5E63 or RS7, then the Blackwing is finally a decent variable when it comes to this equation. But if you just want something that's really freaking fast in a straight line, still has four doors, and you don't want to have a Hellcat, then the CTS V is a bargain value.

That looks the part.

I like the more muscular front end and the stance of the CTs, but the overall aesthetics and the softer suspension of the CT5 do it for me. I wouldn't mind either car in my garage though, but let me know what you guys would pick in the comments below. That's going to do for me on this episode, and as always, I will catch you all on the next one.

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