Compare the2022 Cadillac CT5VS 2021 Acura TLX

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 CT5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The TLX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CT5 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

Both the CT5 and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, and around view monitors.

The CT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the TLX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 3 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CT5’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CT5 first among midsize premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The TLX isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 22nd in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 7 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 354) than the TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac CT5 turbo V6 is faster than the TLX Type S 3.0 turbo V6:

On the EPA test cycle the CT5 gets better mileage than the TLX:

The CT5 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the TLX (17.5 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CT5 Sport’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the TLX are solid, not vented.

The CT5 stops much shorter than the TLX:

For better traction, the CT5 has larger standard tires than the TLX (245/45R18 vs. 235/50R18).

The CT5’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 TLX’s standard 50 series tires.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the CT5 can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The TLX doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the TLX (116 inches vs. 113 inches).

The CT5 Sport handles at .88 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CT5 Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (26.2 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CT5’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the TLX’s (39 feet vs. 40.1 feet).

The front grille of the CT5 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 TLX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the CT5 a Mid-size car, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The CT5 has 5.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (99 vs. 93.4).

The CT5 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The TLX doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The CT5 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The TLX has no towing capacity.

The engine in the CT5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 16% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

The CT5’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The TLX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the CT5 and the TLX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the CT5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The TLX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The CT5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The TLX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The TLX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TLX.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Parking Assist with Braking can parallel park by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The TLX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.