Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Cadillac CT4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru WRX 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 Subaru WRX 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the WRX. But it costs extra on the CT4.

The WRX’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 WRX and the CT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the WRX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CT4 has not been tested, yet.

There are over 12 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

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 WRX’s reliability 33 points higher than the CT4.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (271 vs. 237) than the CT4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the WRX lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The CT4 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru WRX 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 WRX 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.

The WRX offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The CT4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The WRX offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

The WRX stops much shorter than the CT4:

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the CT4 (235/45R17 vs. 225/45R17). The WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CT4 (245/40R18 vs. 235/40R18).

The WRX 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 better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the WRX is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .1 inches wider in the rear than on the CT4.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the CT4’s (36.74 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The WRX’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the CT4 AWD’s (36.74 feet vs. 38 feet).

The WRX is 3.4 inches shorter than the CT4, making the WRX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the WRX a Mid-size car, while the CT4 is rated a Compact.

The WRX has 8.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CT4 (98.9 vs. 90).

The WRX has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4.

The WRX has a much larger trunk than the CT4 (12.5 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the WRX easier. The WRX’s trunk lift-over height is 28.7 inches, while the CT4’s liftover is 30 inches.

The WRX 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 WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The CT4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’s exterior PIN entry system. The CT4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The CT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Cadillac CT4 by almost three to one during 2023.