DecodedCars2021 Cadillac CT5
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2021 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
- Transmission
- 10-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Seats
- 5
- 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.
- Emergency braking not standardAutomatic emergency braking is optional or limited to some trims.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 36 similar 2021 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2021 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), 5% worse than the 2021 midsize car average of 27.4 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 30 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.
What changed for 2021
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2020 CT5 — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2020; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2020 CT5 →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Lansing, Michigan
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2021 CT5 configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
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 | -5% | $3,150 | 337 |
| CT5 AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 31 / 25 | -9% | $3,300 | 389 |
| CT5 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 28 / 22 | -20% | $3,750 | 404 |
| CT5 V | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 21 | -23% | $3,900 | 423 |
| CT5 AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -23% | $3,900 | 419 |
| CT5 V AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | -23% | $3,900 | 419 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2021 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cadillac CT5 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9.5% |
| 2021 Cadillac CT5 4 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9.5% |
Similar 2021 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cadillac CT5 (this car) | 26 MPG | ★★★★★ | 4 |
| 2021 BMW 3 Series | 30 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2021 BMW 5 Series | 28 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 26 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2021 Lexus IS | 25 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2021 Audi A4 | 28 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 27 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.
Air Bags › Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light · Jun 10, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V421000 · 285,622 vehicles
- Problem
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
- Risk
- The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.
Not every 2021 Cadillac CT5 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2021 Cadillac CT5 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Electrical System — 13 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Structure › Body — 7 owner reports. Open and close every door, the hood and tailgate; look for rust or misaligned panels.
- Power Train — 4 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 48,600 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 2021 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 →