Tested: 2020 Cadillac CT4 450T AWD Struggles to Make a Mark in Its Segment
It only seems as if Cadillac has been struggling in the luxury compact segment since Antoine de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, founded Detroit in 1701. It hasn't been quite that long, of course, but it has been nearly 40 years since the brand introduced the wrongheaded Chevy Cavalier–based Cimarron.
It took a few decades after that debacle for Cadillac to field a legitimate small luxury sedan—no, not the Catera. We're talking about the rear-wheel-drive ATS of 2013. That's really where the CT4's story begins. Cadillac says its latest, smallest, and least expensive sedan is all-new, but that's a bit of a stretch. It's more a redo and refocusing of the ATS.
While the ATS attempted to go head to head with the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class, Cadillac has now ceded that territory to the larger CT5. The rear-drive (or all-wheel-drive) CT4 has been assigned to take on the front-drive subcompacts from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and it's the only car among them that can do a John Force–style burnout through its first three gears.
Squint and the CT4 looks a lot like an ATS. The sheetmetal is new, and there are 4.4 more inches of overall length, but the 109.3-inch wheelbase is unchanged. The base engine is a 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter, but the upgrade isn't a V-6. It's a 310-hp turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four and a $2500 option on Premium Luxury models like our test car. The CT4 hits 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and crosses the quarter-mile marker in 13.4 seconds at 103 mph, which puts it near the front of its class.
Unfortunately, this large four-cylinder idles with the clatter of a diesel and is boomy through the top half of the tachometer. It sounds like John Deere, not John Force, tuned the exhaust system. Cadillac "enhances" the engine's sounds through the audio speakers, but it's more noise than note.
Our test car rode comfortably, with just a bit of float. Pushing it hard on a fun road, however, amplifies that float. Mid-corner bumps upset the chassis, and there's more body roll than we would like. It's good enough at an easy pace, but it's never much fun. The all-season tires—only the CT4-V offers summers—limit grip to a meager 0.81 g.
The interior is a huge improvement over the ATS's cabin. It's a pleasant place to be, and the rethought controls and infotainment system work well. The Premium Luxury trim level starts at $38,490, but the big engine, all-wheel drive, and a long list of add-ons pushed our car's sticker to $46,515. And you don't get a sunroof or a power-opening trunklid for that price.
Yes, Cadillac is still struggling to build a great small sedan. The CT4 offers superb acceleration, but refinement deficiencies and tepid dynamics hold it back. It is a good car, but in Premium Luxury guise, it falls short of its more polished and fun-to-drive German rivals.
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