Auto

The Cheapest Cadillac Is The Last American-Made Car Of Its Kind

admin

Go back five to ten years ago, and American luxury automakers still had a couple of small sedan options. Buick still had the Verano, Lincoln sold the MKZ, and Cadillac had the CT4. All had upscale looks, good comfort, and a decent amount of luxury at an affordable price. Now, only one remains.

Cadillac

Cadillac is a luxury automotive brand that is a part of General Motors. Founded in 1902, it has a long history as a premium luxury brand. Its current lineup includes both sedans and SUVs with a variety of propulsion systems, including a growing number of electric vehicles. In addition to luxury, Cadillac also focuses on performance, particularly with its V-Series vehicles.

Founded

1902

Founder

Henry Leland

Headquarters

Warren, Michigan

Owned By

General Motors

Current CEO

Johan de Nysschen

Not only is the 2025 Cadillac CT4 the cheapest new Cadillac on sale, but it’s also the last small American luxury sedan you can buy and one of the cheapest new luxury cars – period. Brands like Lincoln and Buick have abandoned sedans for SUVs, but Cadillac is still churning out several three-box sedans for a more conventional clientele. The question is: What does the cheapest Cadillac offer in 2025? We’ll answer that here.

This article zones in on the cheapest Cadillac model available in the United States in 2025, the base Cadillac CT4 Luxury. We’ll unpack what it offers for the money and compare it to key rivals. All specifications are sourced from the manufacturer, unless stated otherwise.

The Cheapest Cadillac In 2025

The pictures above are of the base Cadillac CT4 with no options. Other pictures used throughout this article feature more expensive trims with larger wheels and other minor enhancements.

2025 Cadillac CT4 Pricing

Model

Price

Luxury

$34,995

Premium Luxury

$39,895

Sport

$41,095

The 2025 Cadillac CT4 lineup consists of three trims, and two of those are priced at under $40,000. Only a single generation of the CT4 exists, with the model first arriving in 2019. In terms of size, the CT4 is slightly smaller than the BMW 3 Series, and is positioned below the CT5 in Cadillac’s lineup of sedans.

The base model’s $34,995 price is particularly appealing, given that it’s cheaper than genuine subcompact luxury models like the Audi A3 Sedan. At first impression, the Cadillac looks like a lot of car for the money, but some compromises had to be made to keep the price low. Let’s delve deeper into what you get if you buy the cheapest Cadillac in the United States.

Cheapest CT4 Performance: Specs And Efficiency

While Cadillac also offers the high-performance CT4-V and CT4-V Blackwing, the standard CT4 is a more sedate, yet still capable, performer. It comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, and while most small sedans have front-wheel drive, the Caddy sends power to the rear wheels, giving it sportier handling characteristics than most small sedans. All-wheel drive is an optional extra. A 310-hp 2.7L turbo-four is available, too, but that sees the price swell to around $48k – far more than the base CT4.

Based on independent testing, the RWD model takes 5.8 seconds to reach 60 mph, a very acceptable result for a sedan costing around $35k.

2025 Cadillac CT4 Engine Options Comparison

Engine

2.0L I4 Turbo

2.7L I4 Turbo

Transmission

8-speed automatic

10-speed automatic

Drivetrain

RWD or AWD

RWD or AWD

Horsepower

237 hp

310 hp

Torque

258 lb-ft

350 lb-ft

*0-60

5.8 seconds (RWD)

4.7 seconds (RWD)

Fuel Economy

22/32/26 mpg (RWD)

21/31/25 mpg (RWD)

*Independent testing **EPA city/highway/combined ratings

Considering the deficit in power, the base 2.0L model isn’t much slower than the 2.7L model, while also being slightly more efficient.

subaru impreza wrx drivetrain

Related

RWD Vs. AWD: The Pros And Cons Of Each

We discuss the differences you need to know between rear- and all-wheel drive, and which one is best.

Cheapest Cadillac Sedan Design And Features

Three Cadillac CT4 trims are available for 2025, and they’re all generously specified. Here’s a comparison of what’s on offer.

Now, we’ll take a closer look at the base CT4 Luxury to see what comes standard on this sedan.

Cheapest CT4 Exterior

The CT4 hasn’t changed much at all since its launch, with only minor visual changes that mostly amount to new colors. That said, it’s still a handsome sedan with prominent Cadillac styling cues, including the vertical lighting elements front and rear. The grille is neat, the proportions are well judged, and it does a good job of appearing more expensive than it actually is.

The base CT4 rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, but it must be said that the various optional 19-inch wheels look a lot better. Summit White and Black Raven are the only two standard colors, while the optional metallic range includes Typhoon Metallic (green) and Wave Metallic (blue).

Standard equipment includes LED headlights and taillights plus acoustic laminated glass. A power sunroof is available optionally, but only as part of a $2,450 package upgrade.

Cheapest CT4 Interior

The base Cadillac CT4 comes with imitation leather upholstery – Cadillac calls it Interluxe – in a choice of Jet Black or Whisper Beige. The black looks a bit gloomy, though, and the beige really brightens things up appreciably. The interior has a nice design, but it’s clear the CT4 has begun to age. Whereas many rivals have full digital displays (not necessarily easier to use), the Caddy sticks with a conventional gauge cluster and a rather small eight-inch color touchscreen. That being said, the Caddy’s traditional dials, conventional shifter, and lack of screen real estate make it easy to understand everything at a glance.

Once you start digging deeper, some flaws emerge inside the CT4. Materials feel cheap in places, with some hard plastics in evidence. Rear-seat space isn’t particularly generous, and the trunk measures just 10.7 cubic feet. If you have a growing family, the CT4 isn’t the best option around. However, for a couple or young parents with small kids, this cheap Cadillac is comfortable enough.

Cadillac CT4 Interior Features

  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Eight-speaker sound system
  • Power-adjustable front seats
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Lane departure warning
  • Side blind zone alert
2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing hero

Related

Cadillac Is Still Planning On Replacing The CT4 And CT5 With EVs

Despite an industry-wide shift away from EV adoption, Cadillac says its next-generation sedans will still be all-electric.

Cadillac CT4 Vs. The Competition: How Does The Cheapest Cadillac Measure Up?

Although it’s close in size to a BMW 3 Series or Audi A4, the CT4 is actually priced to compete with smaller subcompact luxury models like the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A3. These models offer more prestigious badges and better build quality, but are they necessarily better buys?

Price And Performance Comparison

When looking at only the base models of the Cadillac CT4, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, and Audi A3, here’s how they match up.

Pricing And Performance Comparison: Base CT4 Vs. Competitors

2025 Cadillac CT4

2026 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

2025 Audi A3

Base MSRP

$34,995

$39,600

$38,200

Engine

2.0L I4 Turbo

2.0L I4 Turbo

2.0L I4 Turbo

Drivetrain

RWD

FWD

AWD

Horsepower | Torque

237 hp | 258 lb-ft

241 hp | 295 lb-ft

201 hp | 236 lb-ft

0-60 MPH

5.8 Seconds

6.1 Seconds

6 Seconds

Fuel Economy

22/32/26 mpg

TBC

24/34/28 mpg

Despite being the cheapest, the base CT4 is quicker than these two German rivals, although the difference here is slim. The Cadillac is the only one to come with RWD, so if that’s your thing, this is a straightforward decision. However, the RWD CT4 is less efficient than the AWD A3, and we fully expect the FWD 2 Series Gran Coupe to be more efficient, too, once its EPA figures are revealed. Ultimately, in terms of performance relative to price, the Cadillac edges these two German rivals. If you can afford the CT4-V, the variant we’ve driven, it’s one of the most enjoyable cars to drive in its class, but even the cheapest CT4 displays a welcome level of driver engagement.

“[The CT4-V] just feels a lot more dynamic and driver-focused than an Audi product with its FWD layout. I love the fact that Cadillac kept this vehicle rear-wheel drive.”

– Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz

Living With The Cadillac CT4

Of course, not everything is about raw on-paper performance data. One also has to take into account how good these cars are as daily drivers. The Cadillac’s ride and handling balance measures up well, and while newer rivals like the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe rely more on screens than buttons, the CT4’s ergonomics are reassuringly easy to get to grips with. If you want the best tech, though, the BMW and Audi are going to be preferable. Both Germans also exhibit superior build quality.

None of these small sedans are huge inside; the BMW has the biggest trunk, followed by the Cadillac and then the Audi. The Cadillac doesn’t have much rear legroom; it’s eclipsed by the Audi.

2025 Cadillac CT4

Base MSRP

$34,995

Base Trim Engine

2L I4 ICE

Base Trim Horsepower

237 HP @5000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM

All that being said, the Cadillac CT4 is a worthy small luxury sedan alongside these fresher, more expensive rivals. You can load it up with extras like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power sunroof, and still come in below the price of its rivals. If you can live with the CT4’s limited interior space, it’s a decent sedan. Besides that, Cadillac is the last American luxury brand to sell a fun RWD sedan at an affordable price point.

Sources: Cadillac, BMW, Audi

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post Rupee falls 24 paise to 85.93 against U.S. dollar in early trade
Next post Will not cross Salman Khan’s most trolled Race 3

More Stories