2024 Cadillac CT4

When I say Cadillac, what's the first thing that pops into your mind? It could be the big black hearse leading a funeral procession, or it may conjure up images of those massive Cadillac Fleetwoods of the past that shuttled mafioso types in their expensive suits around town to do their "business." Times change - so does vehicle design - as is proven by the vehicle I'm currently road testing: the 2024 Cadillac CT4 Premium Luxury with Super Cruise.

This car is bold, spacious and luxurious. And yes, those are words that can be used to describe just about any Cadillac, but the CT4 also has a sporty look and feel as well as all the latest tech gadgetry to make my drive really fun and interesting. One of the features I've been looking forward to testing is Super Cruise, Cadillac's semi-autonomous hands-free driving technology. I'm excited but, at the same time, a bit nervous - this is my first time in a hands-free Cadillac.

It will be great to give my hands a rest during the drive because I'm heading to fun-filled Las Vegas and, obviously, I'll need all my strength for repeatedly pulling the handles on slot machines. If I win enough, this will be a one-way trip. I'll simply buy a modest mansion and send Cadillac a check for this car. Seriously though, Vegas is one of my preferred destinations for testing any new vehicle because of the variety of road and traffic conditions along the way, not to mention pretty decent weather at this time of year.

The exterior styling of this car leaves little, if anything, to be desired. The sculpted body design is an attention getter and, sure enough, as I stop to grab a bite along the way, fellow travelers are approaching me to ask about the car. People seem to be quite impressed by the car's sleek appearance and Cadillac's signature vertical front and rear lighting. The 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels with midnight silver pockets on our test vehicle are quite striking, as well.

The CT4 looks great on the inside, too, with a stylish two-tone cinnamon and black interior. It definitely has the look and feel of a luxury car, but the contoured dash and Tap Shift controls (for manual shifting, if desired) on the steering wheel add an exciting touch of sportiness. The seating surfaces are leather and, while they look like they would be very comfortable, I find them to be quite the opposite.

This car claims to have 12-way adjustable bucket seats for the driver and passenger but, based on my experience thus far, maybe Cadillac should consider a 13th. No matter how I adjust the seat - and believe me I've pushed every button in an attempt to get comfy - I am squirming in my seat and I find myself taking a break from driving every hour or so to get out and stretch. This hasn't happened to me in any other vehicle I've driven, especially a premium luxury vehicle, so it seems to be more of a reflection on the seat design and construction itself rather than the comfort controls.

Rear seating is reasonably comfortable as long as the driver and front passenger seats are not all the way back. The CT4 is considered a small luxury sedan but doesn't really look small from the outside or feel small while driving, but the limited leg room in the rear seat does tend to give the car a smallish feel. There are air vents and a handy pull-down arm rest for rear seat passengers, and everyone in the car can stay connected to the world with available wi-fi and enjoy entertainment options raging from HD Radio and streaming services, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity.

The CT4 is powered by a turbo 4-cylinder engine. A 2.0-liter 237-horsepower engine paired with an 8-speed automatic comes standard. Our test vehicle is equipped with an available 2.7-liter 310-horsepower engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, a $2,500 add-on and, in my opinion, worth the extra cost. There's plenty of power for just about any driving adventure you may embark upon, and hesitation-free acceleration to make your way around slower moving vehicles. The car has auto stop/start with a button to disable it, if desired.

The car handles beautifully. This is an all-wheel drive vehicle with performance suspension and low profile, self-sealing all-season tires. The steering is very responsive, and cornering is sharp and confident. Anyone that has made the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas knows of the various conditions along the way. The freeway traffic in the L.A. area, the less-than-smooth rural roads when you exit the 15 freeway for food or a restroom stop and the curvy side roads that wrap around the Las Vegas Strip. The CT4 performs effortlessly in just about any driving situation.

And just a reminder, this vehicle is equipped with Super Cruise so highway driving is basically hands-free. GPS, map data and a lane-sensing camera all work together to automatically steer, brake and position the vehicle on the highway. Cameras and radar scope the road ahead.

Simply engage the adaptive cruise control, push the Super Cruise button on the steering wheel and the top of the steering wheel lights up green to let you know Super Cruise is active. As I remove my hands from the wheel, the car does a perfect job of steering the vehicle by itself and, if I tap the turn signal lever for a lane change, the CT4 changes into the next lane by itself. Super Cruise can be deactivated by pushing the button again or applying the brakes.

Super Cruise is not designed to take the place of safe, responsible driving. An eye-tracking camera watches the driver to detect whether or not they are paying attention. You must remain alert and in control of the vehicle or Super Cruise will disengage. Admittedly, I was a bit apprehensive at first to push the button to activate it, but I am highly impressed with how efficiently this system performs.

Another cool feature on the CT4 is the video recording system, part of the Super Cruise 2 package on our test vehicle. Cameras located around the vehicle monitor and record driving activity while the vehicle is in operation and serves as a video surveillance system when the car is parked. Video is recorded onto an SD card inserted in the center console.

I'm making a stop along the way at Terrible's Road House in Jean, Nevada. I'm not stopping to fuel up, I don't really need to at this point because the fuel economy in the CT4 is quite respectable. Estimated fuel economy is 21 city and 29 highway, and I'm averaging 26.2 miles per gallon on the trip so far. I stopped because I wanted to see the largest Chevron station in the U.S. with a mind-blowing 96 gas pumps, 60 restroom stalls, and a 50,000 square foot convenience store.

Overall Opinion

The Cadillac CT4 Premium Luxury is considered a small luxury sedan, however, I feel for most people, including myself, this would be the perfect size vehicle as a daily driver. It is sporty enough to drive to a casual event but distinctive enough to arrive at a VIP affair.

The vehicle is loaded with safety features, such as forward collision alert, enhanced automatic emergency braking and following distance indicator, just to name a few. It has an array of passenger comfort and convenience features, including dual-zone climate controls, a sunroof and wireless phone charging, as well as being wi-fi capable.

This is a lot of car for what some may consider a lot of money. Our test vehicle started with a base price of $39,495 and, after adding the Super Cruise 2 package and a lengthy list of other upgrades and options, the total cost comes to $53,970. In my opinion, well worth it based on our road test. While the lack of driver seat comfort would be a consideration for me, overall, this seems to be a good value and a solid performer.

The CT4 lineup also includes Luxury starting at $34,595 and Sport, starting at $40,695. However, if you desire even more power and prestige, the 325-horsepower CT4-V starts at $47,095 and the 472-horsepower CT4-V Blackwing, with a 3.6-liter twin turbocharged V6 engine and 6-speed manual transmission (10-speed automatic available,) starts at $61,495.