Why is the CT5 slow to accelerate despite its high horsepower?
3 Answers
The reason for the car's less-than-ideal 0-100 km/h acceleration performance lies in its 10-speed automatic transmission and the engine's excessively low shift RPM. Below is a detailed introduction to the Cadillac CT5: 1. Overview: The CT5 is a midsize sedan under the Cadillac brand, with dimensions of 4924mm in length, 1883mm in width, and 1453mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2947mm. 2. Powertrain: The vehicle is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine across all trims. This engine, codenamed LSY, delivers 237 horsepower and a maximum torque of 350 Nm. It reaches peak power output at 5000 rpm and maximum torque between 1500 and 4000 rpm. The engine features direct fuel injection technology and utilizes an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block.
As a seasoned driver who often drives performance cars, I find the CT5's situation of having high horsepower but slow acceleration quite common. The 10-speed automatic transmission in this car is tuned too conservatively—every time I step on the gas, there's always a half-second delay before the power kicks in, making it feel like driving a boat. Plus, the car weighs nearly 1.7 tons, equivalent to carrying three extra adults. Once, during a closed-course test, I noticed the rear wheels spinning wildly at launch—the factory all-season tires simply couldn't grip the road, wasting the engine's 237 kW power. Oh, and this turbo engine has another flaw—it feels sluggish below 2000 RPM, requiring a deep press on the accelerator to deliver any real punch. If you want quicker acceleration, switching to high-grip summer tires might be more practical than flashing the ECU.
As someone who has modified several Cadillacs, I can tell you the CT5's acceleration issues stem from its entire powertrain setup. That LSY engine doesn't deliver peak torque until 3500 RPM - a range you rarely hit in daily driving. The front-heavy FR layout makes the nose lift like a seesaw during hard acceleration, naturally reducing rear wheel traction. The factory installed an overly long final drive ratio for fuel economy, but it sacrifices launch performance. Also, the AC compressor is too rigidly coupled to the powertrain - you can literally feel power being drained when accelerating with AC on in summer. Try switching to lightweight wheels - reducing unsprung mass brings noticeable improvements.
