2020 Cadillac CT6

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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

“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.

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

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

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.

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.