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Mailbag: Why Doesn’t The Cadillac CT5 Offer Heated Rear Seats?

GM Authority recently received a message from a reader complaining that the Cadillac CT5 doesn’t offer heated rear seats. All in all, we can’t help but agree – this certainly seems like a bit of an oversight on the part of GM. Let’s dive into the specifics to examine exactly what’s going on here.

The Cadillac CT5 doesn't offer heated rear seats.

“I cannot understand why heated rear outboard seats are not available on any model of the CT5,” writes GM Authority reader Mark. “$100,000 Blackwing? Nope! Sorry!”

“You’re building Cadillacs not Chevettes,” Mark continues. “The CT5 is a sedan – many times it’s a family sedan. It’s important to me to provide my passengers with both comfort and convenience features that are standard features in many of the other vehicles produced by General Motors. This is why I haven’t traded in my 2017 CT6 for the CT5-V that I have had my eye on for years.”

While some folks might think Mark is overreacting a bit, we can’t help but agree with him. After all, every Cadillac crossover and SUV on the market today already offers heated second row seats, while neither of the Caddy sedans (CT4, CT5) offers the feature.

For example, the Cold Weather Package (RPO code Y19) is available on every trim of the XT4, and includes heated rear outboard seats (RPO code KA6). In the XT5, heated second-row outboard seats can be bundled with ventilated front seats, an in-vehicle air ionizer, and tri-zone automatic climate control. Heated second-row seats are also standard on the XT6 Premium Luxury and Sport, not to mention every trim level of the Escalade. Finally, heated rear seats are standard on the Lyriq Luxury and Sport trim levels.

Meanwhile, examining the various trim levels of the CT5 (as well as CT4) reveals that even the high-end models lack this feature​​. The absence of heated rear seats is a clear contrast to the extensive comfort and convenience features available in Caddy’s SUVs and crossovers.

Is Mark overreacting here, or is the lack of heated rear seats in Caddy’s sedan models a clear oversight on the part of GM? Let us know your opinion by sharing it in the comments below, and as always, make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac CT5 news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. CT5 is a great vehicle, but the absence of an Automatic trunk and a second-row heated seat is a really serious deal breaker…

    Reply
    1. There is an automatic trunk, you have to buy that option. It’s a great car but the base models are not Luxury as the name says. Mine came with a manual mirror. My 2010 and 2015 Chevy’s even has auto-dim mirrors. To me that’s ridiculous. As for heated rear seat, wtf cares about the passengers lol

      Reply
      1. It is only auto open.

        Reply
  2. I don’t think there is logical reason why they are not an option, other than a logistical management issue.

    Reply
  3. I think my CT5 was available as an option for heated and cooled rear seats. I opted out. As well as the stupid cruise, moon roof, and AWD.

    Needless options that I will never use. I haven’t in 40 years of driving.

    Reply
  4. I know why we used them up on the electric vehicles

    Reply
  5. Over reaction. Heated rear seats aren’t necessary, that is why you have a heater, plus it just.adds additional costs to the price

    Reply
    1. A luxury car buyer is perfectly fine with paying the additional cost.

      Reply
  6. Easy, Do Duck Dong..
    The Blackwing is basically a luxury race car.
    Not a family hauler.
    If you want to haul your kids around, better buy the CTS or an SUV of some sort.
    Besides, how many young families are driving this BAD BOY!!!

    Reply
    1. Or get a German competitor. They give you rear heated seats.

      Reply
  7. Good question since my 2019 Chevy Blazer RS not only has heated seats but they recline also. Very comfy back there on road trips. Even though I live in Florida now, the heated seats are great for my back.

    Reply
  8. There’s a very clear lack of attention to detail in the CT4/CT5 interiors. The lack of rear heated seats is just one example of that.

    Reply
  9. The Germans don’t have a sedan that can touch this Caddy!
    Buy American..

    Reply
  10. I agree IMO no option for rear seat heating can be a deal breaker. I have had if for many years on other vehicles and my family and friends always use it.

    On another note., I am about to get a Lyric or Equinox after a long wait.
    Last week I test drove both and realized there is no overhead
    assist handle available. I have had this on just about all my 30+ vehicles. This was a deal breaker and I will not get my long awaited ride.

    Reply
    1. How often do you have people in the rear seats? I’ve had cars with rear heated seats for last 5 years and never once had someone use them.

      Reply
  11. I think it’s a mistake. For the record, I just bought a 2024 Lyric Sport level 2, and it does not have heated rear seats. It is not standard!

    Reply
  12. Clearly they aren’t interested in competing. The ct5 is already a “tweener” not lining up with either a 3 series nor a 5. It’s more than an audi a4 but lesser than an a6. A bit nicer than a c -class but can’t hold a candle to the E’class. Caddy pretty much wants to be their own thing without regard to how they might get compared. They get away with murder in some areas where the car is clearly more Chevrolet than German. But they also occupy a uniquely low price point for a rwd platform sedan. Genesis would be the most direct comparison, and it’s best we don’t look to close, as the Koreans have their poop in a group quite well.

    Anyway, the rear seat is relatively useless for adults so I don’t find the lack of heated cushions a big deal. They are great in my other cars and they get used a ton, but the ct5 seldom sees a passenger in the rear.
    I’d prefer caddy give us a sedan large enough to warrant worrying about a heated rear seat rather than have them try to heat the ct5.

    Reply
  13. When is GM going to bring back the CT 6?

    Reply
  14. It should have heated rear outboard seats and second row climate controls. I find it maddening as well. The 3rd gen CTS on the same platform had both of those features. I can’t imagine why Cadillac didn’t make those features available.

    Reply
  15. My ’22 CT5-V (nonBW) should have heated rear seats (my ’95 Audi S6 does). Also, give up some of that rear legroom in the CT5-V for a larger trunk!

    Reply
  16. Cadillac is soooooo out of touch with their sedans. Shi@@y little sun roof, no heated rear seats, no wood in the dash. Ugh, I’m sorry to say….I’m considering OTHERthan the Big Two…..Salantis has given up on CJDR.

    Reply
  17. Like all other auto critics, when they offer it with a diesel engine and manual I will buy one.

    Reply
  18. WHEN CADILLAC DROPPED THE CT6 AND NEVER CAME OUT WITH THE CT8, I CONSIDER CADILLAC OUT OF BUSINESS, NOW JUST A BUNCH OF CHEVROLET’S WITH CADILLAC EMBLEMS. WAIT UNTIL THEY START THE MONTHLY PROGRAM COSTS TO USE YOUR ACCESSORIES, THAT WILL BE ITS FINAL DEATH.

    Reply
  19. Heated seats could be added by the dealer as I saw it done years ago on a Chrysler 300! They just undid the seat upholstery from underneath and slid the pad in. The wiring isn’t that difficult either.

    Reply
  20. I like the CT5 a lot, but never really considered it for the price of the CT5 Sport, I thought it was a little over priced. I did want a CT6 but they stopped making it. It should have rear heated seats to compete..I brought a VW Arteon, that has heated seats, massage features, adjustable dampers and faster. Just like VW, Cadillac never really put dollars behind certain vehicles eg CT6 CT4 and CT5 , for VW the Arteon. You gotta build up the value in these cars if you wanna go against BMW,MB, Audi and Lexus. They haven’t done a good in that area.

    Reply
  21. The truth of the matter is one nothing posted here gets read by anyone that cares to fix the problems at GM. This is because the leaders sold their souls to the Federal government with this useless EV nonsense. They won’t make a course correction until they are back in bankruptcy it’s so sad.

    Reply
  22. To be honest, I don’t care if the rear passengers have heated seat. I guess it’s a cool option but I don’t sit in the back and I didn’t have heated seats at all ever until I bought a CT5 in 2023. People like to whine about everything. TBH, having a manual dim rear view mirror in a supposed luxury car is a total sin. My 2010 Chevy Malibu and my 2015 Chevy Impala had Auto-dim Mirrors as did my 2003 Nissan Maxima. WHy do Manual dim mirrors even still exist and why would Cadillac even have them in their car. Especially one in the 45 – 50k range which maybe low end for a luxury car but still alot more than my 22k Chevy Malibu that had it.

    Reply
  23. It isn’t just a lack of heated seats. The CT5 is one giant shell game. Go configure one on Cadillac’s website. The forced option bundling is out of control. The CT4 is the same to a lesser extent.

    Reply
  24. Meh, nobody’s ever going to sit back there, so it’s a non-issue to me, but also the Chevy Malibu has heated rear seats so get with the program Cadillac. What I would like is a spare tire and jack, and also not to be forced to have Super Cruise which I’ll never use.

    Reply
  25. I bought a 2021 XT4 in February 2024. I really like the styling, but as for it being a “Luxury” brand, I am very disappointed. I have a 2012 BMW 135I and it feels more like a luxury car than my newer Cadillac.

    Reply
  26. 1. EVs
    2. Save production cost
    3. They lost their luxury name on the sedans

    Reply
  27. If you live in SoCal not deal breaker but back east or up north yea I can see . Can’t have mad wife or kid

    Reply
  28. The CT5 should also be available with a power rear window shade and Side shades. The previous CTS had them as well as climate control controls for the rear.

    Reply
  29. The problem extends to the crossovers. Why not have third row ventilated seats? If Hyundai and Kia offers them, why not on the crossovers? Extra cost? Exclusivity to Escalade? I’m not on the Hyundai Kia Hype train as I don’t find them great ride wise. But their options certainly impresses

    Reply
  30. I believe that the CT5 was “decontented” from the CTS to lower the price significantly. I had a 2018 CTS Premium Luxury that stickered at around $62k ( I didnt pay that for it) and I traded that car in on a 2023 CT5 Premiun Luxury V6 with most options and it stickered at $57k. That’s a big differerence that had to be paid for somehow. It really wasnt until I had the car for awhile that I noticed all the extras my 2018 had the 2023 doesn’t and doesn’t even offer. Some things I’ve noticed are, no heated rear heated seats, no rear seat climate control, no “steering” headlights, no rear window or rear side window shades, no washer for rear view mirror camera, and no real wood trim ( I was fooled by the fake wood in the CT5 for awhile). Also the leather on the seats seems cheaper and the carpet is so cheap it’s embarassing.
    With that said I do like my CT5, The controls are intuitive and attractive, the technology and safety systems are vast but unobtrusive and it handles impeccably, the twin turbocharged V6 is very fast. I find the car to be a perfect size, not too big or small.

    Reply
  31. I purchased a brand new chevrolet, not knowing it was delivered from the factory with a defective audio system, and after 63 days of vehicle being in service repair at the dealer GM has not been able to repair the defect or the audio system. No comment from GM TAC except they have no fix. WHY DOESN’T GM STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS? WHY DOESN’T GM SHOW GOODWILL TOWARD THEIR CUSTOMERS? 63 days and I do not have my car.

    Reply
  32. when is GM going to start producing more Blackwing’s. Dealers claim they are hard to get.

    Reply

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