Compare the2023 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2023 Cadillac CT5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The 3 Series Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CT5 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 3 Series Sedan has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CT5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 3 Series Sedan has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The 3 Series Sedan’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 CT5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the CT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Cadillac CT5:

	3 Series Sedan	CT5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	145	155
Neck Injury Risk	23%	24%
Neck Stress	207 lbs.	217 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/230 lbs.	408/341 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	252	340
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	74 lbs.	79 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Cadillac CT5:

	3 Series Sedan	CT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	107	129
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	179 lbs.	209 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	57 G’s
Hip Force	532 lbs.	573 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	20 inches
Hip Force	544 lbs.	558 lbs.

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

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 available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 3 Series Sedan the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 155 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CT5 has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

The 3 Series Sedan’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the CT5’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the CT5.

Reliability

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 3 Series Sedan’s reliability 31 points higher than the CT5.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 9 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (255 vs. 237) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (294 vs. 258) than the CT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 47 more horsepower (382 vs. 335) than the CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac CT5 turbo 4 cyl.:

	3 Series Sedan	CT5
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14 sec	15.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.1 MPH	91.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the CT5:

			MPG
3 Series Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/32 hwy
CT5
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	18 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The 3 Series Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CT5 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 3 Series Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CT5:

	330i	M340i	CT5	CT5 Sport
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12.6 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	12.4 inches	12.4 inches

The 3 Series Sedan’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the CT5 are solid, not vented.

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the CT5:

	3 Series Sedan	CT5
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	169 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	114 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The 3 Series Sedan offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CT5; it requires you to depend on its optional run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The 330i handles at .99 G’s, while the CT5 Premium Luxury pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M340i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the CT5 Sport (25 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

Chassis

The 3 Series Sedan is 7.9 inches shorter than the CT5, making the 3 Series Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the 3 Series Sedan is .1 inches lower than the CT5 (16.5” vs. 16.6”). The 3 Series Sedan’s rear step up height is 1.4 inches lower than the CT5’s (16.3” vs. 17.7”).

Cargo Capacity

The 3 Series Sedan has a much larger trunk than the CT5 (13 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 3 Series Sedan easier. The 3 Series Sedan’s trunk lift-over height is 26.7 inches, while the CT5’s liftover is 27.8 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CT5 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 3 Series offers cargo security. The CT5’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 3 Series Sedan offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The CT5 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the 3 Series Sedan the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 3 Series Sedan 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 CT5 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 3 Series Sedan’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the CT5 offer optional heated front seats. The 3 Series Sedan also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT5.

Economic Advantages

The 3 Series Sedan will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 3 Series Sedan will retain 44.47% to 45.8% of its original price after five years, while the CT5 only retains 41.65% to 41.68%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 3 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac CT5 isn't recommended.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Cadillac CT5 by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.