When I was a youth there were only a few channels you could watch in TV. If you didn’t like anything that was on, well too bad. Today there are literally hundreds of channels one can choose from and TV networks have been replaced by “platforms” which in my day were a type of shoes one wore to a disco (google it kids). You don’t watch TV as much as you “stream” while you “Netflix and Chill. Though, sadly, at my age “Netflix and Chill” means I’m streaming something while lying on the couch eating a bowl of ice cream.
The good thing of course is we can never run out of things to watch given the amount of programming available. The bad news is that sometimes something we might like can get lost among the crowd and quickly fade from view. This sort of thing happened years ago. I would find a TV show I actually liked but as soon as I got into it, the programming execs would look into their collective crystal ball (made by a wizard named Nielson) and decide there wasn’t enough interest in the particular show and cancel it. I can’t tell you how many times this happened to me. If I liked a show it invariably meant that it would soon go away.
That happened at Cadillac.
A few years ago, Cadillac sent me a 2016 ATS-V Coupe. A nice small, but very powerful, luxury sedan. I learned there are few things better than a two-door Caddy with 464 horses under the hood. I absolutely loved it. It was an insane thing, a shot across the European bow aimed squarely at M series, AMG and other German things. The difference being, of course the V. This meant that the otherwise smallish Cadillac ATS non-V had a beast under the hood. From 4 cylinders to 6, along with sport seats, leather interior, carbon fiber accents and a spoiler, the V seemed to be a totally different animal.
Fast forward to the here and now. For 2020, Cadillac turned the ATS into a CT4 and kept the V class. Which was alright by me.
Cadillac sent me a 2020 ATS, uh I mean CT4-V for a recent week. Yes, it had the V designation, but something was different.
You can get the CT4 in four trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport and the V which is the top of the line. Being a Caddy, there is a lot of goodness packed into each of the trims, with the higher levels allowing for more options. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all trims, and all-wheel drive is available as an option.
I had the CT4-V a week after a few days with the 2021 Cadillac XT4, a small crossover.
The CT4 is smaller than the CT 5 but has the same underpinnings as the ATS. The V is the same, with a bit of a difference. Both the CT4 and CT5-Vs replaced the CTS-V which I had in 2018. The 2018 CTS had a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 640 horses and 630 pounds of torque and a six-figure price tag. It was bigger, and not even in the same league.
Under the hood the new CT4-V gets a 2.7 liter, 4-cylinder with 328 horses. That’s in comparison to our old friend which had a 3.6-liter V-6 Twin-Turbocharged engine with 464 horses. The base model CT4 gest a 2.0 liter.
But wait, there’s more, er less.
The ATS-V had 445 lb-ft torque, the new AT4-V has just 325.
Sigh.
Now don’t get me wrong, 325 ponies under the hood isn’t a bad thing, and had I not been jaded by the ATS-V a few years ago I would be quite happy. 0-60 in 4.5 seconds is still a very good thing, and this 4-cylinder can do just that. And the cabin is a very nice place to be. And I could be my own worst enemy as I myself have said that sometimes too much horsepower can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands (those hands belonging to inexperienced drivers). But c’mon, this is America, Land of the Free, home of the Braves. If we want to have a lot of power under our hoods, we should be allowed to darn it.
Overall, I enjoyed the week, but was struck with a couple of thoughts. Sedans in general are falling out of favor more and more every year. And after spending two weeks in a different Cadillac each week I must admit that the XT4 would be much more practical for everyday life.
Sure, the CT4-V can still easily hold its own against an Audi S3, BMW M 235i, Mercedes-AMG 35 or CLA 35. But starting it up that 4-cylinder, even the larger 2.7, just doesn’t sound like it could.
There is hope, however.
Cadillac is developing a CT4 (and CT5) V Blackwing, something that promises to be a bit closer to the ATS. Cadillac said that in testing the Blackwing outperforms the ATS on the track. So then the Blackwing will be more akin to a track car then this new CT4-V. All I can say is gimmie, gimmie, gimmie.
When they will be available however, isn’t clear. Perhaps next year? The year after? Let’s hope it’s soon.
The bottom line: The CT4-V is a very good car. A small high-performance sedan that can still run alongside its European rivals.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t get lost in the crowd and some execs look into a crystal ball and decide it needs to go.
Maybe that’s why I should say I don’t like it (truth is I’d be lying though, just don’t tell the execs).
The 2020 Cadillac CT4-V
MSRP: $44,495
MSRP (as tested): $48,815
Engine: 2.7-liter 325 horsepower @5600 rpm, 380 lb-ft torque @4000 rpm
Transmission: 10 speed shiftable automatic
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 20 city, 28 highway, 23 combined
Fuel Milage (as tested, mixed conditions): 25 mpg
Base curb weight: 3975 lbs.
Exterior dimensions (ins.)
Wheelbase: 109.3
Overall Length: 187.2
Overall Width: 71.5 (w/o mirrors). 77.7 (w/mirrors)
Overall Height: 56.0
Track: 60.3 (front) 61.7 (rear)
Interior Dimensions (ins.)
Headroom: 38.4 (front) 36.5 (rear)
Legroom: 42.2 (front) 33.4 (rear)
Shoulder Room: 55.2 (front) 53.9 (rear)
Hip Room: 53.0 (front) 52.5 (rear)
Warranty
Powertrain: 70,000 Miles 72 Months
Full Warranty: 50,000 Miles 48 Months
Roadside: 70,000 Miles 72 Months
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.