The Fastest AWD American Sedan in 2024

Summary

• The Cadillac CT5-V offers luxury, power, and speed at a competitive price compared to its German rivals in the luxury sedan segment.
• Equipped with a 360 horsepower V-6 engine, the CT5-V delivers a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 156 mph.
• Despite the shift towards electric cars, the CT5-V stands as a high-performance, gas-powered sedan with engaging driving dynamics.

Something that never goes out of style over the years is the desire to boast about having the fastest car. Whether it’s to impress your crush or your friends, owning what’s considered the fastest machine in any given category feels excellent. Nowadays, there are millions of cars, in all tastes and colors, which also implies that there are many automakers scattered around the world fighting for the privilege of being considered a force in their field.

When you think about the fastest car in the world, supercars and sports cars always come to mind, usually in the form of coupes. However, there are many sedans that have notable performance when compared to some of the fastest cars in the world. Although they are in the middle point of the market, sometimes being overtaken by SUVs in terms of popularity, primarily thanks to the flexibility and extra space these vehicles provide, they still form a big part of the market and their performance is nothing but improving each passing day.

Considering the USA’s national industry, we took the trouble to find out which American sedan not only has four doors and can fit your family, but is also incredibly fast with an all-wheel drive configuration, and we have come to the conclusion that it is none other than the Cadillac CT5-V.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Cadillac, General Motors, the EPA, and Edmunds.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5-V Seizes The Honors

Cadillac has never aimed to be a sporty, performance brand. Instead, the automaker has always aspired to set the benchmark for luxury driving. However, that all changed about 20 years ago when Cadillac launched the V-Series line, a line of cars that sought to close the gap with European rivals that offered high-performance versions of their standard sedans. The 2024 Cadillac CT5-V continues that tradition, and is likely to be among the last of the gasoline-powered cars to do so.

Luxury and power merge in the new CT5-V, a vehicle that is not for every taste but has a set of features that make it appealing to a certain segment of consumers. Lately, it has become quite a success in the world of luxury sports sedans, as with the power and performance it delivers at the price it commands, it has earned a status as a car for enthusiasts.

360 Horsepower Is Within Reach, Courtesy Of Its V-6

There are many criteria for classifying cars based on how fast they are, but in this case, we’ll go with the good old 0 to 60 miles per hour time, as it takes into consideration the explosiveness of the car off the line. Clearly, the CT5-V is not the fastest car in the world, so its numbers won’t seem impressive compared to other cars like the CT5-V Blackwing or the Tesla Model S Plaid, if we also consider electric cars. By limiting the search to a gas-powered all-wheel drive American-made sedan, the spectrum is significantly narrowed.

It’s been a long journey from Cadillac’s first “V” series cars to today’s CT4 and CT5, with the 2024 CT5 V-Series representing a sort of middle ground in the lineup. It has more power than the base, non-V cars at 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque from its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, but it’s a far cry from the Blackwing’s 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet via a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 and rear-wheel drive configuration. Still, that’s more than the CT5’s standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and the optional 3.0-liter TTV6 that makes 335 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque.

It Clocks 60 Miles Per Hour In A Swift 4.8 Seconds

With a 10-speed automatic transmission, the CT5-V completes the 0–60 miles per hour run in a respectable 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 156 miles per hour, always in the all-wheel drive configuration. This falls far short of the Blackwing’s 3.4 seconds, but it’s still quick enough to feel faster not only than the standard luxury sedan but also than any American all-wheel drive sedan on the market.

Turn Heads With GM’s 3.0-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-6 Engine

Seeking to be synonymous with luxury, Cadillac is the General Motors brand that we most associate with opulence. However, since the introduction of the CT5 mid-size luxury four-door sedan in 2020, they have positioned themselves strongly in the market and, after several decades of failures, managed to compete neck and neck with the segment leaders. This year, a couple of the factors that make it more attractive are both its low price, and the achievable performance, which is mainly due to its turbocharged V-6 engine.

If Rolled Off The General Motors Assembly Line In 2020

The 3.0-liter V-6 engine (production code LGY) is a six-cylinder engine that General Motors began producing with the aim of applying it to luxury cars. It is part of GM’s fourth-generation high-feature DOHC V-6 engine family and was first launched on the 2020 Cadillac CT5. The engine is a variant of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 LGW engine but features a smaller turbo.

GM’s 3.0-Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-6 Specs

(Data sourced from Cadillac and General Motors)

For the 2024 edition, the standard CT5-V takes nearly every aspect of the regular CT5 sedan and cranks it up several notches for a more responsive feel and blistering acceleration. Furthermore, it also impresses with its handling and athleticism, and its beauty lies in the fact that it’s roomy, comfortable, and rides smoothly thanks to its high-performance suspension and steering systems.

Advantages Offered By All-Wheel Drive

Being car enthusiasts, we clearly enjoy speed, which is why you’re reading about the fastest American sedan. But why all-wheel drive? In recent decades, the acquisition of cars with this type of configuration has greatly increased in the United States, with safety being the main reason.

Safety is one of the most important considerations when choosing a new car. And if you live in a part of the country that gets frequent rain or snow, the all-wheel drive configuration works hard to keep cars safer on the road by sending power to all four wheels.

• It gives the vehicle more traction on roads slick with rain, ice, or snow, therefore helping your car “hug” the pavement, giving you greater control in treacherous situations.
• It precisely stops the rotation of the tire when engine force is reduced or braking temporarily. This can help prevent your car from spinning off on the ice, for example.
• It provides better distribution of the vehicle’s weight across its chassis, which gives more consistent handling.
• It operates actively and constantly throughout the drive.

The Downside Of All-Wheel Drive Is Its Impact On Fuel Economy

While it comes with many safety advantages, all-wheel drive systems have extra components that increase weight and mechanical friction, which can negatively impact fuel economy.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the base Cadillac CT5-V with the V-6 returns 21 MPG combined (18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway), although adding all-wheel drive drops that value to 26 MPG on the highway. Nevertheless, these numbers are on par with rivals such as the all-wheel-drive BMW M550i and Audi S6, which have very similar or even slightly lower values.

2024 Cadillac CT5-V’s Fuel Efficiency

(Data sourced from EPA)

The Last Bastion Standing Against Electrification

As Cadillac transitions into a mostly electric-powered lineup, the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing may represent the pinnacle of fossil-fueled greatness. Nowadays, most electric cars offer quick acceleration, and some can even beat the torrid CT5-V Blackwing to the 60 miles per hour mark, which, by the way, is considered the fastest gas-powered sedan in the world as of today.

However, these Cadillac super sedans are arguably more engaging to drive than many electrics, much lighter on their feet (without the 1,000-pound EV battery to haul around), and can be quickly refueled at any of the nearly 150,000 gas stations nationwide. Collectors will want to consider adding the CT5-V before it makes an exit, and regular buyers will enjoy a high-performance American luxury sport sedan while still having plenty of cash left over for gas and the occasional set of new tires.

A Fully Electric Future Is Projected By 2030

The 2024 CT5 is the only midsize luxury sedan from a U.S. brand that’s still available with an internal combustion engine, but that may not last long.

According to the head of Cadillac, the luxury brand of General Motors is already working to have an all-electric lineup by 2030 in line with its sustainability goals. In this way, Cadillac could be the last American luxury brand to transition away from internal combustion engine cars in this new era in automotive history.

How It Stacks Up Against The Competition

Cadillac, with each new model release, strives to continue its legacy, which is built on combining luxury, design, and performance. With the launch of the 2024 CT5-V, they didn’t just offer a means of transportation but a style statement that also delivers exceptional performance on the track and positions itself well against its direct competitors in the luxury sedan segment. Among luxury sedan rivals, only the Germans have the breadth to challenge the CT5.

The Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and BMW 5-Series range from mild 4-cylinders to potent boosted versions with ever-larger engines and track-ready suspensions, but none match the relative value of this Cadillac.

Comparison Between The 2024 Cadillac CT5-V And Its Competitors

(Data sourced from each respective manufacturer)

The significant advantage offered by the Cadillac model is its price. Starting at $38,395, there are thousands of dollars between that price and those of its competitors, which vary depending on the desired configuration. While the BMW 540i starts at $57,900, the Audi A6 doesn’t dip below $58,100, and the Mercedes-Benz remains steady at $62,300.

Clearly, there’s no comparison. The difference is substantial, which may be reflected in more details in the interior, better technology, and/or some additional safety features. If you’re interested solely in performance and having an all-wheel-drive luxury car at a reasonable price, there’s no doubt that the Cadillac is the better choice.