Cadillac CT6-V

Luxury flagship sedans are a showcase of a carmaker's capabilities. With the 2020 Cadillac CT6-V, the spotlight is on performance. Based on the standard CT6, which comes with either a 237-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 335-hp V6, the CT6-V opts for a twin-turbo V8 Blackwing engine that produces a scintillating 550 hp.

In addition to the engine upgrade, the CT6-V ups the performance quotient with larger Brembo brakes, an adaptive suspension, sticky summer tires, and rear-wheel steering for added stability. Unfortunately, one of the CT6's coolest features — Cadillac's Super Cruise automated driving system — is not available on this V-Series model. But pretty much everything else you can get on the CT6 is included as standard equipment on the CT6-V.

The 2020 Cadillac CT6-V is in good company with other top-tier luxury sedans. At the top of our rankings is the venerable Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which combines high tech with old-school luxury. For comparable driver excitement, the AMG S 63 model is a fantastic choice. We also look toward the BMW Alpina B7 and forthcoming Audi S8 to get your blue blood pumping.

It's worth noting that these German alternatives are quite a bit more expensive than the fully loaded CT6-V. In return, however, they offer much nicer interiors. The Cadillac's cabin is improving with every generation, but materials quality and craftsmanship continue to trail behind the standards set by European and some Asian brands. But for this kind of luxurious performance under $100,000, it's hard to beat the Cadillac CT6-V.

Which CT6-V does MatoCar recommend?

Based on the Cadillac CT6 large luxury sedan, the 2020 Cadillac CT6-V is a high-performance variant powered by a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 engine (550 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque). This engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic and a dynamically adjustable all-wheel-drive system.

As the CT6-V is the top rung of the CT6 ladder, it is almost fully loaded. It's equipped with 20-inch wheels and summer performance tires, Magnetic Ride Control dampers to help absorb bumps instead of letting them upset the chassis, and rear steer, which further stabilizes the chassis at higher speeds. Big Brembo brakes with aggressive brake pads are also standard to help slow the car down from high speeds. A mechanical limited-slip differential ensures you'll never waste power with excessive wheelspin.

Heated and ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats are standard equipment. The front seats are performance-oriented bucket seats and feature 16-way adjustability. A 10.2-inch touchscreen and a rotary controller handle infotainment duty. The CT6-V comes with four USB ports (two Type A's and two Type C's), an auxiliary-in jack, Bluetooth connectivity, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. A 34-speaker Bose Panaray sound system handles the audio duties.

Safety equipment is maxed out as well. The CT6-V comes with cruise control, a following distance indicator, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and a teen driver function that lets the primary driver restrict vehicle features and remove the ability to disable safety equipment. Last year's optional Driver Assist package is now standard, adding adaptive cruise control, night vision, and both forward- and reverse-collision mitigation systems.

A surround-view camera system gives you a bird's-eye view for low-speed parking lot maneuvers, while a front-facing video recorder can record your daily commute or track-day adventure. The rearview mirror can be used as a standard mirror or as a monitor, displaying an image transmitted by a rear-facing camera. Unlike a rearview camera, this mirror-camera system can stay on at all speeds and provides a broader view than a regular rearview mirror. A lens-washing system ensures a clear view at all times.