Compare the2025 Cadillac CT5VS 2024 Audi A6

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

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 A6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The CT5 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the A6’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CT5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A6.

The CT5’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 A6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CT5 and the A6 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 Audi A6:

	CT5	A6
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	155	197
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%
Neck Stress	217 lbs.	322 lbs.
Neck Compression	5 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	340	354
Neck Injury Risk	25%	41%
Neck Stress	144 lbs.	228 lbs.
Neck Compression	79 lbs.	98 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	93/36 lbs.	263/331 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 Audi A6:

	CT5	A6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	129	135
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	233 lbs.	262 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	93	135
Hip Force	573 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	240	395
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 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A6 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 85 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 79 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 3 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 369) than the A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT5’s fuel efficiency. The A6 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 A6 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 seven-speed automatic is available for the A6.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CT5 Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

	CT5 Sport	A6
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches

The CT5 stops shorter than the A6:

	CT5	A6
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	129 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 A6’s optional 40 series tires.

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 A6 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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 A6 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the CT5’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the A6’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

Chassis

The Cadillac CT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 pounds less than the Audi A6.

The front grille of the CT5 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A6 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The CT5 has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear legroom than the A6.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 29% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the CT5’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A6’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The CT5 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the A6.

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 A6.

Model Availability

The CT5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CT5 will cost $1755 to $5475 less than the A6 over a five-year period.

The CT5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CT5 will retain 49.33% to 50.43% of its original price after five years, while the A6 only retains 41.11% to 42.12%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac CT5 will be $21930 to $28790 less than for the Audi A6.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac CT5 and the Audi A6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Cadillac CT5 outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by over two to one during 2023.

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