2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Review

Cadillac’s 2025 CT5-V Blackwing is a mid-size luxury sports sedan starting at $93,495. Its presence within the CT5 lineup is marked by high performance and unique design elements like darkened exterior trim components. The 2025 model is a continuation of the CT5-V’s first generation introduced for 2020, but several changes distinguish it from previous iterations.

MotoPickers Rating: 9.5/10

These alterations include a wider front grille and headlights with greater vertical length than last year’s model, forming a more cohesive exterior. Cadillac has also added more diagonal creases and cutlines, which help the outside sport a more high-end appearance than the 2024 version. Three new metallic paint options expand color selections, and the rear spoiler stays true to the model’s name with its black finish. Cadillac has implemented fake air vents that flank the front grille for greater design flair, and the interior display is vastly different.

Our review will help you determine whether this luxury sports sedan’s starting price of nearly $100,000 is an accurate indication of its quality, inside and out. While the powertrain is noticeably robust and has good handling, certain interior and efficiency drawbacks require a closer look to make this judgment more accurate.

We’ll also compare the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing with its rivals, which include:

• BMW’s M5 Competition
• Mercedes-AMG’s E63 S
• Audi’s RS7
• Porsche’s Panamera GTS
• Lexus’ IS 500 F Sport Performance
• Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadrifoglio

Learn whether this Cadillac qualifies as a dream car by reading the rest of our review below.

Exterior spotlight

In addition to the redesigned performance front end, the 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing boasts adaptive forward lighting that automatically adjusts to different road and environment types for greater visibility. Adaptive forward lighting is an available upgrade on the non-Blackwing standard CT5-V. Wheel options are all 19” and aluminum alloy, but they differ in their finishes, which include Polished Dark Android, Satin Graphite dark, and Tech Bronze.

Exterior color options include:

• Black Raven
• Summit White
• Radiant Red Tintcoat
• Argent Silver Metallic
• Coastal Blue Metallic
• Typhoon Metallic
• Deep Space Metallic
• Cyber Yellow Metallic
• Drift Metallic

Quad trapezoid exhaust tips contain a dark finish, and outside door handles feature illumination tech. Brake calipers come in available Blue, Red, or Bronze colors with a front and rear V-Series logo. Drivers can opt for the available dual-pane sunroof and dress up the exterior with exceptionally nice-looking carbon fiber packages.

The exterior is optimized for aerodynamic performance with its new mesh grille directing airflow under the headlamps as front and rear splitters reduce lift while generating downforce. Cadillac hand-sculpted this airflow design. While the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing matches the 2025 M5 Competition’s large grille, you can equip this BMW with larger 20” wheels. Still, the M5 Competition’s adaptive LED headlights aren’t as capable as this Cadillac’s adaptive forward lighting.

Mercedes-AMG’s E63 S contains a slightly more understated exterior, which includes less unique brake caliper design options. Those preferring a fastback exterior configuration will find what they want with Audi’s RS7. Additionally, Porsche’s Panamera GTS and Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadrifoglio offer fewer exterior colors. The 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a leader amongst its competitors in exterior design with sporty looks and functional features like highly capable headlights.

Interior close-up

The 2025 CT5-V Blackwing contains a performance steering wheel with quality grip, thick alloy paddle shifters, and a leather-wrapped horn pad. Interior carbon fiber accents in areas like the front seats complement this luxurious steering wheel alongside touches like sueded microfiber accents. Other areas with carbon fiber include the dashboard, center console, and door panels.

Interior leather upholstery, which can come with a semi-aniline finish, features the following colors:

• Jet Black
• Jet-Black with perforated/faceted quilting
• Sky Cool Gray/Jet Black with perforated/faceted quilting
• Natural Tan/Jet Black

In addition to leather wrapping, the steering wheel is heated, and the front seats contain a massage feature. You can increase relaxation alongside massaging with 126-color ambient lighting. While trunk space is small at 11.9 cubic feet (cu. ft.), sleek Torch Red seat belts are available. Interior pocket storage solutions for smaller items help compensate for limited trunk space.

Cadillac matches this luxury sport sedan’s performance with front seats containing enhanced lateral bolstering for a more secure ride. These seats are also ventilated and offer an optional 18-way power adjustment. Driver controls contain an intuitive layout, and Cadillac includes plenty of physical switches, which many prefer over excess touch screen menus. Competitors like the 2025 BMW M5 Competition contain a more understated interior but bolder upholstery color options in shades like red with contrasting black.

You won’t find massaging seats within the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, but you can experience similar levels of positioning support in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio’s cabin. If trunk space is a priority, look toward Audi’s RS7 and Mercedes-AMG’s E63 S.

Power and performance

This Cadillac has a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing 668 horsepower and 659 lb.-ft. of torque, forming a 0 to 60 MPH time of 3.4 seconds. Integrated underhood and overall reinforcements establish a solid chassis for a smooth ride feel at various speeds.

The standard 6-speed manual transmission is aided by paddle shifters. Cadillac’s CT5-V Blackwing is the market’s only sedan pairing a V8 engine with a manual transmission. Drivers can alternatively select a 10-speed automatic transmission. Brembo performance brakes in the front and rear have four-piston fixed calipers and patented rotors providing confident stopping power. You can also opt for available carbon ceramic brakes with cross-drilled rotors, which feature red, blue, or bronze colors.

Those looking to push the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing to its limits can engage custom launch control with line lock for optimal straight-line speed. Magnetic ride control scans the road up to 1,000 times per second to continually adjust damping, handling, and control for a more comfortable experience behind the wheel. An electronic limited-slip rear differential complements magnetic ride control by automatically distributing torque to the rear wheel with the most significant traction. This results in better control during instances like cornering.

Drive modes include V-Mode, Track Mode, and Performance Traction Management. V-Mode helps you personalize performance settings in areas like throttle response, steering dynamics, and more. Track Mode optimizes throttle response and steering, while Performance Traction Management elevates cornering stability during instances like driving on rain-soaked roads.

The 2025 CT5-V Blackwing’s most significant performance drawback is its low fuel economy, which is 13 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the highway. This Cadillac comes in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

Tech overview

Cadillac separates the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing from its 2024 predecessor with a newly designed 33” curved LED display featuring 9K resolution. This glass panel is free-form, helping form an innovative feel and presentation.

BlueCruise tech

BlueCruise tech within this Blackwing provides hands-free driving on most US highways, reducing fatigue behind the wheel with capabilities like automatic lane changes. You won’t need to keep your hands on the wheel like Tesla’s self-driving software, but your eyes will need to remain on the road since its autonomy (self-driving) level is 2. Keeping your eyes ahead will prepare you to take over during emergencies. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) rates self-driving capabilities from 1-5, with 5 being the highest.

A performance data recorder streamlines your ability to see how this Cadillac manages areas like the track via a lap analyzing tool, speed trace analysis, video playback, and helpful speed-optimizing tips. Audio has 16 speakers via an AKG sound system, and a head-up display (HUD) projects driving information like your speed onto the windshield within your road line of sight for more convenience behind the wheel. The CT5-V Blackwing contains standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Google built-in tools allow you to change vehicle settings in areas like cabin climate and navigation. Utilizing this feature requires a “Hey Google” voice prompt. Features such as Google Maps provide live traffic updates and a large selection of apps for in-vehicle essentials like podcasts.

Competing models like the 2025 Mercedes-AMG E63 S fall short of this Cadillac’s display presentation with dual 12.3” screens. BMW’s M5 Competition exceeds the CT5-V Blackwing’s speaker count at 18 but also falls short of its rival’s display at 27.2”. None of this Cadillac’s competitors mentioned during our review’s intro match the self-driving capabilities of BlueCruise, which provides the largest hands-free driving network in North America.

Safety capabilities

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing its highest passenger crash protection rating of five stars. Standard safety features within this Cadillac include:

• Blind zone steering assist
• Front pedestrian and bicyclist braking
• Enhanced lane keep assist and lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic braking
• Intersection collision mitigation
• Traffic sign recognition
• Enhanced automatic parking assist
• Auto on/off high beams (nighttime drives)
• HD surround vision
• Rear pedestrian alert

Blind zone steering assist eliminates second-guessing during lane changes. It alerts you when another vehicle enters your blind spot and activates steering assistance if you begin to turn toward a hazard. Enhanced lane keep assist and lane departure warning mirrors the functionality of blind zone steering assist.

This Cadillac streamlines reverse driving with rear pedestrian alert, HD surround vision, and rear cross-traffic braking. Intersection collision mitigation includes audible and visual warnings in addition to automatic steering assistance/braking, and traffic sign recognition will communicate posted sign information onto the 33” curved display.

Enhanced automatic parking assist will identify quality parking spaces, provide steering assistance while you control braking/acceleration, and warn of obstacles in your way. Automatic on/off high beams, a modern essential, keep you from blinding oncoming drivers during nighttime drives.

Available safety features

Optional safety features within the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing include adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, a rear camera mirror, and reverse automatic braking. While these are all quality safety systems, we expected most, if not all, to be standard, given the vehicle’s price. Still, there are enough capable standard safety features to where this drawback isn’t a significant pain point.

One safety feature that this Cadillac could benefit from is traffic jam assist, which is present in many competitors. Traffic jam assist uses cameras and radars to maintain a vehicle’s speed in slow-moving traffic relative to other cars. The system can provide automatic steering, braking, and acceleration, which decrease fatigue in tedious stop-and-go traffic.

Trim guide and owner considerations

The 2025 Cadillac CT5-V is limited to one trim. Most vehicles within this class will limit their trim selections, but if you’re seeking a model with a more extensive selection of grades, Porsche’s Panamera GTS and Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadrifoglio can meet your needs. Cadillac provides 2025 CT5-V buyers with a four-year or 50,000-mile basic warranty, whichever comes first, and a six-year or 70,000-mile powertrain warranty.

This luxury sports sedan features exceptional performance and design aesthetics, but practicality isn’t its strong suit, especially in the trunk space and fuel efficiency categories. However, most drivers considering the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing are prioritizing speed and luxury over practicality and efficiency—two areas in which this Cadillac excels.

Image: https://www.cadillac.com/content/dam/cadillac/na/us/english/index/vehicles/2025/sedans/ct5-v/gallery/01-images/my25-ct5-v-gallery-interior-grid-seat-back.jpg?imwidth=628

Those who like what the CT5-V Blackwing has to offer but don’t want as much speed and desire a lower price tag might want to consider the standard CT5-V as an alternative, which starts at $56,995. The standard CT5-V also contains a 33” display and SuperCruise compatibility. Horsepower and torque are 360 and 405 lb.-ft., respectively, via a 3.0 twin-turbo V6 engine.

Final verdict

Cadillac’s 2025 CT5-V is one of the most-impressive luxury sports sedans to date with its cutting-edge tech, tasteful exterior/interior design, and thrilling performance. Changes from last year’s model are noticeable, giving drivers more incentive to pay a higher price. These changes are most prominent on the exterior, especially in areas like the front grille and fascia. New color options provide additional visual appeal, and the interior is comfortable on long and short drives with features like heated and ventilated sport seats.

We’re giving the new Cadillac CT5-V a 9.5/10 overall rating.