Compare the2022 Acura ILXVS 2021 Cadillac CT4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura ILX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Cadillac CT4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The ILX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the CT4 and is only available on CT4 Premium Luxury/Sport.

Both the ILX and the CT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ILX the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 213 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CT4 has not been tested, yet.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the ILX’s reliability 15 points higher than the CT4.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ILX second among small premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The CT4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

On the EPA test cycle the ILX gets better mileage than the CT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura ILX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT4 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The ILX offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The CT4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the ILX’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the CT4:

For better maneuverability, the ILX’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the CT4’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The ILX’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the CT4 AWD’s (36.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Acura ILX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 600 pounds less than the Cadillac CT4.

The ILX is 5 inches shorter than the CT4, making the ILX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The ILX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CT4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ILX has .4 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear legroom than the CT4.

The ILX has a much larger trunk than the CT4 (12.4 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the ILX easier. The ILX’s trunk lift-over height is 28.7 inches, while the CT4’s liftover is 30 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the ILX offers cargo security. The CT4’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

If the windows are left open on the ILX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT4 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ILX has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The CT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The ILX’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CT4’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Insurance will cost less for the ILX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ILX will cost $1260 to $2515 less than the CT4 over a five-year period.

The ILX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the ILX will retain 48.32% of its original price after five years, while the CT4 only retains 37.94% to 39.96%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Acura ILX will be $10894 to $19551 less than for the Cadillac CT4.