Compare the2023 Audi S4VS 2023 Cadillac CT5-V

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S4 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 CT5-V doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the S4 and CT5-V have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S4 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 CT5-V’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.

The S4’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The CT5-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The S4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT5-V 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S4. But it costs extra on the CT5-V.

Both the S4 and the CT5-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The S4’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the CT5-V’s (12 vs. 6 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the S4 has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 6.2 supercharged V8 in the CT5-V.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 7 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi S4 is faster than the Cadillac CT5-V turbo V6 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the S4 gets better mileage than the CT5-V:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S4 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT5-V requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S4 higher (5 out of 10) than the Cadillac CT5-V (3 to 5). This means the S4 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CT5-V every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the S4’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the CT5-V:

For better traction, the S4 has larger tires than the CT5-V (255/35R19 vs. 245/40R19).

The S4’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CT5-V’s standard 40 series tires.

The S4 has a standard 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-V; it requires you to depend on its 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. Some tire options on the CT5-V don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the S4’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the CT5-V’s (38.1 feet vs. 39 feet). The S4’s turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the CT5-V Blackwing’s (38.1 feet vs. 42.6 feet).

The S4 is 6.3 inches shorter than the CT5-V, making the S4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the S4 easier. The S4’s trunk lift-over height is 26 inches, while the CT5-V’s liftover is 27.8 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S4 offers cargo security. The CT5-V’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

If the windows are left open on the S4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT5-V can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The S4 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. A locking fuel door is only offered on the CT5-V Blackwing.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CT5-V doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S4 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CT5-V doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The CT5-V’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The S4 Prestige’s standard 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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the S4 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CT5-V doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The S4 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CT5-V. The S4 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT5-V.

Insurance will cost less for the S4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the S4 will cost $475 less than the CT5-V over a five-year period.

The S4 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S4 will retain 47.61% to 47.65% of its original price after five years, while the CT5-V only retains 41.11% to 41.72%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi S4 will be $4591 to $32356 less than for the Cadillac CT5-V.

The Audi A4/S4 outsold the Cadillac CT5 by 248 units during the 2022 model year.