Compare the2023 Cadillac CT4-VVS 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Both the CT4-V and Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI’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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The CT4-V offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Jetta GLI only offers a rear monitor.

Both the CT4-V and the Jetta GLI 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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

The CT4-V’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Jetta GLI’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 Jetta GLI’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 97 more horsepower (325 vs. 228) and 122 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 258) than the Jetta GLI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CT4-V Blackwing’s standard 3.6 turbo V6 produces 244 more horsepower (472 vs. 228) and 187 lbs.-ft. more torque (445 vs. 258) than the Jetta GLI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the CT4-V Blackwing 3.6 turbo V6 is faster than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI (manual transmissions tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac CT4-V turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT4-V’s fuel efficiency. The Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI (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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI.

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 Jetta GLI.

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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The CT4-V’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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The CT4-V stops much shorter than the Jetta GLI:

For better traction, the CT4-V has larger standard tires than the Jetta GLI (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R18). The CT4-V Blackwing’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Jetta GLI (F:255/35R18 & R:275/35R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The CT4-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta GLI’s standard 45 series tires. The CT4-V’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Jetta GLI’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CT4-V offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Jetta GLI’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT4-V’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Jetta GLI (109.3 inches vs. 105.6 inches).

The CT4-V’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.3% to 47.7%) than the Jetta GLI’s (58.6% to 41.4%). This gives the CT4-V more stable handling and braking.

The CT4-V Blackwing handles at 1.01 G’s, while the Jetta GLI Autobahn pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CT4-V has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom and 1.1 inches more rear hip room than the Jetta GLI.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the CT4-V’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Jetta GLI’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

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

The CT4-V uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Jetta GLI 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 engine in the CT4-V is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Jetta GLI. 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’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 Jetta GLI does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The CT4-V offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Jetta GLI can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The CT4-V’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 Jetta GLI has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the CT4-V’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Jetta GLI.

Both the CT4-V and the Jetta GLI offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CT4-V has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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