Compare the2022 Cadillac CT5VS 2021 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/04/25

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 C-Class Sedan 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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CT5’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 C-Class Sedan.

Both the CT5 and the C-Class Sedan 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac CT5 is safer than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

	CT5	C-Class Sedan
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	24%
Neck Compression	5 lbs.	62 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	408/341 lbs.	421/449 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	60%
Neck Stress	144 lbs.	147 lbs.
Neck Compression	79 lbs.	219 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	93/36 lbs.	311/161 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac CT5 is safer than the Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

	CT5	C-Class Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	233 lbs.	452 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	93	459
Spine Acceleration	57 G’s	67 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	949 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	240	248
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	558 lbs.	769 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CT5, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.5% less likely to roll over than the C-Class Sedan, which received a four-star rating.

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The CT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the C-Class Sedan’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the CT5 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the CT5’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The C-Class Sedan’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CT5 first among midsize premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The C-Class Sedan 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 22nd in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

Engine

The CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 80 more horsepower (335 vs. 255) and 132 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 273) than the C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT5’s fuel efficiency. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CT5 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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the C-Class Sedan.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CT5 Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-Class Sedan:

	CT5 Sport	C-Class Sedan
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CT5 has larger standard tires than the C-Class Sedan (245/45R18 vs. 225/50R17). The CT5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (255/35R20 vs. 225/40R19).

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 C-Class Sedan’s 50 series tires. The CT5’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the C-Class Sedan’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CT5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the C-Class Sedan. The CT5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the C-Class Sedan.

The CT5 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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The CT5 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The C-Class Sedan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the C-Class Sedan (116 inches vs. 111.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CT5 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the C-Class Sedan.

The CT5 Sport handles at .88 G’s, while the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Passenger Space

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

The CT5 has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (99 vs. 90).

The CT5 has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

Towing

The CT5 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The C-Class Sedan has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

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 C-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 C-Class Sedan.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CT5 will cost $480 to $1715 less than the C-Class Sedan over a five-year period.

See Available Inventory