Compare the2022 BMW M3VS 2021 Cadillac CT4 V-Series

The M3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The M3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The M3’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 V-Series.

The M3 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the CT4 V-Series’ blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M3 has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the CT4 V-Series.

The M3’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M3 and the CT4 V-Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 and available around view monitors.

The M3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the CT4 V-Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the CT4 V-Series.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 9 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The M3’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 148 more horsepower (473 vs. 325) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 380) than the CT4 V-Series’ 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder. The M3 Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 178 more horsepower (503 vs. 325) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 380) than the CT4 V-Series’ 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the M3 Competition is faster than the Cadillac CT4 V-Series (automatics tested):

The M3 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

For better stopping power the M3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CT4 V-Series:

The M3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M3 stops shorter than the CT4 V-Series:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the CT4 V-Series (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 235/40R18).

The M3’s standard 285/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CT4 V-Series’ standard 40 series tires. The M3’s optional 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the CT4 V-Series’ optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M3 has standard 19-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the CT4 V-Series. The M3’s optional 20-inch rear wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the CT4 V-Series.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M3’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the CT4 V-Series (112.5 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M3 is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the CT4 V-Series.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the CT4 V-Series AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M3 Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the CT4 V-Series (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 25.4 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

The M3 has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CT4 V-Series (95 vs. 90).

The M3 has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4 V-Series.

The M3 has a much larger trunk than the CT4 V-Series (13 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 offers cargo security. The CT4 V-Series’ non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M3’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The M3 also offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The CT4 V-Series doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The M3’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The CT4 V-Series’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the M3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT4 V-Series can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The M3 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 V-Series doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CT4 V-Series’ optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The M3’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The M3 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CT4 V-Series. The M3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT4 V-Series.

The M3’s available Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CT4 V-Series’ automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.