The luxury family car can be ordered with a twin-turbocharged V6 that delivers real performance at a reasonable price.

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Mid-size sedans seem to be out of favor in the market right now. America's traditional family cars have been largely replaced by SUVs. In some ways that's understandable. Families can fit a lot more cargo into an SUV, and there's that whole all-wheel-drive appeal, especially in Portland winters. But there's a lot to like about a passenger car, too. Cars tend to be quieter and handle better than larger and taller SUVs.

If you have fond memories of driving a midsize sedan, you can find top-shelf luxury at a price not too much higher than the top economy models. The Cadillac CT5 starts at just $37,990 in its base trim, and at $40,795 in the top Premium Luxury trim. With this model, Cadillac gives you a range of options to customize your Cadillac to your preference and your budget.

The CT5 comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. That engine is competitive with the other two-liter turbo engines on the market, offering 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a standard 10-speed automatic transmission and an electronic limited slip differential at the rear axle, the basic engine offers exciting performance including a zero-to-sixty time of 6.6 seconds.

But if you want something special, you can order the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 in the top Premium Luxury trim level. This engine is also paired with the 10-speed gearbox, and offers 335 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. That makes the CT5 a serious performance car with a zero-to-sixty time of just 4.9 seconds. The price difference is $3,500.

The basic CT5 comes with rear-wheel-drive, but if you want to upgrade to all-wheel-drive, that's available for just $2,000. Equipped with AWD, the CT5 offers the same all-weather capability of a crossover SUV. In fact, with modern traction and stability controls, most drivers don't even need the all-wheel-drive to get around in winter.

The luxury doesn't stop with performance, however. Inside, the CT5 is a thoroughly modern premium car. The seats are delightfully comfortable and Cadillac's engineers have delivered a smooth, quiet ride that nonetheless feels connected to the road, agile and nimble.

Cadillac is also a technology leader. The CT5 offers all the latest safety and driver assistance features, including the outstanding Super Cruise technology that is exclusive to Cadillac. Super Cruise combines lane keeping and adaptive cruise control with super-accurate GPS navigation to give the CT5 limited self-steering capabilities on Interstate highways.

Here's how it works: Cadillac mapped every inch of the U.S. and Canadian Interstate highway system, and put that map into the CT5. When you're on the freeway, you can engage Super Cruise and it will keep the CT5 in its lane and following the prevailing traffic speed, and you can take your hands on the wheel. There are rules, of course. The main rule being that the driver must keep eyes on the road at all times, and be ready to take control if something unexpected happens. But Cadillac Super Cruise is among the most advanced assisted driving systems on the market today.

The bottom line on the Cadillac CT5 is that if you're tired of the sameness of SUVs, there are still traditional passenger cars at every price point on the market. If you're looking for a fast, comfortable sport sedan, the Cadillac CT5 is an excellent choice, and it's worth your time to take a test drive and learn about the advanced technology available this year.

2021 Cadillac CT5 Premium Luxury AWD

Base price: $40,795

Price as tested: $51,455

Type: Midsize sedan

Engine: 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 (335 hp, 405 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

EPA estimated mileage: 18/26

Overall length: 194.9 inches

Curb weight: 4,123 pounds

Final assembly: Lansing, Michigan