DecodedCars2020 Cadillac CT5
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2020 models.
- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan AWD, 4dr Sedan RWD, V-Series 4dr Sedan AWD, V-Series 4dr Sedan RWD
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 26 combined · 23 city / 32 hwy
- Length
- 193.7 in
- Curb weight
- 3,660–4,145 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 39 similar 2020 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2020 Cadillac CT5 is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 194 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 116-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,799 lb (4dr Sedan AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 26 MPG combined (23 city / 32 highway), 6% worse than the 2020 midsize car average of 27.6 MPG, for an estimated $3,150 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the power train.
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan AWD | 193.7 in | 74 in | 57.1 in | 116.1 in | 63 / 63.8 in | 3,799 lb | 53/47 |
| 4dr Sedan RWD | 193.7 in | 74 in | 57.1 in | 116.1 in | 63 / 63.8 in | 3,660 lb | 51/49 |
| V-Series 4dr Sedan AWD | 193.7 in | 74 in | 57.1 in | 116.1 in | 63 / 63.8 in | 4,145 lb | |
| V-Series 4dr Sedan RWD | 193.7 in | 74 in | 57.1 in | 116.1 in | 63 / 63.8 in | 3,975 lb |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CT5 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 / 32 / 26 | -6% | $3,150 | 337 |
| CT5 AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | -9% | $3,300 | 356 |
| CT5 AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | -24% | $3,900 | 431 |
| CT5 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | -24% | $3,900 | 412 |
| CT5 V | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -24% | $3,900 | 412 |
| CT5 V AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | -28% | $4,100 | 442 |
5/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
5/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Spend $3,750Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
27.6 MPG2020 Midsize Cars average
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2020 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cadillac CT5 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9.5% |
| 2020 Cadillac CT5 4 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9.5% |
StandardElectronic stability control
StandardForward collision warning
OptionalLane departure warning
Similar 2020 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cadillac CT5 (this car) | 26 MPG | ★★★★★ | 4 |
| 2020 BMW 3 Series | 30 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2020 BMW 5 Series | 28 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 26 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2020 Lexus IS | 24 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2020 Audi A4 | 30 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 28 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (4)
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · Mar 6, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V148000 · 90,081 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
- Risk
- Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.
Exterior Lighting › Lighting Control Module › Software · Dec 8, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V903000 · 740,108 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222386380. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-827.
Air Bags › Side/Window › Curtain · Aug 5, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V611000 · 34,157 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Cadillac CT4 and CT5 vehicles. The roof rail side-curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly, which could result in an improper air bag deployment during a crash.
- Risk
- Air bags that do not deploy properly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect both left and right-side roof rail air bags and reinstall the air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 30, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212342780.
Service Brakes · Sep 24, 2020
NHTSA campaign 20V588000 · 3,677 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system.
- Risk
- If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.
Not every 2020 Cadillac CT5 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
39Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
2Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
2Injuries reported
12,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2020 Cadillac CT5 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Power Train — 15 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Electrical System — 8 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Engine — 7 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 12,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2020 Cadillac CT5. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other CT5 years
Compare all years →Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Cadillac. How we calculate this →