The Cadillac CT6 debuted at the 2015 New York International Auto Show as a 2016 model year vehicle. The sedan continued with very little changes for the 2017 and 2018 model years, but General Motors decided it would be best to update the sedan’s looks for 2019 and introduced an updated version that better aligned with the rest of the Cadillac portfolio from a design standpoint.
With the Cadillac CT6 set to go out of production this year, there’s no better time to look back on the sedan and compare the pre-facelift 2016-2018 model with the current 2019-2020 model.
Pre-Facelift CT6 Model Years:
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
Facelifted CT6 Model Years:
- 2019
- 2020
The biggest difference between the 2016-2018 Cadillac CT6 and the 2019-2020 model is the front fascia and grille. Compared to the pre-facelift model, the 2019-2020 model has slimmer and more narrow headlights and a larger, more prominent front grille. The grille on the 2016-2018 model also features bright horizontal elements, whereas the 2019-2020 has a mesh-style grille. The lower grille portion on the pre-facelift model, meanwhile, is divided into three sections and swoops upward in the center, whereas the lower grille on the post-facelift version has a more uniform shape. We can’t forget the Cadillac CT6-V, either, which was introduced for the 2019 model year and features a unique V-Series mesh grille insert.
With the same roofline and sheetmetal, the vehicles are very similar when viewed from the side. The pre-facelift Cadillac CT6 came equipped with polished window trim no matter the trim level, which GM referred to as ‘Daylight Opening’, or DLO. By comparison, the post-facelift model could be equipped with polished or black window surrounds depending on the trim chosen. The black trim was only offered on the limited-run Cadillac CT6-V and the CT6 Sport, however, the latter of which was discontinued for the 2020 model year.
The pre-facelift model offered wheels ranging in size from 18-inches to 20-inches. The wheel sizes for 2019-2020 models also ranged in size from 18- to 20 -inches, while the Cadillac CT6-V offers buyers the choice between three separate 20-inch wheel designs.
Out back, the pre-facelift Cadillac CT6 features vertically mounted taillamps that flank the trunk opening on either side. The trunk itself also features a tidy, simple design with a trapezoidal cutout for the license plate. By comparison, the post-facelift model has much more going on, featuring vertical taillamps with an additional horizontal segment jetting into the trunklid. A piece of chrome trim also underlines the horizontal taillight segment, spanning the width of the trunk and connecting the lights together. The lower bumper has also been slightly re-shaped and neatly integrates the vehicle’s redesigned quad-tip exhaust.
While these changes aren’t very obvious alone, put them together and you’re left with a much more up-to-date and eye-catching design. Unfortunately, the updated Cadillac CT6 won’t be a very common sight on U.S. roads, having lasted for only two full model years. The sedan will remain on sale in China for the near future, however, where these updated looks may help attract more buyers to the full-size sedan.
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This report was written in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
Cadillac’s CT6 was designed by Europeans using leading edge technology; but Americans are just too stupid to wrap their heads around a car capable of matching the performance of a V8 Lexus and powered by a 4-cyl engine which meant all the study groups were wrong as Americans are only willing to buy 3-ton cars with at least a V6 engine period as one has to wonder by General Motors CEO Mary Barra still has a job after this huge failure as Americans will never accept the CT6.
Ct6v sexiest sedan.. makes ct5 look cheap
CT6-V is great but it’s double the cost of a CT5, so CT5 will look cheap.
This car is beautiful but design tastes are subjective. Cadillac must represent something other than being a jack of all trades and master of none.
The brand cannot be almost as luxurious as Benz, nearly as dynamic as BMW, feature fit and finish close to as perfect as Audi or Lexus or be practically as safe as Volvo.
Cadillac must dominate a space and build a reputation around this distinction. FCA thought being Italian would be enough for Alfa but this too is a mediocre effort which will never do in such a costly segment.
Mark Ruess hinted that Cadillac was running out ok f chances. Meanwhile Genesis continues to grow sales and garner critical praise.
Maybe the Cadillac (& Buick) turnaround is as doomed as Opel?
Hands down the best Cadillac in 40 years but isn’t it pointless to talk about it now? The car is as dead as the Fiero which suffered a similar fate. They both got really close to greatness but then GM dropped the ax before major improvements for each even had a chance to bolster sales and pay dividends.
I recently watched a YouTube video test of the CT6 V Blackwing which is simply heartbreaking to see for all of us who wanted Cadillac to make a comeback and believed they could. Why oh why did this car have to die just when it finally got the heart transplant it so desperately needed from the outset.
Great Car,
Just got it right,
Then done !!
SAD
More like typical, GM.
This is the new GM. They make a wonderful vehicle, then they kill it. Or, they deliver a half-baked vehicle (Silverado/Sierra), then scramble to fix it. My family have been GM fans and loyal customers since the 50s, but the current leadership is making that very difficult to continue. They desperately need to clean house and bring back people who are passionate about cars and trucks. It needs people like Bob Lutz and Ed Welburn. I hope it’s not too late.
I sat in the new CT6, CT4, CT5 including the new XT6 and a bunch of other vehicles from Chevys, Ford, Hyundai, the Genesis brand to Rang Rovers and Lexus etc. at the SD international auto show yesterday.
And in my unbiased opinion, all the Cadillacs left me disappointed to say the least. There was nothing truly exciting or all that luxurious from the exterior to the interior of their cars. Their interiors are nice, but when compared to other brands, especially Lincoln, the Aviator and Continental blows the socks off Cadillac when it comes to interior styling, quality and design. The Caddy’s are cheap and cost cutted by comparison.
The CT6 was nice inside, but it’s the little details that Cadillac and GM tend to skip out on that I’ve noticed. Hard plastic in certain areas of the interior when in other makes they are wrapped in leather or padded vinyl. Soft suede like materials and velvet lining in door pockets in a Lexus and Genesis, you don’t get that in a Caddy CT6. Even the areas where your fingers touch interior the door handle, there’s like a felt or velvet like material on other luxury cars, but not in a Cadillac.
Especially when compared to Lexus, Mercedes and now even the Genesis brand which BTW impressed me the most out of all the luxury brands that was on display. Cadillac has falling way behind the competition when it comes to overall interior styling and quality. It’s fit n finish is also suspect when you start touch things, you are shocked for the kind of money you are spending, the quality just isn’t as nice as the competition. It’s not terrible, but it’s just not class leading.
All of GM vehicles had this sort of cheapness associated with them. Even compared to Hyundai now, all the Chevy products look average inside. The new Sonata and especially the Palisade and Kia Telluride had one of the nicest interiors I was able to sit inside for the price. The Palisade top trim interior was almost as nice as a Cadillac, but for half the price and honestly it felt better put together too. The Sonatas interiors is luxurious compared to the crappy Malibu.
GM wasn’t the only brand that had cheap feeling interiors, but Toyota and Honda did as well. The accord and Camry are overrated piles of plastic crap. VW vehicles too.
I did like the Blazer, now that thing is beautiful in person. A really cool crossover if you ask me.
I will say, the price that some of these vehicles are going for, I honestly think the body hardware like interior and exterior door handles, things like plastic seat switches, tailgate handles, bumpers and certain interior parts are so overly cheap and poorly constructed. So much cheap ass plastic in modern cars that I wonder how much these cars are honestly costing the manufacturers to make when the majority the exterior panels and body hardware is super thin sheet metal, with plastic handles and snap on construction. There’s no screws to speak of and when having to disassemble something you will easily break clips off.
What a waste.
The CT6 had so much potential. If only they gave it an interior worthy of the exterior facelift & on par with the competition.
This is the new GM. They make a wonderful vehicle, then they kill it. My family have been GM fans and loyal customers since the 50s, but the current leadership is making that very difficult to continue. They desperately need to clean house and bring back people who are passionate about cars and trucks. It needs people like Bob Lutz and Ed Welburn. I hope it’s not too late.
Awesome Car.
So, I had a 2018 CT6 Prem Luxury and traded it on a 2019 CT6 Sport (looks identical to the V, but with a 3.0TT). The design changes are accurate as described in the article, but there is something that wasn’t mentioned:
The entire front clip is different on the car. The front cap (grill, headlights and bumper) is different and the hood is also different. The hood is shaped differently and has a more pronounced power dome from inside the cockpit when looking out. The power dome is a different design – sleeker and not as wide as the 2016-2018. I also think that the fenders are different as well, to accommodate the new headlamps.
Along with the updated styling, shifter, suspension, 10 speed automatic and vehicle user interface, it honestly is not the same car. It’s absolutely a different experience driving the 2019 as opposed to the 2018. I think Cadillac was modest about communicating how different the 2019s are. It’s way more than skin deep. I LOVE this car and I hope Cadillac keeps it around because it deserves to live on for a long time.
Typical GM , just when they get it right they discontinue the vehicle . The latest refresh really made for a great looking car , a true flagship . I’ve heard that the car will still be produced in China and possibly exported to the U.S. .
But then when you open the door the interior suffers from parts bin trim and way to much hard plastic pieces . Cadillac will never compete with the likes of Mercedes Benz or others in that segment with that type of cost cutting .
😊😊😊