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Cadillac CT5
The Cadillac CT5 is a mid-size luxury sedan that replaced the CTS starting with the 2020 model year, with a 2025 facelift and CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing performance versions. CarsCounsel says buyers seeking a reliable daily driver will find later years compare favorably to the 2020 launch model, and federal data shows the 2020 and 2021 with the most recalls (4 each), falling to none on the 2024 and 2025. The 2026 CT5 starts at $50,995.
What the Cadillac CT5 is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the CT5 as a mid-size luxury car made by General Motors under the Cadillac brand since 2019, the replacement for the Cadillac CTS, on the GM Alpha 2 platform, with a 2025 facelift and CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing performance variants. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says the CT5 was introduced for the 2020 model year, replacing the third-generation CTS with a new fastback-style look and updated tech. The 2026 CT5 has a 2.0L four-cylinder, a 3.0L six-cylinder or a 6.2L V8, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, rated 15 to 26 mpg combined by the EPA, about $3,000 to $5,150 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $50,995 for the Premium Luxury and $53,995 for the Sport.
Best and worst CT5 model years
Federal data shows the 2020 CT5 with 4 recalls and 38 complaints, the 2021 with 4 recalls and 23 complaints, the 2022 with 2 recalls and 10 complaints, and the 2023 with 1 and 11. The 2024 and 2025 have no recalls and 2 and 8 complaints, and the 2026 has 1.
CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says buyers seeking a reliable daily driver will find later years compare favorably to the 2020 launch model. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) covers the single generation's evolution across model years, the best and worst versions to buy and typical prices.
Choosing a year
The 2024 and 2025 have the lightest recall record by a wide margin, matching CarsCounsel's view that later years compare favorably to 2020, while a 2020 or 2021 needs its air bag and powertrain recalls checked by VIN.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Cadillac CT5 launch year reliable?
CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says buyers seeking a reliable daily driver will find later years compare favorably to the 2020 launch model, which federal data also shows with the most recalls.
What did the Cadillac CT5 replace?
Wikipedia says the CT5 replaced the Cadillac CTS starting with the 2020 model year.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, 3.0L twin-turbo V6, or 6.2L supercharged V8 (Blackwing), rated at 237 / 335 / 668 horsepower across its midsize luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 4 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 CT5 seats 5 and is a Midsize luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 CT5.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Cadillac CT5
Premium Luxury and Sport share the 237-hp turbo four with an optional 335-hp twin-turbo V6; V-Series Blackwing is a distinct 668-horsepower supercharged-V8 flagship with a six-speed manual.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed Cadillac CT5 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cadillac CT5 | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Cadillac CT5 | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Cadillac CT5.
The Cadillac CT5 is a mid-size luxury car manufactured and marketed by General Motors under the Cadillac brand since 2019. It is the replacement for the Cadillac CTS.
- Awards
- The CT5-V Blackwing was named in Car and Driver's 10 Best List in 2022-2026.
Source: Cadillac CT5 (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Cadillac CT5 at a glance
- Production
- November 2019–present
- Model years
- 2020–present
- Assembly
- United States: Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Grand River Assembly), China: Jinqiao, Shanghai (SAIC-GM)
- Class
- Mid-size luxury car
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Layout
- FR layout / F4 layout, FMR layout (V-Blackwing)
- Platform
- GM Alpha 2
- Wheelbase
- 116.0 in
- Length
- 193.8 in, V-Blackwing: 195 in
- Width
- 74.1 in
- Height
- 57.2 in, V-Blackwing: 56.6 in
- Curb weight
- 3660 lb (Luxury RWD)
- Predecessor
- Cadillac CTS, Cadillac XTS
- Related models
- Chevrolet Camaro (sixth generation), Cadillac CT4
- Designer
- Josh Thurber, Henri Kavaja
NHTSA rated the 2025 Cadillac CT5 overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- February 2026, Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual. General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette… Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Cadillac CT5, most often about unknown or other (3), forward collision avoidance (2), engine (2).
Year by year
The Cadillac CT5 across 7 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Cadillac CT5 | 15–26 | $3,050–$5,300 | 8 | 1 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Cadillac CT5 | 15–26 | $3,000–$5,150 | 8 | 8 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Cadillac CT5 | 15–27 | $2,850–$5,150 | 8 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2023 Cadillac CT5 | 15–27 | $2,850–$5,150 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Cadillac CT5 | 15–27 | $2,850–$5,150 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Cadillac CT5 | 21–26 | $3,000–$3,700 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Cadillac CT5 | 20–26 | $3,000–$3,900 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Cadillac CT5, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 21.0 to 20.5 | ||
| 2021 to 2022 | 6 to 8 | 23.5 to 21.0 | Engines: 6.2L 8-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Manual 6-spd |
| 2020 to 2021 | 23.0 to 23.5 |
Buying used
What the Cadillac CT5 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | equipment (other) | None |
| 2023 | 1 | exterior lighting (lighting control module) | 1 fixable over the air |
| 2022 | 2 | air bags (side/window); exterior lighting (lighting control module) | 1 fixable over the air |
| 2021 | 4 | air bags (srs malfunction warning lamp/light); air bags (side/window); exterior lighting (lighting control module); 1 more | 2 fixable over the air |
| 2020 | 4 | service brakes; air bags (side/window); exterior lighting (lighting control module); 1 more | 1 fixable over the air |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 22 | 23% | 2020 (14) |
| electrical system | 21 | 22% | 2021 (10) |
| unknown or other | 16 | 17% | 2020 (11) |
| structure | 16 | 17% | 2021 (6) |
| engine | 10 | 10% | 2020 (7) |
| air bags | 6 | 6% | 2021 (2) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Cadillac CT5 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Luxury | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 237 | 258 | 3,802 | – | 24 | $50,995 |
| Sport | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 237 | 258 | 3,827 | – | 24 | $51,995 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Cadillac CT5 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 237 | 3,802–3,827 | – | 17 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 237 | 3,802–3,827 | – | 17 |
| 2024 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 6.2-liter V8 (Supercharged) | 237–668 | 3,659–4,123 | – | 17.4 |
| 2023 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 6.2-liter V8 (Supercharged) | 237–668 | 3,659–4,123 | – | 17 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 6.2-liter V8 (Supercharged) | 237–668 | 3,659–4,123 | – | 17 |
| 2021 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 237–360 | 3,659–3,974 | 1,000 | 17 |
| 2020 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 237–360 | 3,659–3,974 | 1,000 | 17 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Cadillac CT5.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | (5.3 qt) 2.0L L4 Engine; (6.0 qt) 3.0L V6 Engine (RWD); (6.5 qt) 3.0L V6 Engine (AWD); (9.0 qt) 6.2L V8 Engine | DOT 4 | 140 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2025 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2024 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2023 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Cadillac CT5: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | equipment |
| 2025 | 8 | ||
| 2024 | 2 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | 11 | exterior lighting |
| 2022 | 2 | 10 | airbags, exterior lighting |
| 2021 | 4 | 23 | airbags, exterior lighting, powertrain |
| 2020 | 4 | 38 | airbags, brakes, exterior lighting, powertrain |
| 2019 | not available | ||
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Cadillac CT5 model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Cadillac CT5?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Cadillac CT5 model year: recall counts across the 5 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 2.4 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Cadillac CT5 by model year?
2026: equipment. 2023: exterior lighting. 2022: airbags, exterior lighting. 2021: airbags, exterior lighting, powertrain. 2020: airbags, brakes, exterior lighting, powertrain.
Q03Why do some Cadillac CT5 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Cadillac CT5 model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain.
Compared with
Models this Cadillac CT5 is most often compared with.
Nearest Cadillac models
Other Cadillac models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 CT5 come in?
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 (midsize luxury sedan) comes in 4 trims: Premium Luxury, Sport, V-Series, V-Series Blackwing.
Q02What are the 2026 CT5 trims?
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 trims are Premium Luxury, Sport, V-Series, V-Series Blackwing, listed from the entry Premium Luxury up to the top V-Series Blackwing.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 CT5 use?
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, 3.0L twin-turbo V6, or 6.2L supercharged V8 (Blackwing), rated at 237 / 335 / 668 horsepower across its midsize luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 CT5 have?
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is rated at 237 / 335 / 668 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder, 3.0L twin-turbo V6, or 6.2L supercharged V8 (Blackwing)).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 CT5?
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is offered with RWD / AWD.