2019 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan

It's the year 2019, and you can buy a 640-horsepower Cadillac that will accelerate as fast as a Porsche and stick with a BMW M5 around the corners. It's a great time to be alive. The CTS-V is now in its last year of production, but it is still as great as ever and continues to shock us with its outright pace and impressive cornering abilities. Starting from $86,995, this 6.2-liter supercharged V8 beast of a midsize luxury performance sedan represents amazing value for money, and includes standard features such as a head-up display system and wireless phone charging. The CTS-V goes up against the likes of BMW's more luxurious M5 as well as the other German muscle car, the Mercedes-AMG E63, both of which carry a price premium over the CTS-V, but are also both far newer.

Without any options, the 2019 Cadillac goes for an MSRP of $86,995 (excluding a $995 destination fee), slotting between the $65,795 Dodge Charger Hellcat and the $102,700 BMW M5. Coming in at $15,705 under the BMW shows just how good a bargain the American muscle sedan really is, and although it can't match the BMW in terms of interior quality or safety, it comes close to matching the historical class-leader in terms of performance and driver engagement.

Whereas the CTS-V's competition, especially from Europe, has focused more on comfort and less on all-out performance driving, the fast Caddy has sharpened up its handling capabilities to the extent that it has become one of the best-handling midsize sedans on the road today. Hit the road in touring mode, and the steering feels soft and comfortable, perfect for daily driving. Sport and Track modes get progressively heavier to the point where it would be uncomfortable to use on shopping runs. Feedback is good in any mode, although an electrically assisted feeling still persists. Cadillac realized that the CTS-V would be driven by drivers of all levels, so they made sure to cloak the car in layers of electronic safety systems, which can be switched on and off at the driver's will. One thing that becomes abundantly clear when you first drive the CTS-V with vigor is the sheer amount of tire grip around mid to high-speed corners, partly thanks to a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Punching the throttle destroys that feature almost instantly. The magnetic ride control keeps everything in check and impresses with its ability to switch from cruising to track mode on the fly. Bringing everything to a halt is a set of massive Brembo brakes, designed for mixed track and commuter work.

When the CTS-V first appeared back in 2016, we were not only impressed with its massive power and straight-line speed, but also with its impressive road-holding capabilities, a feature that truly placed it amongst the best in its class. Back then, the sub-par interior could be forgiven, as the rest of the car was so good. Fast forward to 2019, and not a lot has changed: the 640-hp supercharged V8 engine is still a blast, handling and braking are still up there with the best, but the interior design and material choices let it down. The aging infotainment system is another sore point to what is otherwise a well put together interior, featuring most modern-day safety and infotainment tech. While the CTS-V might be able to hold its own out on the track, it proves to be unable to match its German rivals in terms of safety, and misses out on specific modern safety systems such as emergency front braking. It's also one of the thirstiest cars you can buy, returning only 14/21/16 mpg. Despite these drawbacks, the Cadillac CTS-V offers a competent overall package at a fantastic price that, even after three years, is still a thorn in the side of more established performance sedans. At the end of its life, now may be your last chance to get a piece of the American M5 rival - but we have a feeling forthcoming product from Cadillac will quickly usurp the CTS-V's charms.

There's only one 2019 Cadillac CTS-V model on sale, so you'll have to take a gander at the options list to decide if you want anything over and above the standard package. We'd suggest stretching for the Luxury Package, which adds three-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera mirror, a split-folding seat that gives the CTS-V some actual practical cargo space, as well as heated rear seats, rear power sunshades and more. The performance junkies will be pleased to note that they can get a performance data and video recorder that allows the driver to pinpoint areas of improvement while going around the track. The Recaro bucket seats not only look good but offer superior support over the standard seats, further improving the performance potential of this fast Caddy. Equipping all of these will put your total cost at around $93,395.

The BMW M5 set the bar for performance sedans way back in 1984 when the German automaker decided to shoehorn a 3.5-liter inline-six motor into their humble midsize luxury sedan. Since then, the M5 has become the car against which all other car manufacturers compare their midsize sport sedan offerings. The 2019 M5 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that produces 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. This gets the M5 from zero to sixty in only 3.1 seconds, thanks to all-wheel-drive versus the CTS-V's RWD system. It is undeniable that the M5 is the more accomplished car; it offers a more refined interior, driving experience, and improved practicality, and is a safer car as well; but, it can't match the CTS-V in terms of outright attitude and driver engagement. It's also $15,000 more expensive, so if you're looking for a performance bargain, the Caddy is a great choice.

Choosing between these two cars will wholly depend on what type of driving experience you're after: the Charger Hellcat is a no-nonsense hammer-blow of a car, offering mountains of power all wrapped up in a cool-looking retro muscle car body, which is more practical than you'd think. The Charger offers more cargo and legroom space but isn't as luxurious or refined as the CTS-V. In a straight line, it will dominate the Caddy, but put them on a tight track, and the CTS-V will show the Charger its heels. So, are you looking for a big bruiser, or a super-luxury sedan? The Charger's low asking price of only $65,795 might just sway us.