Compare the2024 Acura TLXVS 2024 Cadillac CT4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac CT4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Acura TLX 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 Cadillac CT4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The TLX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The CT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the TLX and the CT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the TLX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 129 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CT4 has not been tested, yet.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the TLX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the CT4.

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 TLX’s reliability 25 points higher than the CT4.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 16th.

The TLX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (272 vs. 237) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the CT4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (355 vs. 310) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (354 vs. 350) than the CT4’s optional 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Cadillac CT4 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the TLX 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder FWD gets better fuel mileage than the CT4 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder RWD (22 city/31 hwy vs. 21 city/31 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura TLX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT4 with the 2.7 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The TLX has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the CT4. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the TLX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CT4:

The TLX stops much shorter than the CT4:

For better traction, the TLX has larger tires than the CT4 (255/35R20 vs. 225/45R17). The TLX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CT4 (255/35R20 vs. 235/40R18).

The TLX’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 CT4 Luxury’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TLX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CT4 Luxury. The TLX Type S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the CT4.

The TLX 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 CT4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TLX’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the CT4 (113 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the TLX is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the CT4.

The TLX Type S handles at .97 G’s, while the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD (25 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The TLX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CT4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The TLX has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CT4 (93.4 vs. 90).

The TLX has .1 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4.

The TLX has a much larger trunk than the CT4 (13.5 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the TLX offers cargo security. The CT4’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

The TLX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CT4 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The TLX’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The CT4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the TLX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT4 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The TLX’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CT4’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Insurance will cost less for the TLX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the TLX will cost $1260 less than the CT4 over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Acura TLX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac CT4 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the TLX second among midsize premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CT4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Acura TLX outsold the Cadillac CT4 by 24% during 2022.