“With love from America” – Cadillac with its CT6 sedan aims to rival the greatest of the luxury brands dominating the market. With updated styling, the sedan looks sharper with the long hood and milder curves. While it's all hulla-bulla for the manufacturer, this sedan looks like it won’t be long till it’s forgotten, mainly because there is a feeling of sophistication missing that isolates the CT6 from the rest.
Little to none customizability compared to its rivals
Not as luxurious driving as some of the competition
What's New?
Updated exterior design
New standard turbocharged 4-cylinder and 10-speed automatic transmission
Revised features list
Introduction of new high-performance CT6-V
Features
vehicle bio
base price
$59990
bodystyle
4dr Sedan
passenger capacity
5
drivetrain
all wheel drive
engine type
displacement
217
horsepower
335 hp @ 6800 rpm
torque
284 lbs.-ft. @ 5300 rpm
transmission
10-speed shiftable automatic
chassis
suspension front
Independent front strut suspension
suspension rear
Independent rear multi-link suspension
dimensions
wheelbase
122.4 in.
length
205.8 in.
width
74 in.
height
58 in.
curb weight
3985 lbs.
capacity
cargo volume
15.8 cu ft.
maximum towing capacity
1000
payload
917
fuel economy
city/combined/highway
18/21/27 mpg
highway range
518.4 mi.
warranty
basic warranty
4 yr. /50000 mi.
drivetrain warranty
6 yr./ 70000 mi.
corrosion warranty
6 yr. /unlimited
roadside assistance
Yes
Pictures
exterior
interior
Trims
Luxury $59,990 onwards
335 hp @ 6800 rpm | 3.6 L | V-6 | regular unleaded
Premium Luxury $75,490 onwards
335 hp @ 6800 rpm | 3.6 L | V-6 | regular unleaded
Platinum $97,490 onwards
500 hp @ 5000 rpm | 4.2 L | V-8 | premium unleaded
Colors and Styles
Black
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Features
8.5
Engine And Performance
7.5
Fuel Economy
6.5
Interior
8.0
7.4
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
7.4
Overall Rating
Powered by a 3.6L V6 engine mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission, the 2020 Cadillac CT6 churns out 336 horses and 284 lb/ft of pulling force. Propelling all the wheels of the sedan, the 4-door houses a host of luxurious features and technology alongside active safety features.
It also has a massive boot space for all the cargo you would carry. The Cadillac CT6 goes up against the likes of the luxurious Bavarian model, the BMW 5 series, and the high-end opulent Mercedes Benz S-Class. Where exactly does the new and updated Cadillac stand? Let’s find out in the review.
2020 Cadillac CT6 Angular Front View
2020 Cadillac CT6 Angular Rear View
8.5/10 Features
7.5/10 Engine and Performance
6.5/10 Fuel Economy
8.0/10 Interior
2020 Cadillac CT6 Features
8.5/10
The 2020 Cadillac CT6 comes in 4 different trim configurations, namely Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and the Platinum. While the base trim is offered with a 2.0L inline-4 engine at $50,495, it is also available with a 3.6L V6 that is paired to an AWD system, which is used in this review. Priced at $55,495, the CT6 Luxury trim is an all-wheel-drive sedan that comes with a 3.6L V6 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Together the powertrain spurts out 336 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque.
The sedan houses a host of luxurious features alongside an updated infotainment system that has better functionality as well as intuitiveness as compared to its previous iteration.
Trims
Luxury
Premium Luxury
Sport
Platinum
Starting Price
$55,495
$58,059
$66,595
$86,795
Features
Available with 3.6L V6 engine
Includes features and availability of V6 from Luxury trim
Based on Premium Luxury with Twin-Turbocharged 3L V6 with an increased output of 404 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque
Based on Premium Luxury with standard Twin-Turbocharged 3L V6 with an increased output of 404 hp and 400 lb.-ft. of torque
Bi-LED headlights
Automatic Parking System
Sports aesthetic and design
19” wheels
Power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
Rear Window Shades
19” wheels
Front seats with extra adjustments and massage functions
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Upgraded interior lighting
Lower body kit
Premium leather upholstery
10.2” infotainment system
Rearview Camera
Rear Spoiler
Power-adjustable rear seats with heating , ventilation and massage functions
Leather upholstery
Hands-free trunk lid
Carbon pattern interior trim
34-speaker Bose Panaray Sound System
We recommend
The base trim of the Cadillac CT6 comes standard with a decent list of luxurious features and is equipped well. For those who want performance, we suggest investing in the available V6 powertrain as used in this review for a good package.
2020 Cadillac CT6 Engine and Performance
7.5/10
“The turbocharged V6 has a strong pull from almost any rpm, and quick, smooth upshifts give the sense of virtually uninterrupted power. Acceleration is midpack among top-shelf sedans." edmunds
Engine and Transmission
The Cadillac CT6 comes with a 3.6L 6-cylinder engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that spews 335 horses and 284 torque pound-feet of torque. Its powertrain is powerful and works wonderfully as you jab the throttle. With the new transmission, gearshifts are seamless but still feels less refined. The power spurted from underneath the hood propels all the wheels with an uninterrupted flow of energy with which you can either tame to be wild or a serene feline crawling for its prey.
Its competition is varied and offers similar powertrain with the exception of the V8 under the Genesis which thanks to the same come second to Lexus’ V6 in the most powerful output. The luxurious Cadillac sits towards the bottom of the list, sharing the spot with Audi A8, Porsche Panamera whereas thanks to Beemer’s inline-4 sees it at the rearmost.
Models
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500 RWD
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
MSRP
$55,495
$54,395
$75,000
$59,500
$91,250
$83,650
$83,800
$ 86,300
Engine
Gas V6, 3.6L
2.0L i4
3.5L Twin-Turbo V-6
5.0L Premium Unleaded V-8
3.0-Liter V6 Biturbo Engine
3.0-liter TwinPower Inline 6-cylinder Engine
3.0-Liter TFSI 6-Cylinder and Electric motor
3.0L V6 Turbocharged Engine
Transmission
10-speed automatic
8 Speed automatic
10-speed automatic
8-speed automatic with manual shift modes
9-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
Horsepower
335 hp @ 6800 rpm
248 hp @ 5200rpm
416 hp @ 5500 rpm
420 hp @ 6000 rpm
362 hp @ 5200 rpm
320 hp @ 5500 rpm
335 hp @ 5300 rpm
330 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque
284 ft-lbs @ 5300 rpm
258 ft-lbs@ 1450 rpm
442 lb-ft
383 @ 5000
369 lb-ft
332 lb-ft
369 lb-ft
331 lb-ft
Acceleration
With the V6 under its hood, the Cadillac CT6 takes 5.9 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill while taking flat 14 seconds to complete the quarter-mile. It’s surprising to notice how relatively slow it is amidst the competition especially since the CT6 is the lightest amongst the pack of quicker and similarly sized sedans. The quickest of the lot is the Porsche Panamera with timing under 5 seconds from 0-60 mph.
Models
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500 RWD
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
0-60 MPH
5.9 sec
N/A
5.3 sec
5.2 sec
5.4 sec
5.4 sec
5.5 sec
4.7 sec
Quarter mile
14 sec
N/A
13.8 sec
14 sec
13.8 sec
13.4 sec
13.8 sec
13.3 sec
Engine
Gas V6, 3.6L
2.0L i4
3.5L
5.0L Premium Unleaded V-8
3.0-Liter V6 Biturbo engine
3.0-liter TwinPower Inline 6-cylinder
Engine
3.0-Liter TFSI 6-Cylinder
Engine
3.0L V6 Turbocharged
Emission
(Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
N/A
N/A
8.3
N/A
8.1
7.4
8.1
7.3
Ride and Handling
The Cadillac CT6 is a capable handler and although it houses a firm ride quality, it still balances out as a luxury-cum-sport limousine. It handles confidently among corners and returns minimal body lean. Driving over bumps and potholes is easily soaked by the suspension and there is a good amount of steering feedback. Best driven on the highway with plush and comfortable cruising, the sedan is still capable of giving the enthusiast a good amount of fun and spirited driving.
Braking
Fitted with disc brakes on all wheels, the Cadillac CT6 has firm and is easy to modulate. The luxury sedan shows no slip-ups or letdowns when stopping in an emergency. The 4000 pound Cadillac has impressive performance, similar to its powertrain counterpart.
Model
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500 RWD
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
Brake Front (in.)
N/A
N/A
14.0
14.2
13.2
17.7
15.0
13.8
Brake Rear (in.)
N/A
N/A
13.1
12.4
11.8
14.5
14.0
13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)
3985
3790
4707
4716
4630
4195
4751
4001
60-0 MPH (ft.)
N/A
N/A
113
N/A
N/A
112
118
N/A
2020 Cadillac CT6 Fuel Economy
6.5/10
Frugal is not an adjective that describes the 2020 Cadillac CT6’s V6 underneath the hood. With an economy of 18 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and a combined 21 mpg, the sedan is at best an average deal in the competition. The Porsche is quite impressive in its offering while the 4-cylinders powering the BMW 5 Series takes the lead in the rivalry albeit it’s really a no-go for its smaller displacement and size.
Model
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
MPG (city)
18
24
19
15
19
21
19
21
MPG (highway)
27
34
29
26
28
29
29
28
MPG (combined)
21
27
22
18
22
24
22
24
2020 Cadillac CT6 Interior
8.0/10
"The CT6 Platinum's cabin is swathed in leather, and chrome interior trim is thankfully sparse. Overall, the effect isn't quite as nice as what you get from Audi or Mercedes-Benz, but it's getting harder to pinpoint the flaws." -edmunds
Seating and Comfort
Stepping inside the CT6’s cabin would welcome you with so-so quality for a luxury sedan. Seating five passengers on leather seats, the Cadillac is simplicity abound with comfort and plush feeling but materials are not what you expect from a luxury class sedan. It undercuts the high-end opulent sedans with ease, making the CT6 a value for money in terms of quality and technology.
The cabin is spacious and allows for good legroom and headspace. Noise cancellation is great with quite interior even at highway speeds. The front seats can fall short on support but are still comfortable for long drives.
Model
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500 RWD
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
Passenger capacity
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
40.2/58.3/46.4
38.8/58.7/41.4
37.3/58.8/41.0
39.4/58.3/45.7
39.7/59.7/41.4
39.9/59.2/41.4
37.2/59.1/41.4
N/A
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
38/56.2/40.4
37.5/55.9/36.5
37.3/56.4/38.9
38.2/57.1/35
37.4/59.1/34.1
38.9/57.7/44.4
39.1/57.8/42.9
N/A
Infotainment System
The CT6’s cabin houses a 10.2” infotainment system with Cadillac user experience. The system is responsive to touch and is intuitive in usage. A big step up since its previous iteration, the controls of the system no longer feel clunky and it replaces the touchpad the manufacturer previously used. Some of the infotainment features include –
Cadillac user experience with 10.2" diagonal display
Bose Premium 8-speaker audio system
4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot - includes data trial for 1 month or 3GB, whichever comes first
SiriusXM satellite radio for a limited trial period
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Cargo Volume
At the trunk of this luxurious sedan, the Cadillac can house 15.8 cubic feet of luggage space that is, in fact, an impressive feat by the American marque. While it does not lead the class as the most spacious cargo, that title goes to the BMW 7 series followed by the Porsche Panamera and the Lexus LS 500. The Cadillac is the least spacious but relatively has great space for a sedan.
Model
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500 RWD
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
Cargo Volume (ft.3)
15.8
N/A
16.9
15.3
16.3
18.2
14.2
17.4
Interior Features
The Cadillac CT6 includes some of the following interior features –
14-way adjustable front seats with 2-way power lumbar
Handcrafted cut-and-sewn interior
Leather seating surfaces
Memory Package
2020 Cadillac CT6 Exterior
“Sleek styling and high-tech features help the CT6 shed the Cadillac clichés in an attempt to best its European rivals. Despite being smaller and cheaper than flagships from BMW and Mercedes, the CT6's halo status compels a comparison with those well-established rivals.” -carconnection
Design and Dimensions
Rolling on 18-inch wheels on all four sides, the long-hooded American luxury stands 58” high and measures a lengthy 205 inches to the back alongside a width of 74”. With curves forgone and replaced by sharp lines and edges, the Cadillac CT6 looks like the sedan is here on a serious business and not on a holiday. The front features the iconic Cadillac chrome-accented grille with the insignia pasted on it and flanked by mean-looking Bi-LED headlights.
Model
Cadillac CT6 Luxury AWD
BMW 530i sedan
Lexus LS 500 RWD
Genesis G80
Mercedes-Benz S 450 Sedan
BMW 740i Sedan
Audi A8 L
Porsche Panamera
Curb weight (lbs.)
3985
3790
4707
4716
4630
4195
4751
4001
Length(in)
205.8
194.6
206.1
196.5
206.5
206.6
207.3
198.8
Width(in)
74
73.5
74.8
74.4
74.8
74.9
76.7
76.3
Height(in)
58
58.2
57.5
58.3
58.7
58.2
57.9
56.0
Ground clearance (in)
N/A
5.7
6.5
5.1
5.0
5.8
4.9
6.4
Wheelbase (in)
122.4
117.1
123.0
118.5
124.6
126.4
122.9
116.1
Track width (in) F/R
63.4/64
63/63.9
64.2/64.2
63.8/64.3
63/63.2
63.4/64.6
64.7/64.4
65.8/65.0
The stretched limousine-like design sculpts all the way to the back with hard character lines running across the sides and a simple, yet elegant looking rear of the sedan meets much to the pleasure of the eyes. Although the craft of the CT6 is different this year, the sharp styling aesthetic has nothing special about it to make it stand out.
Exterior Features
Some of the exterior features on the Cadillac CT6 include –
Bi-LED high-/low-beam projector headlamps and LED light pipe signature
Luxury grille
Galvano satin-chrome accents
18" multi-spoke alloy wheels with bright silver finish
Body-color door handles
2020 Cadillac CT6 Safety
While yet to be rated by the NHTSA and IIHS, the luxurious Cadillac CT6 comes with a host of safety features, which include -
8 airbags
Cadillac Connected Access capable
Daytime Running Lamps
Driver and front passenger seat belts
Front and Rear Park Assist
HD Rear Vision Camera
LATCH System
Passenger Sensing System
2020 Cadillac CT6 Competition
Cadillac CT6 vs BMW 5 Series
Going up against the German luxury marque, the Cadillac CT6 consistently falls short of every parameter compared to the BMW 5 series. In terms of performance and handling, the Bavarian sedan outperforms it especially in regards to its driving dynamics. It also houses excellent safety features alongside more luxurious interior and technology. While the American Cadillac equips better storage capacity in the trunk, the BMW is still a better buy when adding the fact it costs lesser than the CT6.
Cadillac CT6 vs Mercedes Benz S-Class
The American luxurious sedan, Cadillac CT6, heavily undercuts the Mercedes S-Class purely in terms of value for money. While the German from Stuttgart overhauls the CT6 in terms of luxury, opulence and driving dynamics, the Cadillac brings up its arsenal when its price is into consideration. It all depends on how much you’re willing to shell out, for both the sedans are actually a great car in itself.
2020 Cadillac CT6 Final Verdict
Even in its updated form, the Cadillac CT6 does turn heads but not due to its styling, - no no, it does so simply due to its simplicity and features offered in its price range. Granted, there are other rivals with better sophistication and that is missing in the CT6. Having said that, the American luxury marque is swiftly climbing the ladder to rival the best of the brands out there in the market.