If you're looking for a luxury sedan, two models stand out. There’s the Cadillac CT5 and the Lexus ES 350. We’ll be taking a look at both so you have the best idea of which one to get. This is your 2025 luxury sedan buying guide.
Key Takeaways:
- If you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for your next fix, the CT5 is for you. More than just a sedan, this can be a track monster.
- The CT5 is a Cadillac at heart, coming with some of the most luxurious features on the market.
- The CT5 can hit 200+ with the right model.
Does the 2025 Cadillac CT5 Come With Luxury Options?
For 2025, the CT5 will see a facelift. This is to the front fascia, grille, and interior. The biggest change that you can find for the CT5 is the new 33-inch screen that stretches across the dash. This new system brings the updated Google-based infotainment system.
Other new features to the safety of the vehicle. This year, the standard comes with active blind-spot assist, a new driver-attention monitoring system, a reworked automated emergency braking feature, and an available traffic sign recognition feature.
The ES350 sees some new features for the ES350 F Sport Handling in 2025. This is a new Black line special edition package. It adds some new aesthetic changes, but only 1000 will be made. Thanks to the limited number, it will cost you $1500, on top of $2500 in other mandatory options, to add it.
While both models do come with new features, only the CT5 will have features that are mass-produced. Making it easier for everyday drivers to use them.
How Much Does the Cadillac CT5 Cost?
The CT5 line is pretty comprehensive. The base lineup has two trims, there’s the base Premium Luxury trim that starts at $49,090, with the high-end Sport trim starting at $50,090
If you want the best of the best, then you can look for the V-Series models. While they are souped-up builds of the CT5, they still share the same base model. These are offered in the V-Series starting at $58,490, and the V-Series Blackwing starting at $97,090.
With a few models to pick from, Car and Driver is torn between two trims. These are the Premium Luxury and the V-Series. The Premium Luxury trim is a “stylish mid-size luxury sedan that's a respectable handler and a good value” in their eyes. The V-Series is for those who “want a sports sedan that can compete on any road with world-class Europeans”.
The ES 350 may have a better starting price at $43,215, but it loses out on some luxury features. When looking at the lineup, there’s the:
- ES 350 starting at $43,215
- ES 350 F Sport Design starting at $47,800
- ES 350 Luxury starting at $48,385
- ES 350 F Sport Handling starting at $49,675
- ES 350 Ultra Luxury starting at $52,105
With a few options to pick from, Car and Driver thinks that the Ultra Luxury is the best one to pick. This is because it comes with leather upholstery, a power trunk, and even upgrades the infotainment display to a larger 12.3-inch screen.
When comparing the features that it comes with, the “Ultra Luxury” trim doesn't seem luxurious, especially since it comes with a tiny screen when compared to the CT5’s 33-inch screen.
Is the Cadillac CT5 a Fast Car?
When looking at the CT5 lineup, if you want the most speed, then you want the Blackwing. This has a top speed of 205 MPH, and can go 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. This model is powered by a supercharged V8.
If 200+ mph isn’t your thing, the regular CT5 models still have respectable speeds. You can go up to 168 MPH, capable of going 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. This is thanks to the 3.0L Twin Turbo V6.
Both tests were conducted by Car and Driver, with the Blackwing test being found here, and the other models being tested here.
For the ES 350 speeds that have been recorded across the years that use the same engine, it has a top speed of 135 MPH. Able to go 0-60 in 6.0 seconds. The most recent test was done in 2025, with the earliest one using the same build being done in 2019.
Which luxury sedan is better in 2025: the Cadillac CT5 or the Lexus ES 350?
While the Lexus has the name, that’s all it has going for it. It can’t compare to the CT5 in any capacity, and we want you to come see that. Come on down to Reliable Cadillac today to see this luxury car in action!