Best performance exhaust upgrades for Cadillac CT5-V owners?

Question

Hey everyone! I’ve been daily driving my CT5-V for a few months now, and while I absolutely love the performance of the twin-turbo V6, I can’t help but feel like the exhaust note is a bit too muffled from the factory. I really want that aggressive 'V' sound, but I’m struggling to decide which route to take for the best upgrade.

I’ve been looking into a few options like the AWE Touring Edition and the Borla S-Type, but I’m worried about excessive drone on the highway since this is my primary commuter. I’m also curious if anyone has tried just doing a resonator delete or if that ends up sounding too raspy for a Cadillac. My budget is around $1,500 to $2,500, and I’m definitely looking for something that won't throw any codes or mess with the active exhaust valves if possible. I want it to bark when I'm in Sport mode but stay civilized when I'm just cruising.

I’ve spent hours on YouTube listening to sound clips, but it’s so hard to tell the real-world difference through phone speakers. For those of you who have already pulled the trigger on an upgrade, which system gave you the best balance of deep tone and volume without ruining the cabin experience? Also, did you notice any actual gains in throttle response after the install?

zthjdxujef · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I feel u on the factory sound—it's way too quiet for a V-series car. In my experience, if you're worried about drone but want that aggressive bark, I would suggest going with the Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust System for Cadillac CT5-V. I've had it on mine for over a year and it’s basically the perfect balance. It keeps the factory valves, so when you’re in Tour mode, it’s lowkey enough for a commute, but Sport mode sounds MEAN.

Quick tips:
- Skip the resonator delete; it gets super raspy and sounds kinda cheap on a Caddy.
- Make sure you get the version that integrates with the AWE Electronic Valve Simulators if you decide to go valveless, but staying valved is better for dailying.

I actually noticed a slightly snappier throttle response too, probably cuz it breathes better. The AWE Touring Edition Exhaust for CT5-V is also solid, but Borla usually has less cabin drone at highway speeds imo. GL with the build!

prwqenggtm · Answer

Basically went through this last year. I was super worried about drone cuz I commute 40 miles daily, and honestly, the V6 can get kinda raspy if you just chop the resonator. I looked into the technical side and ended up with the MagnaFlow xMOD Series Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System. It's cool because it has these interchangeable modules. I use the muffled ones for work trips, but you can swap to straight pipes for track days. Plus, the internal gate path keeps the backpressure in check so you actually get a tiny bit better throttle response without throwing codes. Definitely worth the extra spend imo!

remont_xtmn · Answer

Seconding the recommendation above. Honestly, a full system is the only way to go if youre worried about safety and longevity... hacking the stock pipes is just asking for cabin drone thatll drive u crazy on the highway. Unfortunately, I've seen too many guys regret the cheap route when it starts sounding like a weed whacker at 3,000 RPM lol.

Since the Borla S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust System for Cadillac CT5-V and Magnaflow were already mentioned, you should definitely check out the Corsa Performance Cat-Back Exhaust with 4.0in Tips. I've been a veteran in the car scene for years and Corsa is famous for their Reflective Sound Cancellation tech. It literally KILLS drone while cruising but sounds super aggressive under load. Plus, it's a bolt-on kit that keeps your sensors happy so you wont see any weird CEL codes. Definately worth the $2k investment for the peace of mind alone tho!