It’s getting harder than ever to purchase a rabid rear-wheel-drive V8 sports sedan that is pure enough to appeal to hardcore driving enthusiasts. Models like the BMW M5 have gotten extremely heavy by running turbocharged V8 units matched up with complex hybrid powertrains, as well as forward-thinking all-wheel drive systems.
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is one of the few machines that goes against the grain in this regard, making it one of the most exciting sedans on the market. The downside to this? It’s extremely expensive.
The Awesome CT5-V Blackwing Is Not Long For This World
2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Front Angle ViewCadillac
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing has been stalking US roads for a while now, having made its debut for the 2022 model year as the spiritual successor to the legendary CTS-V sedan. Its forerunner had been retired back in 2019, so its replacement was highly anticipated by the time it arrived. It stood apart from its rivals by being more of a muscle car in nature, since it twinned a huge supercharged V8 with aggressive styling and rear-wheel drive. A manual gearbox was also included in the base price, with a more conventional automatic transmission available for an extra few thousand.
It has remained steadfast in its approach even as its rivals embrace hybrid technology and traction-boosting AWD setups, though that particular story is about to come to an end. Cadillac announced early in 2026 that it would be discontinuing the CT5-V Blackwing at the conclusion of the 2026 model year, robbing American gearheads of one of the most usable muscle cars ever built. It’s understandable that buyers would want to secure one of the last examples to be built, with production set to wrap up in the next couple of months. As it turns out, in a story that has been seen countless times before, the dealers offering these vehicles are well aware of that demand.
Buying A New CT5-V Blackwing Is More Expensive Than You Think
2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Rear Angle ViewCadillac
Being such a rapid and well-equipped machine—it is a Cadillac, after all—it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to learn that even the most basic version of the vehicle carries a significant price tag. With the destination fee included, an entry-level manual car will set you back $100,695, though this figure can easily increase if you choose to add options like a different exterior paint color or a racier set of alloy wheels.
The thing is, actually getting one for this price is pretty difficult. Due to the model’s impending demise, making it more appealing and collectible than it previously was, dealers are taking the opportunity to hike up the prices of cars on their lots to try to secure an extra slice of profit. Take a 2026 manual car recently offered through Ken Ganley Motorcars as a good example of this. It carried an eye-opening $115,420 asking price, and though it may have around $3,500 worth of extras, that’s still well above its base MSRP, especially when you bear in mind its odometer sported just shy of 3,000 miles.
That’s nothing compared to what some official Cadillac dealers are trying to sell their CT5-V Blackwings for, however. Sewell Cadillac of San Antonio very recently offered a Red Tincoat machine equipped with a manual gearbox listed for $139,944, despite the car coming with extras that should keep the price around the $130k mark, and with over 4,500 miles on the clock. This is despite it not even coming with delivery mileage. Lesser-traveled examples with similar extras, like the $18k Precision Package and $5,750 Carbon Package 1, are being advertised for upwards of $160k by some dealers.
These markups are significant, but the Cadillac dealerships applying them know that there will be buyers desperate to secure a low-mileage final example before supply dries up completely. Looking to the used market for a good deal isn’t a much better option, as prices there are also quite high.
The Values Of Used CT5-V Blackwings Are Holding Firm
Yellow 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing side viewCarBuzz/Jared Resonholtz/Valnet
While you can save some money by opting for a used CT5-V Blackwing, you won’t exactly be getting amazing value for money. Even the highest-mileage and oldest 2022 examples are listed for around $75k, with these vehicles tending to carry well north of 50,000 miles on the odometer. Considering they sold brand-new for $83,995 just a few years ago, securing a car with such high mileage given its age for under $10k less isn’t the depreciation devil’s finest work.
Given the level of performance, luxury, and rarity the CT5-V Blackwing represents, you’re going to struggle to get a particularly good deal on one, since there’s a great chance it’ll become a classic in the next few decades. If you factor in each older model year, spanning between 2022 and 2025, the average used value of the model stands at $99,152, just a few grand short of its base MSRP, including the destination fee.
The CT5-V Blackwing is a mighty special car, and you’ll have to be prepared to pay for the privilege of owning one. There’s little point in waiting, as values are likely to move in only one direction—and not the one you want, if you don’t yet own one.
The Versatile Caddy Is Arguably Worth The Premium It Commands
2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing EngineCadillac
That said, the CT5-V is genuinely impressive, and it’s hard to fault buyers for wanting to secure one despite the recent price hikes from dealers. Its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 is one of the biggest catalysts in this regard, for a few key reasons. Firstly, it sends a physics-bending 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque to the rear axle, delivering intoxicating performance and driving excitement, as those with the requisite skill can put the rear end to work. Beyond that, being supercharged, it also provides beautifully crisp throttle response due to lacking the lag of many turbocharged V8s around these days.
The cherry on top is that the power plant emits one of the most soulful soundtracks of any new car on the market, setting it apart as a refreshing machine against a backdrop of countless turbocharged and electrified models flooding the automotive landscape in 2026. Thanks to a finely tuned independent suspension arrangement, which uses Caddy’s MagneRide adaptive damping tech, and powerful Brembo brakes, it dispatches twisty roads with vigor as well.
That’s not all, as this is a Cadillac, remember. That means it comes with a sumptuous cabin outfitted with ultra-comfortable and supportive seats, as well as an extensive range of standard equipment that helps ensure the CT5-V Blackwing functions well as a daily driver and a road-going performance weapon. It may be expensive, but seeing as the Blackwing is two distinct cars in one handsome package, that should make its premium price tag a little easier to justify.
Cadillac’s Blazing Muscle Sedan Could Make A Return
2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing SpoilerCadillac
While it’s a shame to lose the current CT5-V Blackwing, chances are that the nameplate will make a welcome return before too long. Cadillac is hard at work on a brand-new CT5 model to replace the outgoing one, and it is set to continue using conventional gasoline engines rather than switch to a fully electric powertrain. This is encouraging, given this leaves the door open to develop a new CT5-V Blackwing model.
Seeing as most of the Blackwing’s rivals have moved away from characterful V8 engines and toward quieter turbocharged units, while also abandoning the engaging manual gearbox, the new model could score points with enthusiasts by retaining the recipe of the current car. The brand does compete in Formula 1 and top-flight sports car racing, so keeping this DNA front and center should help the CT5-V Blackwing stand out against its historically more popular European rivals in an ever more homogenized automotive landscape.
The next CT5 looks set to arrive in 2028 as a 2029 model year car, so if Cadillac follows the same timeline, the next Blackwing variant could well arrive for 2031. That’s some time away, but it at least gives the brand an opportunity to refine the formula and ensure the next model builds upon the already-excellent outgoing car without losing any of what makes it special.
Cadillac has done an admirable job of revitalizing its reputation in recent years, and executing a compelling next-generation CT5-V Blackwing should further solidify its place at the forefront of the luxury performance segment alongside BMW and Mercedes-Benz, having spent so many years playing catch-up.
Sources: Cadillac
