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Cadillac CT4: A Vibrant American Alternative To Compact Luxury Sedans
Cadillac CT4: is an appealing, driver-focused alternative to European compact luxury sedans, particularly when fitted with the larger 2.7-liter engine that comes standard on the CT4-V. A lack of rear seat and baggage capacity, as well as Cadillac’s stinginess with driver assistance systems, many of which are optional, are flaws.
Cadillac CT4 A Vibrant American Alternative
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Although the nomenclature is new, the general design of the 2021 Cadillac CT4 may be familiar. The CT4 is a redesign of the departed Cadillac ATS, which ran from 2014 to 2019. It is dressed in the latest edition of Cadillac’s angular art & science design language, although it is truly a makeover of the departed Cadillac ATS, which ran from 2014 to 2019. That’s not a terrible thing for experienced drivers, because the CT4 is a fun car to drive and a good value.
Cadillac not only enhanced but also reduced the price of its smallest vehicle by redesigning it. The base model of the 2021 CT4 Luxury costs $34,390 plus destination fees. That’s $3,900 less than the 2018 ATS sedan’s base model. (For 2019, Cadillac only sold the ATS Coupe.) The goal for Cadillac was to reposition their smallest vehicle to fight against smaller competitors such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA.
Rear Wheel Drive CT4 is a driver’s car
The rear-wheel-drive CT4 is a driver’s car that compares well to the driving experiences of its German rivals, and while the base version isn’t all that quick and lacks some features, the rear-wheel-drive CT4 is a driver’s car and undercuts many of its rivals on price.
For 2021, the CT4 receives a raft of improvements, including available Super Cruise technology. On highways and interstates, the capability enables for hands-free, semi-autonomous driving. A 12-inch reconfigurable digital instrument cluster is also available, as well as a new Diamond Sky package that is mostly ornamental.
Starting with the Luxury and progressing to the Premium Luxury ($38,590 including destination fees), Sport ($39,690), and V-series ($45,890), there are four trim levels. On the first three model levels, the base engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 237 horsepower and an eight-speed automated transmission.
The CT4-V comes with a 325-horsepower 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. In a more conventional package, the V provides some of the performance mojo of previous V-series cars. The M340i, which bears a M badge but sits below the M3, has a similar setup. Cadillac’s blistering 472-horsepower CT4-V Blackwing will take aim at the M3 in 2022.
310 Horsepower Version
A 310-horsepower version of the 2.7-liter engine is a $3,900 option on the Premium Luxury level for drivers who desire some of the V’s performance in a more muted packaging. Both engines are linked to a ten-speed automatic transmission. The CT4-V is always fun to drive, but the ten-speed transmission has a hard time finding and holding the appropriate gear. All grades provide all-wheel drive as an option.
The 2.0-liter CT4 achieves class-average fuel efficiency, with rear-wheel drive models getting 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined, and all-wheel drive models returning 23, 32, and 26, respectively. The 2.7-liter models do slightly worse than average, losing 2-3 mpg in every category. The 2.7-liter all-wheel-drive variants get 24 mpg combined, while the CT4-V gets 23.
The CT4 rides on GM’s stiff Alpha platform design, which is one of the company’s best recent chassis tuning and performance initiatives. It has great dynamics in a segment with a lot of good performers. Despite its aggressive inclinations, the CT4 provides a Cadillac-quality ride, especially on broken or uneven terrain. Potholes and bumps are easily absorbed, and the car remains plated and confident throughout.
The cabin of the CT4 is simple and clean, but it feels and looks upmarket. Upper trims include rich leathers, ambient lighting, and memory functions for the seats and mirrors, while lower trims get leatherette and less materials. Passengers are always conscious of the car’s close quarters, regardless of configuration. Although the CT4 is five inches longer than the previous ATS, the interior is not.
The CT4 compares favourably to smaller cars like the BMW M235i Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA on the inside, although it’s slightly larger on the outside than a 3 Series.
The cabin is cramped, and while the front seats are pleasant, tall adults will have difficulty locating a suitable seat. The back seat is similarly cramped in terms of height and legroom. Parents using car seats will have a difficult time loading and unloading their children, and there may not be enough room in the front for large rear-facing seats with adults. The trunk’s 10.7 cubic feet ranks among the lowest in its class.
Cadillac’s infotainment system
Cadillac’s infotainment system has evolved to the point where it’s practically on par with the best in the business. An easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen display is standard, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigation and wireless phone charging are also available, but only as part of larger bundles costing up to $2,200.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have yet to crash test the CT4. A good security suite is available, but it comes at a cost, which is unfortunate given that some non-premium manufacturers include these features as standard.
Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition is standard on all CT4s, while other features as as lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring cost up to $1,800 and are not available on the lowest Luxury grade. Super Cruise is only available on the CT4-V and costs $3,100 more.
Generations of Cadillac CT4
For 2020, Cadillac unveiled the CT4. The CT4’s nomenclature is new, but it’s built on the Cadillac ATS from 2013 through 2019 and sits on an upgraded version of that car’s rear-wheel-drive architecture. The ATS was offered as a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan, whereas the CT4 is only available as a sedan.
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