2025 CADILLAC CT5 V-SERIES

V-SERIES UPGRADE TAKES CADILLAC 

TO HIGHER PERFORMANCE LEVELS

Cadillac began shredding its image of a company that produced huge, lumbering luxury cars with well-cushion drives when it started adding performance-oriented V-Series upgrades to its fleet a little over 20 years ago.

The Cadillac CT5 carries on that tradition with two V-Series tuned models. One is the 2025 Cadillac CT5 Blackwing reviewed here earlier this month. The other is the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series, the subject of this review and a more practical option for those whose automotive budgets don’t flirt with the six-figure bracket.

No, the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series  doesn’t have the overwhelming punch that the supercharged 668-horspower V8 that powers the Blackwing, nor does it have the 6-speed manual transmission that adds to the Blackwing’s driving experience.

The 3,0-liter V6 in the base CT5 V-Series sends a decent 335 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s enough to get it from zero to 60 mph in a shade under five seconds.

What the base 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series doesn’t carry is a price tag that starts at just under $97,000 (including destination fees) and quickly moves in the six-figure bracket when attractive option packages are added on.

Starting MSRP for the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series is $58,380 including the destination charge. Do you really need about a 3-second advantage in zero-to-60 time for an extra $40,000?

With fuel economy figures of 18 miles-per-gallon city, 27 highway, and 21 overall, you also escape the gas guzzler charge of $2,100 assessed to the Blackwing. The base CT5 V-Series also offers the option of all-wheel drive, which isn’t available on the Blackwing.

New features on the 2025 CT5 V-Series, which gets a mid-cycle refreshing since the 2020 CT5 replaced the CTS as Cadillac’s midsized sedan offering, include 5G wi-fi hotspot capability, built-in Google, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, and driver attention assist.

Other standard features include a 33-inch touchscreen for infotainment functions, a heated steering wheel (could have used a cooled steering wheel the other day), power lumbar massage for the front seats, power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, remote start, wireless charging, and a premium 15-speaker audio system

Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign assist, enhanced park assist, HD surround vision, rear cross-traffic braking, front pedestrian and cyclist braking, and rear-pedestrian alert.

Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system is available by subscription. The 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series rides on 18-inch wheels and comes with magnetic ride control and LED headlamps, The rear features dual quad exhausts and a rear spoiler.

My test 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series came with extras like a Platinum Package that added an ultra-view sunroof, semi-aniline leather seats, and tech package plus a performance data and video recorder, blue brake calipers, ventilated front seats, and a special coastal blue metallic exterior color.

That all ran the final bottom line to $70,865, which is a pretty good jump from the starting price but still about $50,000 less than the Blackwing tested earlier this month. 

What I liked about the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series: Stepping up to the V-Series gives you a vehicle with more athletic performance over Premium Luxury and Sport models without going to the more ultra expensive Blackwing trim. The updated infotainment system is user-friendly. The radio volume can be adjusted via a knob on the center console.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series: Trunk space (11.9 cubic feet) does not measure up to top competitors in the segment. The V6 is considerably thirstier than the standard 4-cylinder engine in other trims. Alas, there is no knob for surfing the radio dial like there is for adjusting volume.

Would I buy the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series: The performance is good enough that you really don’t have to go for the Blackwing model and its higher price tag.  But stick with the V-Series upgrade. This is not the time to go cheap for one of the lesser trims in the CT5 lineup. 

2025 BMW X3

BMW X3 MOVES INTO FOURTH GENERATION WITH 2025 MODEL

The BMW X3 moves into its fourth generation with the 2025 redesign of what the German automaker introduced for 2004 and calls a Sports Activity Vehicle (or SAV).

The 2025 BMW X3 Drive30I gets new exterior features that include a modified grille and front fascia. A new 33-inch display screen that stretches across the front of the dash doinates the interior. The touchsceen portiion of that display provides access to an expanded suite of infotainment features in BMW’s new iDrive9 system.

New 4- and 6-cylinder engines feature mild hybrid technology and is a bit more fuel efficient. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline 4-cylinder in the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i that this review is based on earns fuel economy figures of 27 miles-per-gallon city, 33 highway, and 27 combined compared to 21/28/24 for the 2024 version. That’s using premium fuel, of course.

Get-up-and-go also gets a boost with 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque for the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i compared to 248/258, respectively, for the previous model. With a 6.0 zero-to-60 mph time, the 2025 version is about a half-second quicker than previous models.

The 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i is about an inch longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor at 187.2, 75.6, and 65.4 inches respectively, helping increase rear cargo capacity a bit to 31.5 cubic feet from 29.0. It remains, however, easy enough to maneuver in tight parking lots. 

Finally, rear-wheel drive sDrive versions have have been junked in favor all-wheel xDrive configurations. 

Among standard features on the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i are an 8-speed automatic transmission (with gear selection via a small switch on the center console or by using the paddle shifters for manual settings), a Sport steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless charging pad.

My test 2025 BMW X3 xDriver30i included no-charge extras like keyless entry and push-button start, lumbar support, BMW Teleservices, heated front seats, and an Anthracite headliner.

Standard safety features include a parking assistant with trailer and reversing assistant, forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot steering assist.

Adding to the starting MSRP of $49,500 for the 2024 BMW X3 xDrive30i were items like a Premium Package (Active Driving Assist Pro, heated steering wheel, an interior camera, and remote engine start) for $3,400 and a Driving Assistant professional package for $1,700 as well. Stand-alone options like a parking assistant package that gives you sensors and a surround view camera ($200), front-ventilated seats and special bicolor 20-inch wheels ($600) also add on.

All told that ran the final tab to $57,725 including the $1,775 destination charge.

An inline, twin-turbo 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine rated at 393 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque is offered on the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive M50 that fills out the X3 portfolio. It’s a bit quicker than the 30i with a 4..4-second zero-to-60 mph clocking, but you pay for it. Starting MSRP is $65,275 including the destination charge.

What I liked about the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive 30i: The engine is very responsive and fuel efficient. The interior is roomy and the ride is comfortable. The cargo hold is spacious. Pricing is very reasonable considering the segment. Activated by the push of a convenient button the auto hold feature prevents creeping at intersections.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive 30i: Some of the numerous tech features are not easy to get to and others require extra touches. The gear selector on the console is kind of funky.

Would I buy the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive 30i? It’s worth a look but the competitive segment offers more attractive options. I’d prefer one with a more user-friendly infotainment system.

2025 CADILLAC CT-5 V-SERIES BLACKWING

MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS DECLINING  BUT CADILLAC IS A SURPRISING SOURCE FOR ONE

It’s not exactly ground-breaking news, but vehicles with manual transmissions have been fading from the markrt for several year now. Figures turned up on internet searches reveal that around 1 percent of the cars sold in the U.S. now are stick shifts.

It was surprising then in about a one-month span recently three of the four cars dropped off in my driveway for test drives came with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Two — the BMW M3 and Subaru WRX tS — were no surprise and in fact expected. The Cadillac that followed them, however, was a surprise.

Yes, imagine that. A Caddy with a clutch. The 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard and shifts so smooth it may have you making it your choice of transmission over the available 10-speed automatic.

And it’s hooked up to a V8 engine that packs a powerful punch.

The 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing sports a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine rated at 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque that scoots it from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, according to the website zeroto60times.com. It is rear-wheel drive.

No surprise here, but mileage figures are not that impressive. All that power uses up premium fuel at the rate of 13 miles per gallon in the city, 20 on the highway, and 15 combined resulting in a driving range of 255 miles, according to the government. That’s less range than that many EVs are delivering today.

 

This is a true sports sedan and, in fact, a luxury sports sedan in all aspects. The exterior features a redesigned grille and front fascia featuring LED headlights, and the rear sports quad dual exhaust tips that sing a seductive tune on acceleration.

Inside, Cadillac has packed the C2025 CT5 V-Series Blackwing with a long list of tech features that can be selected via a dial on the console or punched in via the touchscreen that is part of the 33-inch display that stretches across the front of the cabin.

Front seats are heated and ventilated and feature a massage function. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Google built-in infotainment are among standard features.

The Blackwing trim the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series is by far the most expensive model in the portfolio. It starts at $95,595 and that doesn’t include the $1,385 for delivery. That’s a jump of about $40,000 from the basic 2025 CT5 V-Series 4-door sedan.

My test 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing included options that started with carbon ceramic brakes for $9,000, jet black accents and full semi-aniline leather seats featuring custom quilting and carbon fiber front seat backs for $8,90. A Carbon Fiber 1 package (front spiller, front wheel well deflectors, and rear extra aero spoiler) adds $5,600, and a performance data record tacks on $1,600.

Remember those thirsty fuel consumption figures I mentioned earlier? It shouldn’t come as a surprise they earn the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwin a Gas Guzzler charge of $2,100, running the final total to $124,005.

What I liked about the 2025 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing: The manual transmission is very accommodating. Performance lives up to its sports sedan billing. The interior is nicely done, and the exterior is very striking. This is what Cadillac should be all about. The dual exhaust has a very nice sound, Tech features are plentiful and easy enough to operate.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Cadillace V-Series Blackwing: The trunk is on the small side offering less than 12 cubic feet of space. It is very much on the pricey side.

Would I buy the 2025 Caidllac V-Series Blackwing? You don’t have a whole lot of choices when it comes to  luxury vehicles with such sporty driving characteristics. With the final assembly point in Lansing, Michigan, you don’t have to be concerned with potential tariff charges.