Jump LinksThe CTS And XTS Vsport Models Fulfilled Different PurposesIf you're after a taste of some Cadillac twin-turbo magic but can't quite justify the spend on a brand-new CT4 or CT5, then point your search in the direction of a last-generation model from the Cadillac Vsport range.There are few brands as serious about performance sedans as Cadillac, a company with sedans that have often introduced or normalized the latest high-tech advances of the day, typically leveraged to the benefit of power output, safety, and handling capabilities. Today, Cadillac will sell you two sedan models: the CT4 and CT5. These are both available in respected high-performance variants, plus the automaker even offers elite Blackwing variations which bring the full brunt of Cadillac's performance capabilities to the market.These two modern Cadillac sedans had four predecessors: the CTS, ATS, XTS and CT6. These earlier models represented your small, medium, large traditional, and large athletic options in a Cadillac sedan of the day. Eventually, all four were retired and replaced by the latest CT4 and CT5 models, but not before leaving behind a genetic toolkit of exciting tech that's now available for very compelling pricing in the second-hand market. Below, we'll look at Cadillac's first-ever twin-turbo engine, the two very different Vsport models that found it under their hoods, and what you'll pay for a used one today.We're looking back specifically at the 2014 to 2019 Cadillac XTS Vsport and the 2014-2020 Cadillac CTS Vsport. Technical data is sourced from the manufacturer, using 2019 model year data. All performance figures are estimates, and used market pricing is based on data from the CarBuzz Marketplace. Understanding The Machinery CadillacThe last-generation Vsport models came in two flavors: CTS Vsport and XTS Vsport. Initially, the Vsport line was launched as a means of bridging the gap between conventional Cadillac sedans and the holy-grail 'V' models. With the Vsport designation, shoppers had a stepping stone from which to capture some of that go-fast Cadillac magic and track-ready hardware, but without the license-decimating thrust of the bananas supercharged V8 engine available further up the model range. Never mind the fuel bill.Today, these stepping-stone performance Cadillacs with the brand's first-ever twin-turbo V6 give shoppers a compelling used car buy to consider in the luxury sport sedan universe, though each represents a very different take on the recipe that's reflected in their current used offerings today.Cadillac An all-new third-generation CTS was launched for the 2014 model year with the intention of pushing the model line upmarket. The big news was an all-new engine, Cadillac's first-ever twin-turbo V6, which was now rolling off of the assembly line. The Michigan-built powerplant joined Cadillac's first-ever 8-speed automatic in the new CTS Vsport grade, backing drivers with Brembo brakes, faster steering, a cooling system that was ready for track day use, a driver-selectable 'Track' mode, and unique suspension calibrations for the standard Magnetic Ride Control dampers. There's an electronically-controlled limited-slip rear axle as well, helping you achieve 0-60 in 4.6 seconds according to the factory. The CTS And XTS Vsport Models Fulfilled Different Purposes Cadillac The XTS Vsport was the other initial recipient of the so-called LF3 twin-turbo V6 engine. Understanding the intentions of the XTS Vsport and the CTS Vsport is vital to making the best purchase decision for your dollars.The CTS was intended to be an athletic and high-tech performer that could challenge some of the world's best sports sedans. The XTS Vsport, conversely, was more of a modern hot-rod take on a traditional Cadillac: big and comfortable. Its front-drive-oriented platform got a Haldex AWD system, but the overall design and engineering approach resulted in a car with a keen focus on comfort and luxury, not handling and agility. The focus with the XTS was more on style, comfort and fashion, with available LF3 power for the driver who preferred their big, comfortable Cadillac sedan to be a little on the gutsier side.For all-out performance fans, the CTS Vsport is the ideal choice. If you need a softer and more stable ride, more comfortable and roomy seating, and a monster trunk, consider the XTS VSport instead. Just remember: in this application, the engine is de-tuned to deliver considerably less torque than the CTS Vsport. Read on for the details. Meet The LF3, Cadillac's First Twin-Turbocharged V6Cadillac Lets kick this section off with a little sense of timing, for context. The LF3 engine launches as its own headline in 2014, but the big news is its availability in a newly-minted Vsport trim grade of the incoming new CTS that also launched that year. At the same time, the LF3 almost immediately became an optional engine upgrade in the larger (but less athletic) XTS. Two years later, a specially-tuned version of this engine would power the high-performance Cadillac ATS-V, which arrived in 2016.Cadillac At this point in time, premium automakers were flexing some big muscle in the turbocharged engine department, with more boosted six-cylinder engines taking up engine bays once occupied by less-powerful V8s. The LF3 was Cadillac's take on the trend. In the XTS Vsport, you got 410 HP and 369 lb-ft of torque. In the CTS Vsport, look for 420 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Note in the spec table below that the CTS Vsport is not only considerably more generous on torque output, but also slightly easier on your gas budget.According to Cadillac, both the CTS and XTS product lines at the time intended to use the newly-launched engine as a centrepiece of the latest model offerings, effectively kicking off the new V-Sport range with its very own engine.The LF3 twin-turbo engine was a derivative of the free-breathing 3.6-liter DOHC V6 powering various other Cadillac models at the time. For twin turbo duty, almost every component was unique– including the block casting, connecting rods, pistons, and fuel injection. Special cylinder heads were used to encourage tumbling and turbulence in the intake air flow, resulting in a more efficient combustion process. All said, this is far from the standard 3.6-liter engine with a pair of turbos bolted up.The LF3's twin turbos spool up fast to pressurize the engine's intake air supply, but compressing air heats it up. Engines prefer to breathe cool air, so liquid-to-air heat exchangers are used to pull heat out of the compressed air charge as it travels the short path to the intake valves. The engineers say this approach reduces air flow routing volume by more than 60 percent versus a traditional intercooler setup. In simple terms, this means the two little turbos spend more time pressuring your combustion chambers, and less time pressurizing a bunch of pipes and ducts. This liquid charge-cooling approach isn't unique to Cadillac, but does leverage earlier experience in the development of the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 from the CTS-V. Vsport Pricing: Then Vs. NowCadillacIn 2019, a Cadillac CTS Vsport would relieve you of $62,000 to $72,000 before options, depending on the model grade. Data from the CarBuzz Marketplace reveals that shoppers with a budget of $35,000 can do nicely on a unit with a sub-25,000 mile odometer reading, with some high-mileage units on offer from about $16,000 with less than 90,000 miles on the clock. Selection isn't abundant, so be sure to shop patiently.Cadillac The XTS Vsport is in a similar ballpark, with a key exception. With a 2019 model year starting price of $73,000, it was as expensive as the top line CTS Vsport of the day. Thing is, in the used market, it's tougher to find low-mileage units. Seems like the XTS Vsport was a popular pick among high-mileage drivers who kept those odometers ticking. At this writing, the lowest-mileage XTS Vsport models tend to have 75,000 miles or more on their odometers, with a few exceptions. With that sort of mileage, you're looking at a sub-$20,000 asking price. You'll find even higher-mileage units on offer with well over 100,000 miles of use, some with asking prices under $11,000.Sources: Cadillac