Compare the2024 Cadillac CT5-VVS 2024 BMW 3 Series Sedan

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

Safety

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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 BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The CT5-V’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 3 Series Sedan.

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 3 Series Sedan’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. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 3 Series Sedan.

Both the CT5-V and the 3 Series Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, 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-V is safer than the BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	CT5-V	3 Series Sedan
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	5 lbs.	32 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	33%
Neck Stress	144 lbs.	170 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	93/36 lbs.	200/338 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	CT5-V	3 Series Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	233 lbs.	252 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	93	305
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	240	270
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s

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

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT5-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 3 Series 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 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 60 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5-V’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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW 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 BMW 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, BMW is rated lower.

Engine

The CT5-V’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (360 vs. 255) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 295) than the 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CT5-V’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The CT5-V Blackwing’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 286 more horsepower (668 vs. 382) and 290 lbs.-ft. more torque (659 vs. 369) than the M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac CT5-V turbo V6 is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	CT5-V	3 Series Sedan
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	13.3 sec	14.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106 MPH	98.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT5-V’s fuel efficiency. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CT5-V has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan (17.5 vs. 15.6 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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The CT5-V offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CT5-V’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 3 Series Sedan:

	CT5-V	CT5-V Blackwing	330i	M340i
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	15.7 inches	13 inches	13.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	14.7 inches	13 inches	13.6 inches

The CT5-V stops much shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

	CT5-V	3 Series Sedan
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	114 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CT5-V has larger standard tires than the 3 Series Sedan (245/40R19 vs. 225/45R18). The CT5-V Blackwing’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (F:275/35R19 & R:305/30R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

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 3 Series Sedan’s standard 45 series tires. The CT5-V Blackwing’s 275/35R19 front and 305/30R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the 3 Series Sedan’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CT5-V has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the 3 Series Sedan. The CT5-V’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the 3 Series Sedan.

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5-V’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the 3 Series Sedan (116 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CT5-V is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 3 Series Sedan.

The CT5-V Blackwing handles at 1.02 G’s, while the 330i xDrive pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CT5-V executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the 330i xDrive (24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CT5-V is quieter than the 330i (67 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The CT5-V has .3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the 3 Series Sedan.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

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 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the CT5-V keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 3 Series Sedan.

Recommendations

The CT5-V Blackwing was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The 3 Series Sedan has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.