Compare the2022 Acura TLXVS 2022 Cadillac CT4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac CT4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX 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 TLX’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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the TLX its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 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 TLX’s reliability 57 points higher than the CT4.

The TLX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (272 vs. 235) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the CT4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (355 vs. 310) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 350) than the CT4’s optional 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

On the EPA test cycle the TLX 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder FWD with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the CT4 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder RWD (22 city/31 hwy vs. 21 city/31 hwy).

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

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

The TLX stops much shorter than the CT4:

For better traction, the TLX has larger standard tires than the CT4 (235/50R18 vs. 225/45R17). The TLX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CT4 (255/35R20 vs. 235/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TLX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CT4. The TLX Type S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the CT4.

The TLX 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 CT4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TLX’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the CT4 (113 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the TLX is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the CT4.

The TLX Type S handles at .97 G’s, while the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD (25 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The TLX 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 TLX has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CT4 (93.4 vs. 90).

The TLX has .1 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4.

The TLX has a much larger trunk than the CT4 (13.5 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

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

The TLX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CT4 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The TLX’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’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the TLX 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 TLX 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 TLX’s standard 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.

The TLX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CT4. The TLX Advance also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT4.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Acura TLX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac CT4 isn't recommended.

The Acura TLX outsold the Cadillac CT4 by over three to one during the 2021 model year.