The 2025 Cadillac CT4 and 2025 BMW 2 Series offer enthusiast drivers several intriguing choices at a spread of price points. They’re ways to enter the luxury car world, and their tidy dimensions bring a certain verve to the driving experience.
Let’s check out these small luxury cars and see how and where they hit the mark.
2025 Cadillac CT4
2024 model shown
The CT4 is Cadillac’s smallest sedan and most affordable vehicle. And affordable luxury holds plenty of appeal for buyers. As well as being among the least expensive luxury sedans, it’s also (to our eyes) one of the most visually appealing. The CT4 starts out with a 237-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The next step up features a 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder making 310 hp. Jump to the CT4-V and there’s 325 hp with a 10-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) can be added to any of these choices. Finally, the CT4-V Blackwing develops 472 hp from a turbocharged V6. To emphasize the “sport” in sports sedan, a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive are standard. A 10-speed automatic is optional in the Blackwing, but not all-wheel drive.
The CT4’s cabin shows Cadillac’s evolution from interiors swathed in wood and leather with pillow-like seating to a technology-oriented setup with high-end materials.
Cadillac CT4 Highlights
Safety smarts: The Cadillac Smart System brings standard safety tech that includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a safety alert vibrating seat, rear parking sensors, and a Teen Driver mode.
Super Cruise: This allows hands-free driving on highways mapped by Cadillac. It can even handle automatic lane changes without the driver touching the wheel. The BMW 2 Series has no such hands-free option.
Tech touches: An optional tech package adds a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, a color head-up display, and additional interior air filtration to the Premium Luxury and Sport trims.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CT4 models near you.
2025 BMW 2 Series
Small yet sporty cars are an integral part of BMW’s heritage, the 2 Series being an impressive reminder of that legacy. It’s available as a 2-door coupe or the 4-door Gran Coupe. For our purposes here, we’ll mostly be discussing the 4-door Gran Coupe. This year, heated front seats become standard. An update to the infotainment system brings a few controls like cabin temperature onto the touchscreen, or enabling activation through voice commands. And the Gran Coupe comes with more power and equipment than before.
Like the Cadillac CT4, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is the smallest sedan in the BMW lineup. However, the base 228 sDrive Gran Coupe has a hugely enjoyable 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine putting out 241 hp (up from 228 hp). Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard; all-wheel drive (AWD) is available.
A more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine comes with the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe. This one generates 312 hp (up from 302 hp) driving all four wheels. Or there’s the 2-door-only M2 coupe delivering a wonderful 473 hp from its 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine (20 more horses than last year). As with the high-performance Caddy, a manual transmission comes in the M2.
The 2 Series’ cabin has a simple, clean design focused on the driver. It’s where sports car flair and premium vehicle ambiance converge.
BMW 2 Series Highlights
Driver information: BMW’s standard Live Cockpit Plus features a configurable driver information display and an infotainment touchscreen for other functions — all in one curved unit. It brings a high-tech vibe to the cabin that the Cadillac CT4 cannot match.
Performance control: Torque vectoring means that the outside rear wheel goes around a bend faster than its counterpart on the inside, making cornering as efficient and stable as possible. It’s standard across the 2 Series range and contributes significantly to the sporty driving experience.
Crisp colors: From purple to aqua green, the 2 Series is offered in a range of vibrant colors that sets it apart from other cars.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the 2 Series models near you.
Similarities
With attractive exterior styling matched by driver-focused cabins with high-end finishes, the Cadillac CT4 and BMW 2 Series offer luxury and performance for entry-level premium buyers.
Pricing
New 2026 Genesis GV70 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (78626)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$49,435 |
TBD |
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$52,335 |
TBD |
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$56,885 |
TBD |
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$60,245 |
TBD |
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$64,865 |
TBD |
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$71,545 |
TBD |
New 2026 Genesis GV70 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (78626)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$49,435 |
TBD |
|||
$52,335 |
TBD |
|||
$56,885 |
TBD |
|||
$60,245 |
TBD |
|||
$64,865 |
TBD |
|||
$71,545 |
TBD |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Cadillac CT4 | 2025 BMW 2 Series (4-door) | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 237 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 241 hp @ 4,500-6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 295 lb-ft @ 1,500-4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 22 city mpg/32 highway mpg/26 combined mpg | 26 city mpg/38 highway mpg/30 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 2.7-liter turbo 4-cyl/AWD | 3.0-liter turbo 6-cyl/AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 109.3 inches | 105.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 187.2 inches | 178.5 inches |
| Width | 71.4 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Height | 56.0 inches | 55.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.1 feet | 37.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.3 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 36.5 inches | 35.7 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.4 inches | 41.4 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 33.4 inches | 34.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.2 inches | 55.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 53.9 inches | 53.1 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 10.7 cubic feet | 12.0 cubic feet |
Conclusion
BMW has an enviable reputation for creating compelling performance sedans, and the 2 Series is definitely part of that tradition. There’s also the superior prestige of the BMW badge. Cadillac’s image may be a bit muddled for some buyers, given its shift in approach during the past decade. However, a decent spell behind the wheel of the CT4 will show how good a new Cadillac can be. They’re both great choices, but you could take the $4,000 saved with the Cadillac CT4 and enjoy an excellent road trip.
