Cadillac just dropped the most important sedan it has built in decades. The 2026 CT5 is longer, lower, faster, and more tech-loaded than ever, finally delivering the full-size American luxury missile that can stare down an S-Class or 7 Series without blinking. This isn’t a refresh; it’s Cadillac saying, “We’re back at the top.”
Exterior: Pure American Presence
The 2026 CT5 grows nearly 6 inches in length and sits almost an inch lower, giving it the long-hood, cab-rearward stance of classic Cadillacs. Up front, the shield grille is taller and vertically stacked with LED blades that light up in a choreographed welcome sequence. The headlights are razor-thin and stretch almost to the fenders.
The side profile is clean aggression: a single sharp character line runs from headlight to taillight, 21-inch wheels are pushed to the corners, and flush door handles keep the body razor-smooth. Out back, a full-width light blade glows red at night and incorporates animated turn signals. Available Blackwing-style carbon fiber packages add a splitter, rocker extensions, and a lip spoiler without looking boy-racer.
- New “Monolithic” one-piece grille available in gloss black or illuminated chrome.
- 15 exterior colors, including the return of Infrared Tintcoat and new Velocity Red.
Powertrain: Choose Your Weapon
Base and Luxury trims get a revised twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 pumping out 405 hp and 430 lb-ft; smooth, silent, and stupidly quick. Step up to the CT5-V and you’re handed the legendary 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 from the previous Blackwing, now massaged to 677 hp and 893 lb-ft in the new CT5-V Blackwing.
All models send power through a 10-speed auto that snaps off shifts like a dual-clutch when you want it to. Rear-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional across the board. The Blackwing keeps its legendary 6-speed manual as a no-cost option because Cadillac knows its cult.
- 0-60: 3.4 seconds for the 3.0T, sub-3.0 seconds for the Blackwing.
- Magnetic Ride 4.0, eLSD, and Brembo brakes are standard on every single CT5 now.
Interior: First-Class Cabin, Detroit Soul
Slide inside and the 2026 CT5 feels like a private jet crossed with a recording studio. A 33-inch 9K curved LED display sweeps across the entire dash, handling gauges, infotainment, and even passenger-side entertainment. Real carbon fiber, hand-stitched leather, and open-pore wood flow from door to door.
Front seats are 18-way power with massage, heating, and ventilation. Rear passengers get heated/ventilated outboard seats, a fixed center console with dual wireless chargers, and available 12.6-inch seatback screens. AKG 33-speaker audio with conversation enhancement makes the cabin sound like Carnegie Hall.
- Super Cruise now works on 750,000 miles of roads, including hands-free lane changes and trailering.
- New augmented-reality head-up display projects navigation arrows onto the real world.
Performance That Actually Delivers
Hammer the throttle in the Blackwing and the world warps. The supercharger whine is addictive, traction control flickers like a strobe light, and 893 lb-ft launches you forward with violence only a handful of cars on earth can match. Yet flip it into Tour mode and it glides down the interstate quieter than most luxury SUVs.
The chassis is telepathic. Revised front double-pivot suspension and a new rear five-link setup keep tires glued to the pavement. Turn-in is instant, body roll basically doesn’t exist, and the steering talks to you in full sentences. This is the first Cadillac in years that feels like it was tuned on the Nürburgring by people who actually race there.
Pricing & Trims
Cadillac didn’t forget how to price disrupt:
| Trim | Starting Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury | $52,995 | 405-hp 3.0T, 33-inch screen, Super Cruise |
| Premium Luxury | $59,990 | AWD standard, panoramic roof, massaging seats |
| CT5-V | $74,995 | 677-hp supercharged V8, Mag Ride, track apps |
| CT5-V Blackwing | $98,495 | Manual option, carbon ceramics, 200+ mph top |
Even loaded, a Blackwing barely cracks $115K; millions less than an M5 CS or E63 S with similar numbers.
The 2026 Cadillac CT5 is the sedan America has been waiting for: unapologetically huge, brutally fast when asked, and wrapped in technology that actually works. It finally combines the presence of a 1970s Fleetwood with the precision of a modern super sedan. Mercedes, BMW, and Audi just felt the ground shake. Cadillac isn’t chasing the Germans anymore; it just passed them doing 150 in the fast lane, V8 howling, stars and stripes in the rear-view mirror.
The 2026 CT5 isn’t just Cadillac’s comeback car. It’s the new standard.
