Compare the2023 Cadillac CT5-VVS 2023 Tesla Model S

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The CT5-V Blackwing’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Model S doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac CT5-V are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Model S 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 Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CT5-V offers an optional HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CT5-V’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model S doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The CT5-V has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CT5-V and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac CT5-V is safer than the Tesla Model S:

	CT5-V	Model S
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%
Neck Stress	217 lbs.	247 lbs.
Neck Compression	5 lbs.	28 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	408/341 lbs.	467/415 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	340	362
Neck Injury Risk	25%	30%
Neck Stress	144 lbs.	196 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	93/36 lbs.	292/295 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac CT5-V is safer than the Tesla Model S:

	CT5-V	Model S
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	129	160
Hip Force	233 lbs.	339 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	93	197
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	240	449
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	558 lbs.	785 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are almost 4 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5-V’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CT5-V’s reliability 12 points higher than the Model S.

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 Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 2 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	CT5-V Blackwing	Model S
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	15 inches
Rear Rotors	14.7 inches	14.4 inches

The CT5-V stops shorter than the Model S:

	CT5-V	Model S
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	104 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CT5-V Blackwing’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model S (F:275/35R19 & R:305/30R19 vs. F:265/35R21 & R:295/30R21).

The CT5-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 Model S’ standard 45 series front tires.

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 Model S 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 Model S doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The CT5-V Blackwing handles at 1.02 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CT5-V executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Model S (24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CT5-V’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Model S’ (39 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

Chassis

The Cadillac CT5-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 pounds less than the Tesla Model S.

The CT5-V is 3.9 inches shorter than the Model S, making the CT5-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The CT5-V has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (99 vs. 94).

The CT5-V has 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.4 inches more rear hip room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CT5-V’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the CT5-V to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and air filter replacement based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model S.

Ergonomics

The CT5-V’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The CT5-V offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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 Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CT5-V’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CT5-V’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CT5-V has standard extendable sun visors. The Model S doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The CT5-V offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model S.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CT5-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CT5-V will cost $3305 less than the Model S over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac CT5-V will be $24385 to $29654 less than for the Tesla Model S.

Recommendations

The CT5-V Blackwing was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The Model S hasn’t been picked since 2016.

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