Cadillac CT5-V vs CT5-V Blackwing: Which V-Series Sedan Is Right for You?

There is a question I get more than almost any other on the lot, and it is always asked with the same look of excitement. “What is the difference between the CT5-V and the CT5-V Blackwing?”

It is a great question, because the answer is bigger than most people expect. These are not two trim levels of the same idea. They are two very different cars that happen to share a body. One is a brilliant daily sport sedan. The other is one of the last true gas super-sedans Cadillac will ever build, and people are going to be chasing them for decades.

I am Adam Huber, I sell these cars in Sioux Falls, and I am going to lay both of them out for you straight.

The short version

The CT5-V is the everyday performance Cadillac. A twin-turbo V6, around 360 horsepower, quick and sharp and totally livable as a daily driver. Think of it as the sweet spot. Real performance, real comfort, a price that makes sense.

The CT5-V Blackwing is the monster. A supercharged V8 making about 668 horsepower, available with a real six-speed manual transmission, and a zero-to-sixty time in the low three-second range. It is the most powerful Cadillac sedan ever built, and it is one of the very few cars left at any price where you can row your own gears behind a supercharged V8.

So this is not “good and better.” It is “outstanding daily” and “legendary.”

CT5-V: the one most people should buy

Let me make the case for the regular V first, because it gets overshadowed and it should not.

The CT5-V runs a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 putting out roughly 360 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic. You can get it rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which matters a lot to us up here in South Dakota where winter is not optional.

Here is what the spec sheet does not tell you. This car is genuinely fun and genuinely easy to live with. The ride is firm but not punishing. The seats are excellent. It has the nice Cadillac interior and the tech, and it will still light up a back road and put a grin on your face. For most buyers who want something fast and special that they drive every single day, this is the smart pick.

AWD CT5-V in Sioux Falls is one of the easiest cars I sell, because it is the rare performance sedan you can actually use twelve months a year. You can read the factory specs on the official Cadillac CT5-V page, but the short version is that it just works.

CT5-V Blackwing: the last of a dying breed

Now the big one.

The CT5-V Blackwing uses a hand-built supercharged 6.2L V8. About 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. It does zero to sixty in the low threes and tops out north of 200 mph. Those are hypercar numbers from not that long ago, in a four-door car that seats five and has a trunk.

But the number that matters most to enthusiasts is not the horsepower. It is the available six-speed manual transmission. In an era where almost every performance car has gone automatic-only, Cadillac kept the stick shift alive in a 668-horsepower V8 sedan. That is the whole reason these cars are going to be collectible. There is nothing else like it being built, and when it is gone, it is gone.

If you want the manual, get the manual. You will never regret it, and it protects the value down the road.

CT5-V vs CT5-V Blackwing: the honest comparison

The thing I always tell people: do not buy the Blackwing just because it is the faster one. Buy it because you want a V8 and a manual and a piece of automotive history in your garage. If what you actually want is a fast, comfortable Cadillac you drive to work, the CT5-V is the better real-world car and it saves you a lot of money.

What do they cost?

Pricing moves and I will not quote you a number that goes stale. Here is the shape of it.

The CT5-V generally starts in the low-to-mid 50s. The CT5-V Blackwing starts in the mid 90s and climbs from there with options. Blackwings also hold their value extremely well because of how few are made and how desirable the manual is, so do not expect to find one heavily discounted.

For a real out-the-door price on a specific car, text or call me. I am at a best-price store and I would rather give you the accurate number than have you guessing.

A quick word on finding a Blackwing

Blackwings are built in limited numbers. Good ones, especially manuals in the right colors, do not sit around. If you have your heart set on a specific spec, the move is to get on my radar now so I can hunt one down for you across the network before someone else grabs it. I do this all the time for buyers who want something specific.

Building a V-Series garage

If you are the kind of person drawn to the Blackwing, you probably already feel the pull of the rest of the V-Series family. The same supercharged V8 attitude shows up in the 2026 Escalade-V, which is a 682-horsepower three-row SUV. A Blackwing for you and an Escalade-V for the family is about as good as a two-car garage gets.

And if your taste is running toward electric, the new 2026 Cadillac Vistiq brings serious instant-torque performance in a three-row package.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the CT5-V and the CT5-V Blackwing?
The CT5-V has a 360-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and is the daily-driver performance sedan. The CT5-V Blackwing has a 668-horsepower supercharged V8, an available six-speed manual, and is the high-performance flagship.

How much horsepower does the CT5-V Blackwing have?
About 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque from a supercharged 6.2L V8.

Does the CT5-V Blackwing come with a manual transmission?
Yes. The Blackwing is one of the last performance sedans available with a real six-speed manual, and it also offers a 10-speed automatic.

Is the CT5-V available in all-wheel drive?
Yes, the CT5-V offers all-wheel drive, which makes it a strong year-round choice in snowy climates. The Blackwing is rear-wheel drive only.

How much does a CT5-V Blackwing cost?
The Blackwing generally starts in the mid 90s and rises with options. They hold value well, so discounts are rare. Reach out for pricing on a specific car.

Want to drive one?

Numbers on a page do not capture what 668 horsepower and a manual feel like, and they do not capture how easy the regular CT5-V is to fall for either. You have to drive them.

I am Adam Huber at Luxury Auto Mall in Sioux Falls. Whether you want to test drive a CT5-V or you want me to track down a specific Blackwing build, reach out. No pressure, just a straight answer and a best price.

Internal links: 2026 Cadillac Escalade · 2026 Cadillac Vistiq