A used Cadillac CT5 is a good buy if you pick the engine on purpose: the 335-hp twin-turbo V-6 or the 360-hp CT5-V is the car reviewers liked, while the 237-hp 2.0-liter four is the version Car and Driver keeps calling dull. Before you pay for a 2020 or 2021, confirm the 10-speed transmission recall (25V148) and the roof-rail air bag recall (21V611) are done, because both apply to early cars and both are real safety items. And if the seller says Blackwing, decode the VIN before you get excited.
The CT5 arrived for the 2020 model year as Cadillac's answer to the German sport sedans, and used prices have fallen a long way since: C/D's used-price range for a 2020 car started at $14,290 when I checked. That is good news for you, as long as you buy the right one. I spent this evening, October 15, 2026, going through Car and Driver's year pages and every recall the NHTSA API returned for 2020 through 2026, and the early cars carry the most open paperwork.
Which CT5 is which
Three very different cars wear the same body. Per C/D's 2020 CT5 review, the standard engine is a 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four, the optional engine is a 335-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, and the CT5-V gets a 360-hp version of that V-6 with adaptive dampers. The 2020 review is not kind. It lists dull acceleration from the four-cylinder, softer driving than the old CTS, and cheap plastic bits, and the 2025 page still calls the base four mediocre. Honestly, if you are buying a CT5 for how it drives, the four is the one to skip.
Then there is the CT5-V Blackwing, which is a completely different animal: a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 making 668 hp with a six-speed manual standard and a 10-speed automatic optional, according to C/D's coverage of the 2025 update. C/D named it a 10Best winner for the fourth time in 2025. A Blackwing costs far more than a regular CT5 new, which is exactly why fake badging is worth checking for. A Blackwing grille and wing do not make a V-8, and the 8th character of the VIN usually identifies the engine. Our Cadillac VIN decoder post shows how to read it, and the free NHTSA vPIC decoder will confirm the engine and trim it was built with.
What changed for 2025
The 2025 refresh is mostly a cabin story. C/D's 2025 CT5 page says the old 10.0-inch touchscreen gave way to a 33-inch curved display running GM's Google-based software, with stacked LED headlights and a new vertical daytime running light outside. The V and Blackwing got the same face and screen but no mechanical changes. Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway system, has been optional on regular CT5s; C/D noted that for 2022 it was bundled into new packages on Premium Luxury and Sport trims, and for 2025 it became standard on the CT5-V and automatic Blackwings. On anything older, check the window sticker or the build data, since a listing that says "has Super Cruise" is often just wrong.
Recalls the NHTSA API returned
The early cars have the longest list. For 2020 and 2021, the recalls API lists 25V148, which covers CT5s with the 10-speed transmission: the record says it may be damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock up, and the fix is monitoring software for the transmission control module, with owner letters mailed April 7, 2025. That one is recent, so plenty of cars still have not been in. 21V611 covers 2020-2022 CT5s whose roof-rail side curtain air bags may not have been installed correctly; dealers inspect both sides and reinstall as needed.
2020 cars also have 20V588, where contamination at a sensor connection in the electronic brake boost system can interrupt communication, and dealers replace the brake boost module. 2021 cars have 21V421, a gateway module software problem tied to the air bag sensing module. 2020 through 2023 cars share 22V903, a daytime running light software issue fixed by a dealer or over the air. 2024 and 2025 returned nothing when I checked tonight, and 2026 shows 26V114, a radio reset so the electronic owner's manual downloads. None of that tells you about one specific car, so run the VIN using our Cadillac recall check by VIN steps.
Warranty and the test drive
The 2020 C/D page lists a 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty, which means a 2020 or 2021 car is likely out of powertrain coverage by now, and a 2022 might be close. Confirm the in-service date with a Cadillac dealer rather than trusting the model year. On the drive, pay attention to how the 10-speed shifts from a stop and in slow traffic, and look for any transmission warning. If the car has a V-6, ask whether it has been tuned; a tuned car can still be a good car, but it changes what a dealer will cover.
If the CT5 is not the right fit
C/D ranked the 2022 CT5 behind the BMW 3-series and Genesis G70 among compact luxury cars. Our used Genesis G70 buying guide and used BMW 3 Series guide cover those two. If you really want a Cadillac with a higher seat, the used Cadillac XT5 is the obvious move.
Run the report before you drive across town
Look, on a cheap luxury sedan the history matters more than the badge. Lease returns, rental use and a curb-rash wheel that hides a bent control arm all show up as patterns on a report. We sell CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller and are not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Expect about $5.50 for a CARFAX as a guest, about $4.50 as a member, or around $6.75 for the AutoCheck bundle, against $39.99 to $44.99 buying direct; prices shift, so confirm at checkout. CARFAX explains what its reports include, and title brands can be cross-checked through NMVTIS.
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