Compare the2023 Cadillac CT4-VVS 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

Both the CT4-V and Golf R 4dr have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The CT4-V 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 Golf R’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-V are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Golf R doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac CT4-V 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 Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The CT4-V (except Blackwing) offers an optional HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Golf R only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the CT4-V and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT4-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Golf R. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Golf R ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The CT4-V’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Golf R’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 3 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The CT4-V’s standard 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (325 vs. 315) and 100 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 280) than the Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CT4-V’s 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (325 vs. 315) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CT4-V Blackwing’s standard 3.6 turbo V6 produces 157 more horsepower (472 vs. 315) and 150 lbs.-ft. more torque (445 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing was clocked 8.7 seconds faster than the Volkswagen Golf R (175.6 sec. vs. 184.3 sec.).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT4-V’s fuel efficiency. The Golf R doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CT4-V has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Golf R (17 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CT4-V 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 Golf R doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Cadillac CT4-V comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Golf R.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT4-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Golf R.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the CT4-V has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The Golf R doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

For better stopping power the CT4-V Blackwing’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Golf R:

The CT4-V stops shorter than the Golf R:

For better traction, the CT4-V Blackwing’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf R (F:255/35R18 & R:275/35R18 vs. 235/35R19).

The CT4-V 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 Golf R doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the CT4-V can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Golf R doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT4-V’s wheelbase is 5.8 inches longer than on the Golf R (109.3 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CT4-V is 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Golf R.

The CT4-V Blackwing handles at 1.01 G’s, while the Golf R pulls only .99 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CT4-V’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (37.1 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The CT4-V Blackwing’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CT4-V is quieter than the Golf R (42 vs. 45 dB).

The CT4-V has 1.2 inches more front legroom and 6.2 inches more rear hip room than the Golf R.

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

The engine in the CT4-V is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf R. 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 Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 47% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

The CT4-V Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Golf R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The CT4-V’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Golf R.

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

The CT4-V offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Golf R.

The CT4-V is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Golf R doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The CT4-V Blackwing was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2022. The Golf R hasn’t been picked since 2021.