2024 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Review and Test Drive
Cadillac is keeping its traditional cars alive, and the Blackwing sports sedans are among its best ever.
Tim Stevens
As more buyers move to SUVs, the humble American family sedan is falling out of favor and fashion. Those that survive need to be special, and special is a perfect way to describe the 2024 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing.
Though the standard CT4 doesn't particularly stand out from the remaining luxury sedans on the market, Cadillac's V-Series cars have always managed to merge oodles of speed with surprising comfort. The Blackwing editions add an extra bit of performance and prestige. I attended the launch of the Blackwing sedans at Virginia International Raceway, a big, fast, demanding circuit, where the CT4-V Blackwing offered outstanding performance.
But though track prowess is essential in a car like this, how is a Blackwing in the real world? I aimed to discover that by spending a week with a Coastal Blue CT4-V Blackwing. I had high expectations — and this car did not disappoint.
Paying Extra for the CT4-V Blackwing's Performance
Tim Stevens
The 2024 Cadillac CT4 is available in five trim levels, most with either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The lineup starts with the CT4 Luxury, priced from the mid-$30,000s. From there, you can step up to Premium Luxury and finally to the Sport trim, which kicks off in the low $40,000s.
Moving up from there is the CT4 V-Series, which starts in the high $40,000s, and finally, the top-shelf Blackwing, which kicks off in the low $60,000s, including the destination charge to ship the car from the Lansing, Michigan, factory that builds it to your local dealership.
For this CT4 review, I test-drove the V-Series Blackwing in upstate New York. Highlights from the optional equipment list included a 10-speed automatic transmission, Sky Cool Gray leather with microfiber trim, the Driver Assist and Technology packages, and a Performance Data Recorder. The manufacturer's suggested retail price was $75,710, including the $1,395 destination charge. Cadillac provided the vehicle for this CT4-V Blackwing review.
Subtle Statements of Superiority on the CT4-V Blackwing
Tim Stevens
The CT4 is relatively fresh, entering the scene in 2020, and though the Blackwing demonstrates its most extreme iteration, it's still unexpectedly sedate on the outside. Only a tall, black lip spoiler hanging off the back of the trunk lid, plus the Cadillac Motorsport and Blackwing emblems, hint at the performance here.
On the inside, Cadillac hasn't changed anything radically from the base sedan, except for the seats. Contrasting colors on the upholstery, prominent bolsters, and pass-throughs for a racing harness help set the look. Cadillac also outfitted my car with quilted and perforated leather inserts paired with white contrast stitching and red piping.
Other racy touches include a sliver of carbon fiber surrounding the center cupholders and a red marker at the 12 o'clock position on the steering wheel. Materials on the major touch points are good. However, reach lower in the cockpit, and you'll find some hard plastics.
The V-Series Blackwing’s Front Seats are Comfortable, the Rears Less So
Tim Stevens
The front seats look fantastic, and they, of course, provide plenty of squeeze through the corners. But you can spread the bolsters out if you want, add in a little extra lumbar support, and even summon up a passably good massage from them. Both front seats are heated and ventilated.
The rear seats look equally sporty and put you deep enough in the cushions to provide a bit of lateral support, too. But adults may find legroom limited and headroom even more so. While you can fit three across the back for a total of five passengers, even putting two in the rear seats is tight. Anyone frequently hauling people should consider stepping up to the larger Cadillac CT5.
The CT4's Cargo Area Is Cozy
Tim Stevens
If you're looking to haul a lot of people or cargo, the CT4 might not be for you. The Blackwing's trunk offers just 10.7 cubic-feet of cargo space, barely enough for a weekend getaway. The 60/40-split rear seats fold down to expand cargo room, but there's no pass-through for long, narrow items.
Cadillac's Infotainment Is Limited but Capable
Tim Stevens
The CT4 features an 8.0-inch touchscreen high on the dashboard, which looks tiny by today's standards but is within easy reach of the driver. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including Bluetooth with streaming audio capability, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and integrated support for Spotify and Amazon Alexa.
The car has an integrated voice assistant, though its functionality is limited. When I said I was hungry, it was able to find the closest restaurant. But it could not adjust even simple vehicle settings, such as enabling the heated seats or changing the climate settings.
When you're not enjoying the soundtrack supplied by the Blackwing's turbocharged V6 engine, there's an equally powerful 15-speaker AKG sound system. It can be overwhelming if you submit to the urge to dial up the bass, but with a bit of fiddling with the integrated graphics equalizer, the AKG system offers a remarkably well-rounded sound that should please most people.
Race Car Telemetry for the Masses
Tim Stevens
Performance hounds will love the Blackwing's integrated Performance Data Recorder. This device employs the car's sensors, cameras, and microphones to record driving sessions directly to an SD card reader under the armrest. It overlays speed, GPS position, and other data over high-definition video footage, making it a key asset for those looking to analyze their performance — or to create some easy YouTube fodder.
You can toggle through a series of drive modes, including Tour, Sport, Track, Snow/Ice, and the customizable My Mode and V-Mode. In these, you can modify steering weight, suspension stiffness, engine and transmission aggression, the volume of the engine note, and even the firmness of the brake pedal.
Then within each mode, with a quick flick of the knob on the lower-right part of the steering wheel, you can cycle through five different traction-control modes or turn everything off entirely.
As you flip through the modes, the 12.0-inch digital instrument panel dynamically reconfigures itself, going from a traditional view with an analog speedometer in the middle to something far racier with a sweeping bar tachometer running across the top. It also brings essential track-day information, such as tire temperatures, right up to the fore.
The head-up display also morphs, giving you blinking shift lights in Track mode and ensuring you're always grabbing the next gear at just the right time.
Blackwing's Safety Features Just Meet Expectations
Tim Stevens
For a luxury car, the 2024 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing offers active safety features that just meet expectations. Forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors are standard. However, the CT4 also includes Teen Driver technology, which allows the car's owner to track the car's usage while in the hands of a young driver and get a report card after they return home.
My test car's optional Driver Assist package installed adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and a rear automated braking system. However, Super Cruise, the more advanced hands-free driver-assistance system available on an increasing number of Cadillacs, is unavailable on the CT4-V Blackwing.
The adaptive cruise control works well, adjusting speed smoothly. Unfortunately, the Blackwing's lane-keeping-assist system felt disappointingly basic. I found it struggled to identify even well-painted lines, and allowed the car to meander far beyond its lane before applying corrections.
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has provided crash safety ratings for the 2024 Cadillac CT4 as of publication.
Big Power Through Two Wheels in the Blackwing
Tim Stevens
The heart of the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is its turbocharged 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, which makes 472 horsepower and 445 pound-feet of torque. In my test car, Cadillac paired it with a 10-speed automatic, but a six-speed manual is the default configuration.
Power flows to the rear wheels through an electronically actuated limited-slip rear differential that does its best to maximize the available grip. But, considering all the power on tap, that's asking a lot of that set of 18-inch wheels and tires.
The CT4-V Blackwing Is Always Ready for Action
Tim Stevens
You can drive the CT4-V Blackwing calmly and smoothly if you like. Considering the low-profile tires, I think the suspension does a remarkable job of absorbing bigger bumps and road imperfections.
Switch it to one of the sportier drive modes, though, and the Blackwing becomes a demon. The steering is sharp and the throttle response is borderline nervous. Apply too much weight on the accelerator pedal while the steering wheel is anything other than straight, and the Blackwing will wag its tail.
You can easily manage these antics through quick corrections, but even in the most sedate driving mode, Tour, you'll still get that moment of slip to remind you that you're driving something feisty. When you're pushing hard, the Blackwing does a beautiful job conveying the feel of the road.
In my experience, most cars with this much performance are patently boring to drive unless you're pushing. Not the Blackwing. It's fun even at low speeds on a tight, twisty road. Sure, it offers nowhere near the involvement of something like a Mazda MX-5 Miata or Subaru BRZ. I still found driving a Blackwing daily to be genuinely exciting, despite it being a larger and more luxurious machine.
Tim Stevens
On the track, the CT4-V Blackwing is an absolute monster. The suspension's inherent compliance means it leaps over apex curbs and rumble strips with aplomb. The Blackwing also accelerates down the straights like a cruise missile, and the meaty Brembo brakes easily scrub off speed.
The 10-speed automatic transmission on my test car, sluggish as it occasionally could be, was overall well programmed to deliver the right gear at the right time. The metal shift paddles are ready for action if you feel the need to override things. Purists can opt for the default six-speed manual transmission.
For the cruise home from the track, that transmission slips through gears cleanly and smoothly, trying to keep the V6 engine as close to idle as possible. The result is EPA ratings of 16/24/19 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. In my mixed testing, I averaged 17.9 mpg.
Prestige Meets Performance
Tim Stevens
I've reviewed a fair share of Cadillacs in my day, and never have I received so many compliments as I did in my seven days of testing the Blackwing. People of all ages looked on in awe, many providing thumbs up as I drove by. This version of the CT4 is truly a special car; seeing it receive recognition is great.
Its combination of performance, comfort, and low production volumes makes it a rarity in its class. Likewise, its pricing ensures that it'll never be a mainstream machine. Still, while the Blackwing lacks some of the modern technology of something like a BMW M3 Competition, the sticker price makes this Cadillac a genuine value. And its ability to thrive and survive on a racetrack puts it in a league of its own.
If that appeals to you, you'd best buy a Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing soon. It's anyone's guess how this car will be allowed to live.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Tim StevensTim Stevens is a veteran editor, analyst, and expert in the tech and automotive industries. He helmed a major website's automotive coverage for nine years and acted as its content chief. Prior to that, Tim served as the editorial lead at a tech-oriented site and even led a previous life as an enterprise software architect.
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