Cadillac CTS vs Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

Every brand needs to undergo occasional makeovers to keep its product portfolio relevant. Brands like Lexus and Jaguar have been doing this the last 5 to 10 years, but the brand that took it upon itself to reinvent its image, and the car that started it all, was the CTS. It arrived in 2002 and was the first truly modern Cadillac. Unlike its big land-barge predecessors, the CTS was taut and featured angular styling and forward-looking engines and technology.

Each successive generation of the CTS has seen an evolution of the angles, the powertrains, and the tech, culminating with this car: the 2016 Cadillac CTS. The third generation of the CTS is the largest, most refined, and most high-tech version of the car to date. The third generation of the CTS debuted for the 2015 model year, and is largely carried over to 2016, save for a few key updates.

In the modern car market, you can seemingly have it all. An efficient SUV that also corners like a sports car? Got it. A luxury pickup with massaging seats and tons of towing capacity? Done. But this cake-and-eat-it-too philosophy may have started with the performance-luxury sedan. A low-slung saloon that can carry five passengers but also negotiate sharp corners and deliver blistering acceleration. This concept may have started with brands like BMW, but others have gotten in on the fun, and the 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is proof that General Motors understood the assignment.

The Blackwing name is now the highest performance tier for Cadillac, and that’s what the brand does best. Though its luxury credentials are lacking compared to segment-defining cars like the BMW M3, the handling and acceleration exhibited by the CT4-V Blackwing outweigh any shortcomings. But is the trade-off the right mix for you? Read on to find out.