Compare the2023 Mercedes CLSVS 2023 Cadillac CT5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes CLS 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 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The CLS’ 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.

Both the CLS and CT5 offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the But the CLS with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert also has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CT5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The CLS’ 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 CLS and the CT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The Mercedes CLS weighs 428 to 596 pounds more than the Cadillac CT5. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 125 more horsepower (362 vs. 237) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the CT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (362 vs. 335) than the CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes CLS is faster than the Cadillac CT5 turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the CLS gets better mileage than the CT5:

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

The CLS has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the CT5 (21.1 vs. 17.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the CLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the CT5:

The CLS’ 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 CLS stops shorter than the CT5:

For better traction and acceleration, the CLS has larger rear tires than the CT5 (275/35R19 vs. 245/45R18). The CLS’ rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the CT5 (275/35R19 vs. 255/35R20).

The CLS’ standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CT5’s standard 45 series tires. The CLS’ optional 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the CT5’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CLS has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the CT5.

The CLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The CLS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The CT5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The CLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CT5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The CLS 450 4MATIC handles at .93 G’s, while the CT5 Premium Luxury pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CLS 450 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CT5 Sport (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

The CLS has 1.1 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT5.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the CLS 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 CLS has a standard 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 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport, the CLS has standard driver and 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 CLS 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 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CLS 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.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the CLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The CT5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CLS’ 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.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the CLS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CT5 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The CLS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CT5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Cadillac CT5 by 18% during 2022.