Cadillac CT4. Moderately conservative
The 2019 Cadillac CT4 sedan is designed to compete on equal footing with the mighty European BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes A-Class models, at least in terms of performance and dynamics. And it is good at it. The CT4 is produced at the Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan, along with the CT5 senior sedan. Neither one nor the other is supplied to Israel. And we wonder why. After all, the CT4 is a business class car that has a luxurious interior with many functional elements, a massive body that repeats the corporate style concept, advanced technical characteristics. At the same time, its cost is quite adequate. The new Cadillac CT4 is a true embodiment of American style and luxury.
Exterior
The new Cadillac CT4 is a typical executive car. It looks laconic, elegant, and sporty. This is a classic modern sedan created by the company famous for its oversized sedans. Perhaps in order to compete with the Europeans, the Americans made the CT4 look humble, even ascetic. It has no giant radiator grille, monstrous arches or convex hood like a backpack of a climber. No one can describe this American car as ‘too much’ or extravagant. This Cadillac is kind of a modern millionaire, whose wealth is hidden under the guise of a moderate, glass-clean old-fashioned person wearing white tennis shoes.
Interior
The interior of the 2019/2020 Cadillac CT4 is not as expensive as that of a Mercedes or a BMW of a similar level, which, on the other hand, has a good effect on the Cadillac’s price. Although, of course, some connoisseurs of high-quality interior trims won’t be happy. Fortunately, the standard equipment has been significantly improved on the Premium Luxury and Sport versions in 2021. But initially, even the entry-level CT4 is equipped with a number of luxurious features, including 12-way power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and so on, since this is still an executive sedan.
All the CT4s feature an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with advanced CUE software, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces, built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, 14-speaker stereo, and more.
Engine
One thing the American is not inferior to European competitors is its power. The new Cadillac CT4 is equipped with either a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with 237 hp or a 2.7-liter turbocharged engine with 325 hp The smaller of the two engines is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the larger one with a 10-speed one. The entry-level sedan is rear-wheel drive. This sets it apart from the front-wheel drive Audi A3, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes A-Class. In addition, the CT4 can be all-wheel drive. According to reviews, the car is characterized by an excellent sports suspension and responsive, even filigree, handling.
Moreover, the Cadillac CT4 has an extreme version, called the CT4-V Blackwing. It is equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 biturbo engine with a low-inertia turbocharger, a different intake system and a control unit. The entry level version comes with a 6-speed manual transmission (in America, this is a prerequisite for ‘charged’ models). But for a surcharge, you can get a 10-speed automatic transmission with magnesium gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. This super sedan is rear-wheel drive with an electronically controlled differential lock. Acceleration with the automatic transmission to 100 km/h occurs in 3.8 seconds, while the maximum speed is 304 km/h.
Safety and driver assistance features
Cadillac offers many standard driver assistance features on the CT4, including the state-of-the-art Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving mode, but only available in the Premium Luxury and Sport configurations. And such advanced safety features as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning system with lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode are standard.
