Prelude: 2021 Cadillac CT4 V-Series

In case you haven’t noticed, Cadillac has become the only US auto manufacturer to continue developing new sedans. Two, in fact! GM’s own Buick brand, Ford, and Lincoln have dropped their sedan offerings all together, leaving just the aged Chevrolet Malibu and Dodge Challenger as the only two four-door vehicles available. But Cadillac soldiers on, developing both the CT5 and this CT4 to compete in the German-dominated sport sedan market. Having been a bit lukewarm to our winter test of the CT5 V-Series early this year, we resolved to wait until the weather improved to try the smaller CT4 V-Series. Slotting in Cadillac’s performance lineup between the CT4 and upcoming CT4-V Blackwing, this compact sedan completes with the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A35, the Audi S3, and the BMW M240i Gran Coupe.

For the driver, the CT4 V-Series immediately feels right-sized. Fans of the venerable E46 3-Series…