Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.91 g
That's C&D's figure for road holding, which is very good for an SUV. My GTI does 0.89, with FWD, costing $30 K. Skidpad figures aren't the be all of course. (Tires play a big role along with weight distribution.)
2021 Cadillac CT5 Review, Pricing, and Specs (caranddriver.com)
An "ordinary" CT5 is at 0.92.
The Merc would dust them both on a road course due to much higher power to weight. But the pure handling is not something out of this world. Sedans in the same price range would beat them. I personally feel that top weight in any SUV I've driven, I'm pretty sure this Merc is one of the best.
2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Gets a Glorious 668-HP V-8 and a Manual (caranddriver.com)
This one would keep up on a track easily and comes with a manual transmission. But, we don't drive on a track, usually. I found it to be very exhausting personally, but I'm old.
It reminds me of how I used to pass kids on a bike with some 18 speed bike in the wrong gear going up a hill, they had a bike costing 4x what mine cost but they didn't know even the basics, apparently, of how to ride it. I still "lust" after a C8 Corvette, but where am I going to drive it at half it's potential? I don't even stretch the GTI's.
https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/first-drive-2021-audi-sq8-1234571514/you need to actually get out and drive these new, super SUV crossovers. I have. I chose this one.
The high end auto makers ( Benz, Audi, BMW, Even Lambo and Porsche) are concentrating all of their R&D and best engineers in this segment now/ because that’s what’s DOMINATING sales.
this awd SUV would MURDER a CT5 on a road course, let alone in a straight line. Go check out Nurburgring times. The RSQ8 broke the record for Cross Over SUVs.
The Benz (GLE) is great. I drove it 2 weeks ago. I just chose the Audi because I liked the styling and fit and finish better. And what you can do with this SUV in the twisties would blow your mind.
Sure- there are some exotic cars that can beat it, but not everyone wants a track car. Some people want a vehicle that you can haul the dogs on the golf clubs in and take on a cross-country trip no matter the season, and then come home and taking on a road course for a dragstrip and beat just about everybody there.
Let’s see what this big Caddy can do in the Ring. Should be interesting.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a29711782/audi-rs-q8-nurburgring-record/?_gl=1*bk89qg*_ga*YW1wLUdLRG5sMGhqRmxTNUxNaFE1SXFoam1CT280UTFfRjdVdjl4ZHlVRGR4azA2RnN0QTBqMGVEOGRQZGp5bmF5Y2I.
Lastly the CD time you posted is for the regular SQ8. It does not have nearly the suspension hardware mine has- which is the identical to the RSQ8. ( built on the same platform as the Lambo Urus, Porche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga)
If you read the above article- it Shattered the previous SUV Ring time by seconds, previously held by the Benz GLC 63 AMG. 7 seconds is I lifetime on the ring.
