The Cadillac CT5 debuted in 2020 as a replacement to the outgoing CTS. Even though this midsize sedan is just six years old, it's likely that 2026 will be its last model year—at least as a gasoline vehicle. It competes with the BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Audi A4, and the Genesis G70. The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is available in two trim levels: Premium Luxury and Sport.
2026 Cadillac CT5 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Cadillac CT5
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Cadillac CT5
Because the Cadillac CT5 got a significant refresh in 2025 that included a revised front fascia, more standard features, increased tech, and the 33-inch color touchscreen display, the latest model is essentially a carryover. The only change for 2026 is the addition of three new paint colors: Vibrant White Tricoat, Coastal Blue Metallic, and Cyber Yellow Metallic.
Design
The CT5 has a bold front-end with vertical daytime running lights and a fastback profile. While the Premium Luxury trim has bright chrome accents, the Sport model is differentiated by a black mesh grille and dark chrome accents. There are no appearance packages, but the CT5 does offer bronze, red, and blue wheel caps. Standard wheels are 18 inches, but 19- and 20-inch wheels are available in various finishes.
Powertrain
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 comes standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD), and all-wheel drive (AWD) is available on both trims. The primary engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder unit that delivers 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque and is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. A 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is available with the Premium Luxury trim, and delivers 335 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. It also has a 10-speed automatic transmission. As for fuel economy, the RWD model with the four-cylinder engine gets 23 mpg city and 32 highway, while the AWD model with this engine gets 21 city and 30 highway. Looking at the V6 RWD and AWD models, you’ll see 21 city/30 highway and 19/28, respectively. The CT5 requires premium fuel with either powertrain.
Interior
The CT5 adopts the modern Cadillac interior, with the large curved display that sweeps from gauge cluster to infotainment screen, but it still has buttons and dials for most HVAC and audio functions. The CT5 seats five passengers, but cargo space is a bit skimpy, at 11.9 cubic feet. Leather seats are standard, and both trims offer several light and dark color options. A dual-pane “UltraView” power sunroof is available.
Technology
With the 2025 refresh, the Cadillac CT5 got the 33-inch LED display, which includes Google Built-in and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Other standard tech features on the 2026 CT5 include wireless phone charging, Super Cruise hands-free highway driving hardware (a subscription is required after the trial period), a premium 15-speaker AKG surround sound system, and ambient lighting. Available tech includes a rear camera mirror, a head-up display, adaptive forward lighting headlamps, illuminated sill plates, and a hands-free deck lid.
Safety
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 gets all the standard safety features you’d expect for a modern luxury sedan, including enhanced automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree camera angles, intersection automatic emergency braking, GM's Teen Driver mode, automatic reverse braking, traffic-sign recognition, parking sensors, and advanced automatic parking assist. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn’t crashed tested the CT5 at the time of writing, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it an overall five-star safety rating.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is already available at dealers. At the time of writing, Cadillac listed the base price for the RWD Premium Luxury trim at $50,095, and the Sport trim started at $51,095. If you wanted the V6 option with the Premium Luxury trim, that started at $53,595. AWD carried a $2,000 premium on all models.
