Compare the2024 Cadillac CT5VS 2023 Nissan Maxima

The CT5 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Maxima doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the CT5 and the Maxima 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available 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 Nissan Maxima:

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 Nissan Maxima:

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

The CT5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Maxima’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Maxima. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Maxima ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The CT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Maxima’s (6 vs. 5 years).

The battery on the CT5 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the CT5’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Maxima’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CT5 second among midsize premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Maxima isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is rated lower.

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 Nissan 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, Nissan is rated below average.

The CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 35 more horsepower (335 vs. 300) and 144 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac CT5 turbo V6 is faster than the Nissan Maxima:

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

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the CT5’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Maxima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 Maxima doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac CT5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Nissan Maxima (3). This means the CT5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Maxima every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the CT5 Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Maxima:

The CT5 stops much shorter than the Maxima:

For better traction, the CT5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Maxima (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 Maxima SR/Platinum’s 40 series tires.

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

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the CT5 can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Maxima doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The CT5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Maxima’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Maxima (116 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CT5 is .4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Maxima.

The CT5 Sport handles at .88 G’s, while the Maxima Platinum pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CT5 Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Maxima Platinum (26.2 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

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 Maxima doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CT5 has 3.7 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the Maxima.

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

The CT5 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Maxima has no towing capacity.

The engine in the CT5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Maxima. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

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

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport 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 Maxima doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CT5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Maxima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the CT5 and the Maxima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the CT5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Maxima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The CT5’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Maxima’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The CT5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Maxima’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Maxima doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Maxima.

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. The Maxima doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The CT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’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 Maxima doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Cadillac CT5 outsold the Nissan Maxima by over two to one during 2022.