Being a car enthusiast is expensive. The cars we dream of aren’t cheap, and of all the hobbies out there, the expenses don’t stop when you’ve already purchased the item. Thankfully, you don’t always have to own your dream cars when they’re new. The beauty of certain vehicles is that, when properly taken care of, they’ll certainly last a long time.
That’s the case with today’s high-performance sports sedan. With 668 horsepower and a price tag that, when you look properly, can cost less than a brand-new, fully-loaded 2026 Toyota RAV4. Want healthy consumer advice? Get this high-performance sports sedan instead as a used purchase instead of dealing with numerous hoops due to the RAV4’s dealer markups. Of course, we’re kidding. But anyway, this sports sedan has become more affordable thanks to the power of depreciation. The question now is, is owning this used 668-horsepower sedan going to be a pleasure, or will it be a pain?
2026 Will Be Favorable To Enthusiasts
2025 BMW M2 front, exterior driving photoBMW Group
If you’re in the market for a used enthusiast-centered sports sedan, there’s strong evidence that 2026 will be a great year for you. Here’s why.
Leases Ending In 2023
BMW X3/X4 M Competition group shotBMW
Did you know that a high percentage of buyers in this segment, particularly if they’re from luxury brands, tend to prefer leasing? These people, who also have high disposable incomes, would always want to stick to the latest and greatest models. As such, leasing a European luxury sedan tends to be popular, especially since, as maintenance and repair data show, their maintenance costs get exponentially higher as they age, versus Asian luxury brands.
And guess what, in 2023, CarEdge determined that 2023 was a year when there was an uptick in three-year vehicle leases. Sedans in general also have higher average depreciation, which leads to cheaper dealer auction prices and, in turn, lower sticker prices when they need to sell them to customers. CarEdge closes the analysis by saying that in 2026, the sedan segment is going to be a hotspot.
Luxury Sedans Depreciate Fast
2025 Audi A7 front 3/4 shotAudi
With the exception of models from certain Asian luxury brands, luxury sedans tend to depreciate really fast—especially if they’re a pure electric vehicle (EV). We’ve created a list of the fastest depreciating luxury sedans, and you’ll notice that they’re mostly European, and half of the list is composed of electric vehicles (EVs). Imagine a luxury sedan whose resale value rapidly depreciates by more than half in just three years. That’s not an investment—that’s a liability. Then again, this is why, particularly in these segments, leasing is quite popular.
But of course, there’s a primary reason why these luxury sedans are rapidly depreciating. For the internal combustion engine (ICE) European models, as we mentioned earlier, their maintenance costs become exponentially more expensive as it ages, and that’s data backed by RepairPal. This is also why, according to CarEdge, brands like Lexus and Acura are on the other side of the spectrum as some of the slower-depreciating luxury brands.
A 668-HP Sedan For Fully-Loaded RAV4 Money
A Blue 2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and Red 2024 Cadillac CT5-V side by sideCadillac
With all of this information and market trends on hand, would you still consider getting a fully-loaded 2026 Toyota RAV4, which is nearly hitting the $70,000 mark, or a used Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing?
A Flood Of Leased Models Coming
Front 3/4 view of 2024 blue Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing.
Cadillac
When new, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing costs $98,900. In the used market, the lowest average values on a CT5-V Blackwing for now are in the low $70,000 range, particularly if it’s a high-mileage unit. On average, a CT5-V Blackwing will sell within the $75,000-$80,000 range. However, with some buyers opting for leases with this vehicle, particularly during the uptick in three-year leases in 2023, you can expect more supply for the CT5-V Blackwing in the coming years. More supply means lower values, and thus, the CT5-V Blackwing can easily cost less than a fully-loaded 2026 Toyota RAV4.
Now, if you prefer a manual, then that’s great if you prefer the thrill of three pedals. Unfortunately, CT5-V Blackwings with a manual are very resistant to depreciation. When the CT5-V Blackwing with a manual was introduced in 2022, it sold for $84,900. Today, their used values are almost the same as their brand-new prices. On average, the manuals retain their value 10 percent better than those with an automatic transmission.
Plenty Of Thrill, Whatever The Transmission
A shot of the Cadillac CT5-V BlackwingCadillac
But whichever transmission you choose, a used Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing represents the pinnacle of driving thrills in the luxury sports sedan segment. In recent years, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has gained a reputation for being even more fun and tactile than the best of what Germany can produce. Heck, at the used CT5-V Blackwing’s price point, you’re right in line with the prices of a fully-loaded 2026 Toyota RAV4, and there’s no way that a RAV4 can match even half of the performance and thrill that this supercharged sports sedan can offer.
And of course, the main highlight here is the driving experience. With 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque from a thunderous 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, the engine alone is already a selling point. Combine that with a beautifully precise chassis that makes this sports sedan perform well in the corners, and you’ve got a value-packed used purchase that, let’s be honest, can still seat the same number of passengers as a RAV4. Yet, despite the sheer precision and tactility of its handling, the CT5-V Blackwing’s electromechanical features still allow it to be docile and relaxing on a daily basis.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Engine
6.2-liter supercharged V-8
Layout
Front engine, RWD
Horsepower
668 hp
Torque
659 lb-ft
Transmission
6-speed M/T
10-speed A/T
0-60 mph
3.5 sec. (6-speed M/T)
3.4 sec. (10-speed A/T)
Top speed
200 mph
Base MSRP
$98,900
The Forgotten American Sedan That Still Holds Its Own Against Luxury Rivals
This American sedan may not get the attention it deserves, but it is still an alluring combination of power, luxury, and performance-focused features.
What A Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Is Like To Own
Front 3/4 view of 2022 Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing.Cadillac
A three-year-old 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing means looking for a pre-facelifted model. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect from this vehicle in terms of its looks, features, and its ownership costs.
Sporty Looks, But Not Luxurious Enough
From the outside, the 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing looks menacing. The tall, vertical LED daytime running lights and aggressive front end, plus the sloping roofline, help give this sports sedan a sporty design. I’m personally not a huge fan of the window kink on the C-pillar, but that’s perhaps just a preferential thing. From the rear, though, the CT5-V Blackwing looks sleek and well-proportioned. A black ducktail spoiler adds just the right aggression to what is otherwise a sporty and menacing midsize luxury sports sedan.
Move inside the CT5-V Blackwing, and you’ll spot an interior that looks relatively modern, but somewhat falls short on the luxury part. Sure, there are nice leather materials on the dash, doors, and seats, and also a generous serving of carbon fiber, but a luxury car is also all about the details. There are still a few cheap plastics and switchgear from the GM parts bin, which would otherwise be nonexistent in its German luxury rivals. On the upside, the CT5-V Blackwing’s rear seats have great legroom, but the sloping roofline reduces rear headroom somewhat. It’s still good enough for the average American, though, and it’ll be perfect for bringing your kids to school.
You’ll Be Glad It’s Not A Liability To Own
2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing engineTopSpeed | Garret Donahue
Most (not all) luxury sedans depreciate rapidly, and those that don’t have one thing in common—reliability. Unfortunately, the CT5-V Blackwing isn’t produced in huge numbers, but the entire CT5 lineup is. If the entire CT5 lineup were to be taken into account, RepairPal is happy to report that with a 3 out of 5 reliability rating, as well as having an average annual repair or maintenance cost of $783, the CT5 lineup is right about average for the overall industry. Lower than the European luxury cars, definitely, but higher to repair or own than the Asian brands.
Anecdotally speaking, the CT5-V Blackwing is said to be reliable, too. MotorReviewer says that the LT4 V-8 engine is inherently very robust, since it’s an LS-based V-8 engine. The issues that the engine can face in the long run are not out of the ordinary for such an engine. Equipped with direct fuel injection, carbon build-up is a thing, while 2017–2018 models with this engine can experience oil pump failures at the 40,000-mile mark. The CT5-V Blackwing is way past that year, so you no longer need to worry about the oil pump. Overall, the CT5-V Blackwing is a high-performance car, and so high-performance care is required. Do so, and you’ll be assured that the CT5-V Blackwing won’t let you down.
Sources: Cadillac, CarEdge, RepairPal, MotorReviewer
