Overview
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has won our 10Best award three times in a succession and is the reigning champion among premium sports sedans. The Blackwing, like the Corvette, represents the pinnacle of engineering at General Motors. It is an extremely fuel-guzzler, sharp-handling, supercharged heck of a time encased in a sleek, otherwise perfectly average midsize luxury sedan. With a rear-wheel-drive CT5-V Blackwing, a six-speed manual transmission, a 668-horsepower V-8 engine, and the finest traction control system in the industry, it feels more dynamic than either the BMW M5 or the previous generation Mercedes-AMG E63. Additionally, it costs significantly less than both vehicles. Although the Blackwing's interior continues to resemble that of a dressed-up Chevrolet Malibu rather than the exceptional Cadillac that it is, this does not diminish from the vehicle's primary objective, which is to excite its driver with its unparalleled equilibrium and immense power.
What Has Changed in 2025?
Similar to the updated CT5, the Blackwing features a redesigned lower grille and daytime running lights that extend in a single line. Additionally, the grille is now wider and more pronounced. In order to distinguish the Blackwing from the standard CT5, it now features a greater number of diagonal creases and cutlines, in addition to simulated air ducts situated beneath the newly stacked headlamps. The rear spoiler is now black, while three new metallic paints (Deep Space, Typhoon, and Drift) are added to the color pallet; new LED illumination animations greet the driver upon approach. The interior discards last year's 10.0-inch touchscreen and analog gauges for a new 33.0-inch unit that incorporates the infotainment and instrument panel in a single curved display. GM's new Google-based infotainment interface is behind the touchscreen portion of the screen and incorporates new telemetry and performance-measuring applications.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The CT5-V Blackwing features a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 under its engine, which produces an astounding 668 horsepower. A quick-shifting 10-speed automatic is optional, while an exquisite six-speed manual comes standard—and it's the one we'd select. Launch control with a line lock feature, a limited-slip differential, and Performance Traction Management—which allows a competent driver to negotiate narrow maneuvers while on the throttle—put this Cadillac into full attack. Standard magnetorheological dampers detect the road surface and your driving intention and adapt accordingly, giving the Blackwing a comfortable on-road ride for when you just want to cruise.
0–60-MPH Times
Acceleration is explosive, and in our testing, a Blackwing with the manual hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. With the optional automatic transmission, it’s even speedier still, reaching the 60 mph mark in 3.5 seconds. In our 0-150-0 test, an automatic Blackwing was scarcely 0.3 second behind a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
With the optional automatic transmission, the CT5-V Blackwing earned EPA fuel-economy ratings of 13 mpg city and 22 mpg highway; opting with the six-speed manual lowers the car's highway fuel-economy estimate to 21 mpg. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, our manual transmission test vehicle managed an impressive 24 mpg. For more information about the CT5-V Blackwing's gasoline efficiency, consult the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The CT5-V Blackwing shares its compartment with the standard CT5, which is reasonably capacious but doesn't feel as luxurious as it should considering its price tag. Nonetheless, the Blackwing is at least better-dressed than the regular CT5 sedan and comes with leather upholstery, ventilated and massaging front seats with 18-way power adjustments, a digital gauge cluster, a head-up display, and ambient lighting (including light animations on the climate controls). High-performance sport seats with leather and microfiber upholstery are optional and come bundled with corresponding door panel inserts. The Blackwing's compartment is the same size and configuration as the ordinary CT5's, into which we put five carry-on containers during our testing. The gauge display includes a cycle timer feature, and a performance data recorder is an optional extra.
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Infotainment and Connectivity
The CT5-V Blackwing comes with a 33.0-inch display screen on its cockpit which features an impressive 9K resolution. Part of that display is dedicated to the touchscreen infotainment system, which uses a Google-based OS with built-in Google Maps and Google Assistant and provides access to the Google Play app store. The infotainment system also features a secondary rotary controller on the center console for drivers who prefer not to contact the screen. Newly available Cadillac apps display a dyno-style graph of power and torque, plus additional readouts for tire temperature and engine performance information. The Performance Data Recorder adds a lap analysis function, which can save your finest laps, analyze a speed trace (speed as compared to total distance on track), and display even more data on the dashboard display or the head-up display. Wireless smartphone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, integrated Wi-Fi, and a 16-speaker AKG stereo all come standard.
