Compare the2024 Cadillac CT5VS 2023 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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

The Cadillac CT5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CT5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CT5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the CT5 and the E-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac CT5 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

	CT5	E-Class Sedan
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	155	190
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%
Neck Compression	5 lbs.	21 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	408/341 lbs.	387/481 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25%	29%
Neck Compression	79 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	93/36 lbs.	257/308 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 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

	CT5	E-Class Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	129	132
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	93	215
Hip Force	573 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	240	326
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	558 lbs.	836 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

The CT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the E-Class Sedan’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 46 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CT5’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes 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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CT5 gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

			MPG
CT5
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
E-Class Sedan
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/30 hwy

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

The CT5 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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the E-Class Sedan.

Brakes and Stopping

The CT5 stops much shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

	CT5	E-Class Sedan
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CT5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the E-Class Sedan (255/35R20 vs. 245/45R18).

The CT5’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E 350 Sedan’s optional 40 series tires.

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

The CT5 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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The CT5 Sport handles at .88 G’s, while the E 450 4MATIC Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the CT5 (except Premium Luxury/Sport) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The CT5 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the E-Class Sedan.

Towing

The CT5 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The E-Class Sedan has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 31% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

The CT5’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 E-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Consumer Reports rated the CT5’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the E-Class Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac CT5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the E-Class Sedan.