Curb appeal is the first thing that pops into your mind when walking up to the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V, starting with our media car’s “Blaze Orange Metallic” exterior. Fans of Cadillac know the venerable car company transitioned the ATS into the CT4 a few years back.
Related: The Cadillac XT4 Sport scores big on the practicality scale
This new version has lost a bit of power. The 2019 ATS-V’s V6 generated 464 horsepower, a nice wallop for highway driving. But ask yourself, how much do you really need? The price point on the Cadillac CT4-V, from $47,798 ($60,078 with all the options), is another thing we liked. Rivals like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW 2-Series, Audi S3, are all in a similar price class.
The 2022 CT4-V we drove was equipped with a 2.7L, turbocharged engine, four-cylinder, 10-speed automatic, 325 HP, 380 lb-ft of torque. Punchy enough. That helped make the two-hour drive to Collingwood from Toronto one of the more enjoyable ones in recent memory.
Test drive: 2022 Cadillac CT4-V, four door sedan
But back to the sharp styling of the exterior and that curb appeal, definitely on par with its German-made brethren. The mesh grille has a purpose to it – more aerodynamics than looks, as air is directed to the main radiators, cooler and air ducts. Front splitter and back spoiler work in tandem to generate better traction.
Our media car came equipped with all-season, lower profile run-flat tires on those 19-inch gloss black, alloy wheels – another option. That gives you a nice race-car aesthetic. We’ve written on run-flat tires before, on other cars, and there are negatives to them. They will wear faster, and are susceptible to damage on rougher roads. Talk to your car dealer about it.
Interior: Tight and more than comfortable
The interior ticks all the boxes for us. Being six-feet, with some lower back issues, my focus is always on the comfort and options with the driver seat. That and the user-friendliness of the cockpit area, of course. From what we remember, the ATS had more touch-friendly interfaces. The 2022 Cadillac CT4-V really promotes ease-of-use. There’s a 12-inch diagonal HD colour information display with Bose 14-speaker premium surround sound system that covers off any entertainment, navigation and technology needs. The leather-wrapped steering wheel was nice. Everything in the driver seating area is configured tight and comfortable.
Those seats are 12-way, power-adjustable, with lumbar massage, perfect for me, again making that long drive more palatable. The seats are jet black, leather surfacing with mini-perforated inserts. Okay, maybe not quite the level of luxury of German cars in this 4-door sedan class, but plenty of comfort and luxury for us, especially, again, when factoring in price point.
Driver Assist Package includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking and Reverse Automatic Braking. Driver Awareness Plus Package includes Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert. This isn’t your Dad’s Cadillac.
Overall impressions? Better-than-expected value for the price point. Cadillac dealerships are getting “EV ready”, including the installation of more than 40,000 Level 2 EV chargers across Canada and the U.S. over the next three years. Cadillac is now taking orders on the 2023 LYRIQ and LYRIQ Performance All-Wheel Drive. The company rolled out the Cadillac Escalade-V earlier this month. So busy times. The gas-powered CT4-V Series will be a big bold part of that lineup.
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I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
