Compare the2023 Cadillac CT5-VVS 2023 Audi S4

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 CT5-V are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CT5-V (except Blackwing Manual) has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S4 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CT5-V has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the S4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CT5-V has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S4.

Both the CT5-V and the S4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT5-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the S4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 84 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5-V’s warranty.

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 76 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi 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 Audi 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, Audi is rated below average.

The CT5-V’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 11 more horsepower (360 vs. 349) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6. The CT5-V Blackwing’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 319 more horsepower (668 vs. 349) and 290 lbs.-ft. more torque (659 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the CT5-V Blackwing 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Audi S4 (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT5-V’s fuel efficiency. The S4 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CT5-V has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the S4 (17.5 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CT5-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 S4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CT5-V offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The S4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT5-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the S4.

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

The CT5-V stops much shorter than the S4:

For better traction, the CT5-V Blackwing’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S4 (F:275/35R19 & R:305/30R19 vs. 255/35R19).

The CT5-V Blackwing’s 305/30R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S4’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CT5-V offers optional 20-inch wheels. The S4’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The CT5-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 S4 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 CT5-V can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The S4 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5-V’s wheelbase is 5 inches longer than on the S4 (116 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CT5-V is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S4.

The CT5-V’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the S4’s (57% to 43%). This gives the CT5-V more stable handling and braking.

The CT5-V Blackwing handles at 1.02 G’s, while the S4 Prestige pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the CT5-V a Mid-size car, while the S4 is rated a Compact.

The CT5-V has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S4 (99 vs. 92).

The CT5-V has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The CT5-V (except Blackwing Manual) has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The CT5-V’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CT5-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 S4 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac CT5-V has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The CT5-V (except Manual)’s optional Automatic Parking Assist with Braking can parallel park by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The S4 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The CT5-V is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The CT5-V Blackwing was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The S4 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Cadillac CT5 outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 657 units during 2022.