Compare the2025 Cadillac CT5VS 2024 Lexus ES

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 ES doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CT5 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross-Traffic Braking costs extra on the ES.

Both the CT5 and the ES 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors 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 Lexus ES:

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 Lexus ES:

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

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5’s warranty.

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 ES’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The CT5 has more powerful engines than the ES:

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac CT5 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the ES 300h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

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

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

Regardless of its engine, the CT5’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the ES Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The CT5 has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CT5 has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES’ standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons).

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

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the ES.

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

The CT5 Sport’s optional front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ES are solid, not vented.

The CT5 stops much shorter than the ES:

For better traction, the CT5 has larger standard tires than the ES (245/45R18 vs. 215/55R17). The CT5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (255/35R20 vs. 235/45R18).

The CT5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The CT5’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the ES F Sport’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CT5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES. The CT5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the ES F Sport.

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 ES 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 ES doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the ES (116 inches vs. 113 inches).

The CT5 Sport handles at .88 G’s, while the ES 300h pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CT5 Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the ES 300h (26.2 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

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 ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CT5 has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the CT5’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the ES’ useful trunk space.

The CT5’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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

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

The CT5’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. An easy entry system costs extra on the ES.

The CT5’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 ES does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the CT5’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the ES’ 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 ES.

The CT5 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the ES.

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 ES.

The CT5’s Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The ES doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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