Compare the2023 Audi S6VS 2023 Cadillac CT5-V

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S6 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 S6 and CT5-V have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S6 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 S6 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 S6. But it costs extra on the CT5-V.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the S6 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The CT5-V doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the S6 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, 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.

Warranty

The S6’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the CT5-V’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the S6 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.

Engine

The S6’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid produces 84 more horsepower (444 vs. 360) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 405) than the CT5-V’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi S6 is faster than the Cadillac CT5-V turbo V6 (automatics tested):

	S6	CT5-V
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	4.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	9.8 sec	11.5 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.9 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.5 sec	13.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	107 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the S6 gets better mileage than the CT5-V:

			MPG
S6
AWD	Auto	2.9 turbo V6 Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
CT5-V
RWD	Manual	6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy
	Auto	6.2 supercharged V8	13 city/21 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	18 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the S6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CT5-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The S6 has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the CT5-V (19.3 vs. 17.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S6 higher (5 out of 10) than the Cadillac CT5-V (3 to 5). This means the S6 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CT5-V every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the S6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CT5-V:

	S6	CT5-V	CT5-V Blackwing
Front Rotors	15.8 inches	13.6 inches	15.7 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.4 inches	14.7 inches

The S6 stops shorter than the CT5-V:

	S6	CT5-V
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	154 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the S6 has larger tires than the CT5-V (255/35R21 vs. 245/40R19).

The S6’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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the CT5-V. The CT5-V’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The S6 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.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S6 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the CT5-V.

Passenger Space

The S6 has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT5-V.

Cargo Capacity

The S6 has a much larger trunk than the CT5-V (13.7 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S6 offers cargo security. The CT5-V’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the S6 offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The CT5-V doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CT5-V, the S6 Premium Plus/Prestige offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the S6 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 S6 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 S6 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 S6 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 S6’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.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the S6 Prestige to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CT5-V doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The S6 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CT5-V. The S6 Premium Plus/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.

The S6 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the CT5-V.

The S6 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Park Assist Plus Remote will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CT5-V (except Manual)’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Economic Advantages

The S6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S6 will retain 46.87% to 46.9% of its original price after five years, while the CT5-V only retains 41.11% to 41.72%.

Recommendations

The Audi A6/S6/RS 6 outsold the Cadillac CT5 by 98 units during 2021.

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