The Cadillac CT5 made its debut at the 2019 New York International Auto Show as the luxury brand’s latest attempt at the D-segment, indirectly replacing both the Cadillac ATS and CTS to take on the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The CT5 will offer three trim levels – the base-level Luxury, followed by Premium Luxury and Sport, with the latter two representing separate branches of Cadillac’s latest Y trim level strategy. A Platinum package will be available on both Premium Luxury and Sport trims.
Of the three available trim levels, Sport is the most aggressive, differentiated by darker accents and performance-inspired details, including unique grilles, fascias, rocker extensions, spoiler and standard 19-inch wheels. In this live photo gallery, captured at the floor of the New York show, we’re taking a detailed look at the exterior design of the 2020 Cadillac CT5 Sport.
Viewed head on, the 2020 Cadillac CT5 Sport makes its presence known with a unique fascia treatment punctuated by a glossy black mesh grille, which stands in contrast to the bright grille accents on the CT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury. The Sport’s fascia also includes unique inserts for the lower corners and lower center piece. However, the grille outline retains its bright accent work.
Higher up, we find slim LED headlamps in line with Cadillac’s newest design language.
That new design direction extends to the side profile, which draws inspiration from the Cadillac Escala concept. The 2020 Cadillac CT5 Sport features unique rocker extensions that add an extra level of sportiness, while higher up, we find black window trim as a replacement for the bright window surround moldings (also known as DLO trim) of the Luxury and Premium Luxury models.
The CT5 also features Cadillac’s new door handles. On the CT5 Sport, they are finished completely in body-color (Luxury models are body-color with a bright accent). On the model seen here, the handles are also equipped with the optional illuminating feature that is part of the Platinum or Lighting packages.
In the corners sit a standard set of 19-inch premium painted alloy wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish. Brembo performance front brakes are standard on the Sport as well, while other models get a regular set of brakes.
At the rear, the 2020 Cadillac CT5 features a unique set of neutral-density (clear) gray-tinted transparent outer tail light lenses with red crystal inner elements, as compared to the red lenses on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims. The Sport also gets a unique lower fascia treatment, which houses a new set of exhaust tips. A trunk lid spoiler and a glossy lower fascia treatment with a body-color insert between the tail pipes finish off the look.
| Dimension | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase (in) | 116 |
| Overall Length (in) | 193.8 |
| Overall Width (in) | 74.1 |
| Overall Height (in) | 57.2 |
| Front Track (in) | 62.8 |
| Rear Track (in) | 63.9 |
For reference, the 2020 Cadillac CT5 Sport comes standard with the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine (production code LSY) making 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with the 350T badge out back. The twin-turbo 3.0L V6 (production code) LGY is optional. It makes 335 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque and gets the 550T designation. Rear-wheel-drive is standard, while all-wheel-drive is optional. All engines mate to a new 10-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift gear selector.
Above the CT5 Sport, Cadillac will offer the CT5-V and the CT5-V Blackwing – as per the luxury automaker’s new two-tier V-Series strategy.
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Frank Ricciardi
I can’t decide if I like the CT5 or not. I don’t want to like it because I love the CTS and this just doesn’t have the “look”. In my opinion, except for the front, it doesn’t look like a Cadillac. I hope I’m wrong because the lease is up on my 2017 CTS in December. Guess I’ll have to decide if I like enough to own it. Not going to be easy !!!!
Alex Luft
Frank – that’s because the CT5 introduces Cadillac’s new design language that every Cadillac will use going forward. In due time, all Cadillacs will look similar to the CT5, and it will be the new reality of Cadillac design. In other words, all Cadillacs “will look like this Cadillac”.
That said, the CT5’s design does use some of the elements from the Art & Science 2.0 on the ATS and CTS… it’s just now better integrate and flows better, which means it’s more in line with the tastes of luxury car buyers the world over.
Greg
I have become very fond of this car. It is a very elegant, and well proportioned design. Looking at the rear 3/4 view above, the car sits beautifully on it’s wheels. It’s poised. I’m looking forward to seeing one near the end of the year.
Iiari
I was split initially myself, feeling that it somehow didn’t capture the feel of the Escala concept on which it’s based, but I was completely sold when I saw it in the metal. As with other vehicles with Escala cues (CT6, XT6), it has far more presence in person than is transmitted via photos. Rear design, long an A&S weakness, is very strong with this new design language.
Frank Ricciardi
I woulds like to see how the dimensions listed above compare to the current CTS.
Alex Luft
We’ll have a comparison shortly, stay tuned!
Greg
@Frank: Well the CTS is still on the Cadillac website. The dimensions are there. The CT5 is slightly shorter on a wheelbase slightly longer.
David Shapiro
Cadillac’s new design and packaging leaves me cold. I’ve been driving Cadillacs for nearly a decade, and have witnessed their transformation from a design and technology leader, into a badge engineered Chevrolet selling at twice the price. My XT5 has been a disappointment – not nearly as enjoyable as my CTS-V, XTS V-Sport or my SRX. AND A 237HP 4 cal engine? PLEASE!!! Time to visit my local Toyota Dealer for a new car!
Gary
On a scale of 1-10 for exterior design, this is a solid 5.5. Nice design elements but cohesively they fall waaaaay short of the Escala design which was a well executed jaw-dropping design. Something about the fastback greenhouse and the C-Pillar plastic insert flub pulls the car downmarket. If Cadillac is going to take such a design risk, it ought to impress or establish a new precedent. But it doesn’t. It say ‘we cut corners to save costs’.
I’m such a fan of the outgoing CTS and ATS and so want to like their indirect replacements but I just can’t warm up to new models.
Greg
The Escala you write so glowingly about has fastback profile. Why is it a problem for you on the CT5?The CT5 is essentially a scaled down Escala in overall form, if not in every detail.
Gary
The fastback aspect in and of itself is fine. But when paired with the C-Pillar design fail, the combo doesn’t work. The CT5 has some aspects to its design that are Escala inspired but in the overall it does not resemble a scaled down Escala. The C Pillar alone is the most egregious detour from the Escala greenhouse design. IMO, the whole exterior impression would be more positive if they rethought the plastic insert.
Iiari
Interesting. I actually feel the CT5, having seen it in the metal, is a far more cohesive design than the outgoing models. The front and rear lighting mirror each other nicely and they’ve finally nailed a balanced approach to the rear deck and bustle. I just saw a new-ish CTS yesterday and it looks ancient to me by comparison, with ungainly big overhangs, bland rear lighting, and an overall softness in its profile that doesn’t stand out at all.
Rich
It will all come down to what the Lease payments are. The Residual value will determine how it competes or GM willingness to make it payment competitive.
A number of great cars in this segment.
My Lexus lease is up in November.
I would love to drive this new Cadillac, Wanted to Lease the CTS the last lease.
Payment was $160 higher that the car I leased. Way off!
Iiari
Very true! The vast majority of cars in this class are leased, and you’ve got to be competitive….
I’ve found, though, that it pays to shop for the best lease deals. When I leased a Lincoln MKZ hybrid in the past, I emailed, like 10 or 12 dealers across my part of the country and the one I went with gave me a deal nearly $180 per month less than my local dealers, who wouldn’t even try to match it.