Compare the2022 Cadillac CT4VS 2021 Mazda 6

Both the CT4 and Mazda 6 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The CT4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Mazda 6’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CT4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac CT4 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The CT4 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Compared to metal, the CT4’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda 6 has a metal gas tank.

Both the CT4 and the Mazda 6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The CT4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The 6’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT4 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the 6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Mazda 6 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The CT4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Mazda 6’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 59 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT4’s warranty.

The battery on the CT4 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the CT4’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Mazda 6’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 22nd in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

The CT4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 48 more horsepower (235 vs. 187) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 186) than the Mazda 6’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CT4’s optional 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (310 vs. 250) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 320) than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Cadillac CT4 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mazda 6 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the CT4 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder (23 city/34 hwy vs. 23 city/31 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the CT4’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The CT4 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 6.

The CT4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Mazda 6 are solid, not vented.

The CT4 stops shorter than the Mazda 6:

For better traction, the CT4 Premium Luxury’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 6 (235/40R18 vs. 225/55R17).

The CT4’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 6 Sport’s standard 55 series tires. The CT4’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Mazda 6 Touring/Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition’s 45 series tires.

The CT4 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the CT4 can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The CT4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54% to 46%) than the Mazda 6’s (60% to 40%). This gives the CT4 more stable handling and braking.

The CT4 Premium Luxury AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Mazda 6 Grand Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CT4 Premium Luxury AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Mazda 6 Touring (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The CT4 is 5.5 inches shorter than the Mazda 6, making the CT4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the CT4 Premium Luxury uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CT4. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The CT4 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Mazda 6 has no towing capacity.

The engine in the CT4 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Mazda 6. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 41% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 23rd.

The CT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the CT4 and the Mazda 6 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the CT4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 6 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

On a hot day the CT4’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mazda 6 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CT4’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Mazda 6’s power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CT4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition.

When the CT4 Premium Luxury/Sport is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Mazda 6’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CT4 Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Mazda 6.

Both the CT4 and the Mazda 6 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CT4 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac CT4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.