General Motors initially said the order books for the 2020 Cadillac CT5 would open this fall. Winter has arrived and the New Year is quickly approaching, but the Cadillac CT5 still hasn’t launched in full capacity, with only a limited quantity of cars available at dealerships.
As Cadillac spokesperson Tara Kuhnen told our sister site, Cadillac Society, GM expected a limited quantity of Cadillac CT5 sedans to be on dealership lots by late December, with more trim levels and model variants expected to arrive throughout the first quarter of next year.
Cadillac Society also identified a number of customer-ordered Cadillac CT5s that were marked as being “in transit.” This means the car is on order from the dealer and could be at various stages of the shipping process, so it’s hard to say when these cars may be delivered. The Cadillac CT6-V was marked as being in transit for over a month when it was on its way to customers, though this was due to emissions certifications delays.
The launch of the CT5 was likely delayed due to the UAW strike, which paused production at all of General Motors’ U.S. production plants for 40 days. The CT5 is built at GM’s Lansing Grand River plant alongside the smaller Cadillac CT4 and the Chevrolet Camaro.
The Cadillac CT5 has been rolling off the production at Cadillac’s Jinqiao plant in Shanghai for the past few weeks, with sales beginning late last month. We imagine the Chinese and American launches were scheduled to happen closer together prior to the UAW strike.
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 starts at $37,890 in the U.S. for the entry-level Luxury model, with the Premium Luxury starting at $41,690 and the Sport starting from $42,690.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac CT5 news, Cadillac news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
This report was written in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
I drove a Premium Luxury 350T model CT5.
It’s honestly an awesome car in every way except the engine. The 2.0L turbo feels “peaky” like turbo engines from 20 years ago. Nothing really happens when you push it, then a second or two later it rockets forward.
Ride and handling were awesome. Interior is cool as hell with an excellent infotainment system and good quality materials. Styling looks great up close. The $51,000 sticker was a decent MSRP considering the competition. Plenty of room for my frame – and I sometimes feel slightly cramped in a BMW 3 series. The CT5 is much closer to a 5 series sized car. It’s a direct CTS replacement from a size perspective.
I would definitely recommend one, but it may be worth waiting for the 3.0L model to see if it’s a good value. I suspect that will be a legit performance vehicle.
How do you feel the CT5 2.0 performs compared to the 2.0 we have had in ATS/CTS?
Also consider the engine isn’t broken in and probably had regular gas in it.
Unfortunately I never drove the previous generation 2.0L Cadillac.
The power delivery seems to be slightly better the 2.0L turbo engine in the T5 Volvo products – but the Cadillac also seems more “peaky” if that makes sense.
It’s a perfectly adequate engine for most buyers and seems to provide above-average acceleration. It just won’t be lighting up the track. My preference for a base engine would be to use a the NA 3.6L V6 instead over this 2.0L I-4.
member12, thanks for the quick review. How did you like the infotainment center? How does it compare to CUE?
I don’t like the exterior design of the rear section of the CT5, it’s too stubby looking and makes the car’s proportions look odd. But I hope it sells well because I would hate for Cadillac to stop producing sedans. If the CT4 and CT5 fail, they will be the last sedans the division produces, giving Cadillac an all CUV and SUV portfolio.
I’m sure Trifecta tuning will wake this new 2.0t up. Its just a matter of time.
It’s not that the 2.0L is slow. It’s perfectly fine for 90% of buyers. It could use another 10-15 horsepower, but it otherwise compares well to the Volvo, Audi, and BMW base engines.
I just think the 3.0L model is going to be hard to resist.
All my local dealers have some CT5 “In Transit”.
They are mostly Prem Lux and Sport, with MSRP mostly $49-55K.
They have a couple Lux at near base MSRP.
If adding a lot of packages, CT5 can get into $50k+, but Apples to Apples with same CTS content, CT5 is
in the $5-7,000 lower.
I don’t know the Lease Residual yet, but doing the Build + Price, the payment seems high, as if the residual it
uses isn’t very good, as this point. I saw this happen when ATS first came out.
The 3.0TT is $3500 more, but a leaser pays about half that.
The new no cost Summit White looks good in Cadillac ad photos.
My dealer said Cadillac learned its lesson on residuals with XT4 launch. Expects CT5 to lease out well.
“””My dealer said Cadillac learned its lesson on residuals with XT4 launch. Expects CT5 to lease out well.”””
Does that mean XT4 started with a poor/low residual?
I drove a CT5 2.0 Sport AWD this weekend. SO IMPRESSED!. Chassis and handling were spot on. Exterior is super taut and sexy. Interior looks modern (love the infotainment screen) and higher quality than CT6.
It just needs a 3.0 engine. 2.0 sounds great but is under powered.
Overall…an amazing car that feels 10 years newer than CTS and CT6.
Can you compare the cornering to ATS or CTS?
How does the new 2.0 perform compared to the 2.0 in the ATS/CTS?
My dealers don’t have any yet, they are all in transit.
Cadillac web Check Inventory is working now. One bug is that it shows all as RWD.
If you look at the details, most are AWD. It doesn’t have a 3.0 in the select engine filter.
I wonder if summit white looks good compared to Crystal White, which I have in a ATS?
The handling is every bit as tight.. if not tighter than my CTS, particularly in Sport mode.
Handled very well on my test drive, but that didn’t involve putting it on the track. I imagine that a rear drive model (I drove an all wheel drive model) with the 2.0L Turbo engine would feel even more “toss-able”. All of the CT5’s in stock within 100 miles of me are all wheel drive though.
Maybe another poster more familiar with the ATS/CTS farther south can test drive a rear drive sport model CT5 350T to confirm.
Is Adaptive Cruise worth the extra option packages Cadillac packages it with? If the adaptive cruise has the start/stop functionality (like Acura), it could potentially make commuting much less stressful and would be worth the price. That would be a more practical option than the larger engine for me.
I feel like the need for winter tires kind of makes the larger wheels on the sport package unwise for me, so I’m leaning towards a Premium Luxury 350T AWD with the standard 18″ wheels.
I did find a bright red Sport model on the internet that looks awesome though. I wish I lived south of I-70 – I’d definitely go with a rear drive sport model with those summer tires.
I think you can get all season tires on the Sport.
I have Adaptive Cruise and like it a lot. The problem is that in the CT5 it is bundled with the $1,950 “Driver Assist and Advanced Security” package that also includes a number of things that I do not consider particularly essential: Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Reverse Automatic Braking,Automatic Seat Belt Tightening, Locking Steering Column, Door Lock and Latch Shield, Locking Fuel Door, Locking Wheel Lugs, Self-powered Theft-deterrent Alarm System, Vehicle Inclination Sensor, and Vehicle Interior Movement Sensor. I think that the $1,300 “Driver Awareness Plus” package is much more useful — 8″ diagonal color reconfigurable Driver Information Center display, Head-Up Display, Following Distance Indicator,Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and IntelliBeam — and it is a shame that it doesn’t include Adaptive Cruise.
BTW…likes it so much I placed an order for CT5 V in Velocity Red.
Did dealer give any indication when your CT5-V order would be available? I don’t think the 3.0TT is in production yet.
Dealer suspected my CT5 V would come in by March 1 if not sooner
Hey Dutch, did your dealer have any idea when the more potent CT5-V will be revealed? Any insider info? I’m so damn tired of waiting…
Q2
Awesome man, thank you!
My local dealer sold a Sport model and a Premium Luxury model already.
Not sure about the V. I definitely want to drive one.
UGH. The premium luxury 350T model I drove is apparently sold already. So I think they are out of CT5’s for a while.
I want to drive another 350T with a different drive mode before I resign myself to a 550T model.
Anyone know about the availability of Super Cruise? Could that be tacked on to any trim or is this only going in the Premium Luxury 550T models? I have a suspicion that Super Cruise won’t be out until the summer or fall of 2020 at the earliest.
I have not seen Super Cruise in the Order Guide.
My dealer GM (also my nephew) said Super Cruise on CT5 will probably arrive in mid-late Q2
I didn’t think the drive mode would change the suspension, except in the V with MRC.
I have been thinking the Sport mode in CT5 will change shifting and steering feel,
like previous ATS/CTS without MRC.
All season tires are are no cost option on Sport and V.
Preium Lux and Sport look like 2 completely different cars on the lot. Lux and bad ass (sport with back tims)
Thanks very much Dutch for sharing your insightful observations, and congrats on your V purchase. The V is a really nice combination of luxury and a good daily driver level of performance. About the look of the two trim levels, while I like the differentiation in appearance between Premium Luxury and Sport, what I can’t quite get a handle on is that the Luxury version has an available 3.0TT V6, while the “bad ass” Sport version offers only the standard 2.0T 4 cylinder. That makes the Sport mostly an appearance package plus Brembos and paddle shifters. It just seems to me that it would have made more sense to offer the 3.0 as an option in both trims, and then further differentiate the V-Series with a more powerful engine. I get that there will be a Blackwing V, but it appears that everything offered in the “regular” V — quad exhaust, performance suspension and traction management, and MRC — could have just been an optional performance package on the Sport so that it would have some performance chops to justify its Sport designation. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to finding a CT5 to test drive regardless of the trim.
CT5 front fascia is far and away the best interpretation of the Escala face. Not sure it isn’t even more interesting than Escala.
I think I might get a Premium Luxury model…..but I want to wait for winter to be done. It bothers me to drive a brand new car on salt covered roads.
I want to try a 2.0T again with the sport drive mode. It never occurred to me to try to change the mode on my test drive. I also want to drive a 3.0T model before I decide.
CT5 has quality not seen in other Cadillac sedans… i.e. felt-lined map pockets, custom chimes (not GM standard bong) and recessed door panel lighting.
Props GM.
2019 ct6 looks much better then the ct5… I mean ct5 looks cheap.
Not in the interior.. CT5 looks far richer than CT5. As for exterior, my late teens/early 20s sons (both total car guys) said the CT6 looks like an old man’s car while the CT5 is something their generation would want. They called it a “sexy beast”
I’m sure there are pairs and pairs of luxury-buying customers nationwide waiting and wondering when this….what is it? Oh you mean Cadillac still makes cars?…..will arrive to dealers.
Well at least 2-3 posters just in this one thread took it upon themselves to locate and drive one despite so few dealers even having a CT5 yet. One poster already placed an order for a red V model.
So I’d say that there is interest in the model.
Sorry to take air out of your negative vibe.
Yep, this CT5 should have just started with the 2.7T – 10 speed, and done !
The 2.0T is probably ” Good Enough ” for some people, but why does GM load up the dealerships with the 2.0T.
Why, why, why, Can’t GM get it in the US ?
Look at this mistake did to the CT6 !!!
Look at the 2.0T in the XT4 !!!
Cadillac, most US Cadillac buyers do NOT want a 2.0T dud GM average blah ” Good Enough ” vehicle.
But once again, we will just sit back and watch you complain the sales numbers are to low to keep the vehicle, then stock it with the 2.7T to late, then cancel it yet again.
Mark Reuss, Where are you are ” for the win ” with this vehicle ?
Put this 2.0T in the Tahoe standard and send them to the dealer, then put the 2.7T in these ” for the win ” standard,
See who wins!
In my opinion.
The 350T model happens to be the first ones coming out. The car is only barely arriving at some of the higher volume dealerships now.
If you don’t like the 350T, wait for the 550T.
I’d have preferred the 3.6L V6 be the base CT5 engine, but the 2.0L Turbo is adequate for this purpose and likely more fuel efficient and more refined than the old 3.6L V6.
Yeah I know, I stopped in at the dealer over a week ago. I bet they have one now, as they said it was in transit.
But as always, with Cadillac, you are correct, they are the 2.0T ones.
But I do want to drive one, so I can give an honest opinion.
But I will never own another Cadillac with a 2.0T, no matter what trifecta will be able to do long term.
I just feel they should have made the standard base a 2.7T, just to offer a step up from the competition, you know, regain some traction in the marketplace.
You know as if GM was ” in it to win ”
But you know, its just my opinion.
After a loyal Cadillac owner for over 35 years since I got my license in 78. I had a lot of good ones but the last 2 were deemed NYS LEMONS. Broke down over 26 times. Unheard of but the last was a full refund. I love the look of these new ones. But the reliability issue is stuck in my head. The same company makes the Vette.
120 years and they still can’t get it right. c,mon man
It’s really hard to believe that Cadillac is a part of The company that has produced a vehicle such as the new corvette.
They took everything out of the CT’S and ATS and put nothing into this CT5
This introduction will be short lived like all these made after 5 pm on Friday cars
Save yourself some money and get an orange Altima. No one could tell the difference apart from the side profile. The Cadillac design manager should be fired for allowing the 3 quarter panel window look. Disgusting.
A front drive “rent-a-Nissan” looks nothing like any past or present alpha chassis vehicles from any angle.
In person, the faux 3rd window is hardly noticed. The CT5 is a well proportioned car that looks so much better in person than in photos. All the Accord window drama in the spring seems silly.
Is there any chance the 2.7 will be offered?.
While there is a perf gap from 2.0 to 3.0TT, there isn’t a engine between them, at least in 2020.
The 2.7 is the upgrade engine in the CT4.
@Dutch
Lol you def have not looked inside a new ct6… the ct5 is half the cost.. and it looks it on both exterior and interior… I mean really they put the nav unit on a tablet and stuck it in the middle of the dash… this isnt Toyota.
What teenager can afford a cadillac really….
Low 30s and can afford one.
I think your confusing the interior with an xts. That one does looked dated.
Why would you order a ct5v… wont ever compare to a cts v or ct6 v unless they put in a v8. They should just call it ct5 sport.
@Sleip
… Not the case. For two years i debated buying a CT6 Sport or Platinum. I love the car, but every time I sat in one I said, “can’t do it”. The interiors are uninspired and dull. Cheap plastics below the beltline, choice of somber black or old person beige, shiny woodgrain, and Chevy switchgear. As a Volvo XC90 Inscription owner, the interior was a let down… not special.
The CT5 is different. Material quality may be no more expensive than CT6 but the interior feels altogether different. It’s packaged far better than CT6. There are many choices for CT5 interior color, carbon fiber is artfully fitted (not a flat slab above the glovebox as on CT6), the audible tones are unique to the car, the map pockets are nicely lined in felt (feel one in a CT6… and keep the Band Aids nearby)
CT6 interior feels circa 2015; CT5 interior feels fresh and modern.
I ordered a CT5 V because it’s exactly the blend of sportiness and daily lux that I wanted. I admired the CTS V and ATS V but (living in Chicago winters ) would never own a 640 HP RWD vehicle. Nor was I prepared to spend $80K.
CT5 V expected to hit 0-60 in 4.5 – 4.7 seconds. PERFECT! I have no intentions of taking it to a track. Just wanted an alternate to say S4 or 340M. Agree it should have been called a V-Sport but it remains a car that suits me better than the “pure”Vs. CT5 V is fast, great looking, youthful and affordable. Sold!
Oh and I never siggested that 20 somethings would buy this car, but when a bunch of young men describe a Cadillac as “so sexy, gorgeous and hot”, Cadillac shows it can attract a future generation of buyers.
4.5-4.7 is nothing to sneeze at. Seems the 0-60 times keep getting so much better across the board.
Read the 340M did 3.8?!? That car “only” has 369hp and 382lb-ft
The interior of the ct5 is a cheaper version of the interior of the ct6….
Like go look again its same layout but actually much cheaper….the nav is now a tablet how is that sexy?
They moved the seat controls off the door and put them back on the seats and they look cheap.
And if your waiting to buy a ct6 for 2 plus years
.. have you actually seen a ct6 2019 they did redesign it after 2018 you know.
You ct6 is AWD and has a v8 option. The sound is unreal.
Thats great that they have more interior color options for the ct5. But dosent cover up that a tablet is stuck unto.
I have not seen the 2019 ct6 platinum so cant comment the materials but the ct6v is a beaty in and out.
@Sleip
Yep… i drove a 2019 CT6 Sport (3.0TT )and a 2020 CT5 back to back last weekend.
I elected to order the CT5 V right after.
Personal taste but CT5 is just a more modern, youthful and engaging vehicle for me.
CT6 V8s are priced around $85K…. my loaded CT5 V will be in the high 50s.
To each his own.
Fair enough. Guess the 3.0 tt in the bigger body dosent make up for the smaller ct5.
Cant say I test drove those, so you win lol.