Our 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing Gets Ready for Winter

10,000-Mile Update

After a rocky start to its 40,000-mile evaluation—thanks to an unexpected high-speed encounter with a turkey vulture—the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing has settled in, impressing as both a focused sports sedan and a daily commuter. The CT4 is one of three luxury sports sedans in Car and Driver's long-term fleet, alongside the 2022 BMW M3 and the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, but the compact Caddy has managed to stand out next to its high-performance stablemates.

The CT4-V Blackwing's sharp steering and balanced handling have elicited praise, outshining the M3, in particular, for many when it comes to driver engagement. We have also come to appreciate the twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6's throaty growl and firecracker exhaust, helping us get over the fact that the CT4 doesn’t have the CT5-V Blackwing's supercharged 6.2-liter V-8.

The CT4-V Blackwing has also revealed a chameleon-like ability to adapt to its surroundings. In the sportier drive settings, the Blackwing can swiftly scythe its way down a curvy country road, the snarling V-6 rocketing the CT4 out of corners as the suspension helps it cling to the pavement around the bends. But put the sports sedan into Tour mode, and the engine note quiets to a distant rumble while the magnetorheological dampers transform the car into a docile and comfortable cruiser. The rear-seat passengers will definitely appreciate the calmer ride in Tour mode, even if the Cadillac is a bit tight on rear legroom, with its wheelbase measuring 3.2 inches shorter than the M3's. But if someone pipes up from the back seat and says, "Show us what this car can do!" you can easily switch it back into Track mode and have your passengers clinging onto the grab handles, hopefully with a look of glee and not terror on their faces.

The Electric Blue paint has also brought the CT4-V Blackwing a fair amount of attention. Some are clearly aware of the Caddy's performance credentials, while others are simply captivated by the vivid hue. The attention can be fun, but if you're more reserved, we'd recommend a subtler color like the Wave Metallic of our long-term CT5-V Blackwing.

Fuel economy has slightly increased as we have added miles to the CT4-V Blackwing. Through the first 5000 miles, the CT4 averaged 19 mpg, but a few longer trips have seen the mileage bump up to 20 mpg. While that figure still won't win you any points with environmental groups, it is a decent improvement on the EPA's combined rating of 18 mpg for the manual Blackwing.

Winter has arrived in Michigan, with temperatures dropping into the 30s and a few light snowfalls. But sourcing winter tires for the CT4-V Blackwing was a challenge. There are plenty of choices for the 255/35R-18 front tires, but the 275/35 rear tires are an unusual size, with nothing currently available in those dimensions. Abandoning the staggered setup is also not a great option, with a different offset front and rear. The front wheels measure 9.0 inches wide, but the rears have an extra 0.5 inch of width, so stretching 255s onto the rear wheels isn't ideal.

Changing wheel sizes also presented challenges—going an inch smaller wouldn't provide adequate space for the beefy six-piston front brake calipers. We asked Cadillac's engineering team what they run, and they pointed us to a 265/35R-18 rear size. There are two such tires available, a Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 and a Pirelli Sottozero Serie II, and both were hopelessly backordered. After much searching, handwringing, and considering sending our CT4 to the West Coast to ride out the winter months, we happened upon a set of discontinued Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 winter tires on eBay in the correct sizes.

Along with fitting new tires, the CT4-V Blacking received scheduled service at 7500 miles. The dealership performed an oil-and-filter change that cost $123. Otherwise, our time with the CT4-V Blackwing has been smooth sailing and we look forward to seeing how the sports sedan handles the winter.

Months in Fleet: 4 months Current Mileage: 10,013 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 20 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 17.4 gal Observed Fuel Range: 340 miles

Service: $123 Repair: $0 Damage and Destruction: $4326