Cadillac learned from the mistakes of the ATS and CTS by equipping the 2020 CT4 with plenty of standard features at an impressive starting price of $33,990. That’s taking a page from the Genesis playbook. No fool, Cadillac takes a separate page from the Germans by offering options and packages that can easily total more than $50,000 in the top CT4-V.
What is luxury if not the freedom to spend money where you want, how you want? The CT4 is a good value with plenty of standard features and an easy-to-use 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that combine to bump it to a 7 out of 10 for features on our scale.
Yet some of the CT4’s packages and options might make the customer feel like a fool.
Available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, or V-Series, the CT4 starts off fairly well-finished, with synthetic leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, an 8-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, keyless entry and starting, and remote starting. On the outside, it has 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights and taillights.
Yet, as pointed out in the Safety section, basic safety features such as automatic emergency braking can’t even be optioned on the base Luxury trim. That alone compels us to turn our heads and consider leaving the showroom, virtually or otherwise.
But the 310-hp 2.7-liter turbo-4 with the 10-speed available on the Premium Luxury compels us to think twice. It’s not available on the Sport, and is only a $2,500 upgrade over the 2.0-liter turbo-4 to start at $38,490. That combo is our recommended pick.
Standard equipment on Premium Luxury includes leather upholstery, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Bizarrely, there is a gap indicator that appears on the instrument cluster, as well as a steering wheel button to activate it. That is the exact same gap indicator GM puts on vehicles with adaptive cruise control, which is extra. Cadillac says it’s to set the sensitivity for the forward-collision alert warning. Confusion comes free.
The top of the 2020 CT4 lineup is the CT4-V for $45,490. It doesn’t come standard with heated seats, either, unless you opt up for all-wheel drive, then Caddy throws in heated seats and a heated steering wheel.
Otherwise the upgrades are performance-based, with more thickly bolstered sport seats with 18-way power adjustments, a thicker steering wheel, 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires, a rear spoiler, Brembo front brakes, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, launch control, and GM’s Magnetic Ride Control adaptive and adjustable suspension.
Pick any color other than black or white, add a package, and the 2020 CT4-V eclipses $50,000. The CT4 has a 4-year/50,000-mile comprehensive warranty with a complimentary first scheduled maintenance.
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