2025 Cadillac CT5-V: RWD or AWD ?

[Chuck99]

I’ve been looking at these, reading reviews, & trying to figure out which is the one to get. I realize everyone has different needs/wants, but I’m trying to narrow down the pros & cons.

From what I’ve looked at so far, RWD models have summer tires & AWD models have all season tires.

We get snow in the winter but I really don‘t need AWD because this car wouldn’t be driven in the snow. But how well do summer tires grip in cold weather before the snow arrives?

Will AWD really help traction & make any difference in the 0-60 time because the engine is only 360HP ?

What I like about the RWD model is it’s $2,000 cheaper, and presuming it would be more trouble free and/or require less maintenance.

Is there any consensus of opinion which model is preferred?

Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[LF4472]

The AWD system is not for performance. It will not improve acceleration times.

 

[Denrael]

If you're not going to drive the car during inclement weather, IMO the AWD model is a waste of money. The additional weight and less favorable weight distribution degrades acceleration and handling on dry roads, relative to the RWD model.

But now... about those Summer tires and cold weather (like 40 F or below)... DON'T. Here's what the owner manual has to say about that subject and they mean it. I ended up with a set of badly cracked summer-only's on a CTS VSport that was used by the dealership as a loaner/demo car during an Oklahoma City Winter, prior to my purchase. They were good about it and replaced the tires at no cost.

You should also be aware that when compared to all season counterparts (in my case on the CT4V BW... Michelin Pilot Sport 4S vs Michelin Pilot Sport A/S4) the Summer tires handle more crisply but clearly ride harsher and are a little noisier.

 

[Chuck99]

There aren't many of these cars at local dealers. So far I've found 2 with AWD & all season tires and 1 with RWD & summer tires.

The Cadillac build-it website lists other cars but they are all hundreds of miles away. Yes I could drive to these but if they low ball my trade-in then what's the point. So I'm trying to stay somewhat local but the choices are slim.

I could buy the RWD & swap AS tires when the time comes. Just shouldn't have to do that.

 

[Denrael]

Something to consider would be to buy an out-of-town car... remotely or otherwise... and peddle your car to one of the online marketers like Carvana. I did this on my last "trade" and got within 7-8% of the best I could have done on a p-to-p sale and more than what any dealer would have given on trade-in. And that last part would certainly have been the case, since I was changing brands. I bought the BW from a Cadillac dealer in Florida and I'm in Kansas; they handled shipment as part of the deal. The "trade-in" (a plug-in hybrid Volvo S60) went to Carvana. The whole exercise was painless and I couldn't be happier.
Don't get me started on GM's (and other OEM's) policies as regards Summer tires. They tell you in the owner manual to not expose the tires to cold temps, but deliver new cars in the dead of Winter with the damn things installed. Makes no sense whatsoever. Here's a pic of the Pirelli tires (at about 8k miles) that were on my '14 VSport. Those cracks extended full circumference on a couple of the tires.

 

[Chuck99]

Just for reference, according to the Cadillac build-it website:

RWD vehicles: There is 1 at 21 miles distance, 1 at 185 miles, 1 at 251 miles.
The vehicles at 21 & 251 miles distance indicate summer tires per window sticker.

AWD vehicles: There are 18 within 187 miles and 43 within 250 miles.
I spot checked a few & they did not indicate summer tires so I presume all-season.

It would make sense that the northern states favor AWD & no summer tires. Guess I have to move!
I haven't driven a CT5-V yet but plan on doing that this coming week & will see how I like it.

 

[shbox]

AS tires are an available option on the RWD models. That's how I ordered mine in 2022. No difference in price.

 

[Chuck99]

AS tires are an available option on the RWD models. That's how I ordered mine in 2022. No difference in price.

On the Cadillac build-it web site I did see the AS tires as an option. The Summer tires box is checked by default whether you choose to build a RWD or AWD car. But so far I haven't seen an AWD window sticker which indicates Summer tires. Makes me wonder if somewhere along the way this gets changed to AS.

For the heck of it I changed the search zip code to Austin TX. Now most cars are RWD.
30 RWD cars are available within 160 miles.
7 AWD cars are within 153 miles. Even within 318 miles only 11 AWD are available.
Clearly the climate affects what dealers are ordering. That sure impacts my selection.