Compare the2025 Cadillac CT5VS 2024 Volvo S60

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 S60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac CT5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The S60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the CT5 and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Volvo S60:

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 Volvo S60:

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

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

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 Volvo vehicles. With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Volvo.

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 Volvo With 49 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 9 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 88 more horsepower (335 vs. 247) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (405 vs. 258) than the S60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac CT5 turbo V6 is faster than the S60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT5’s fuel efficiency. The S60 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the CT5 and the S60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All CT5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The CT5 has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the S60 (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 S60.

For better traction, the CT5 has larger standard tires than the S60 (245/45R18 vs. 235/45R18). The CT5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S60 (255/35R20 vs. 235/45R18).

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 S60’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CT5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The S60’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 S60 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 S60 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The front and rear suspension of the CT5 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CT5’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the S60 (116 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

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 S60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the CT5 a Mid-size car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The CT5 has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S60 (99 vs. 96).

The CT5 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

The CT5 has a larger trunk than the S60 (11.9 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

The engine in the CT5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 34% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 23rd.

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. The S60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 S60 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CT5 has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the CT5 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The S60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 S60.

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 S60.

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 S60.

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 S60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the CT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CT5 will cost $870 less than the S60 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 S60 only retains 40.81% to 45.27%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac CT5 will be $4091 to $21571 less than for the Volvo S60.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac CT5 and the Volvo S60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Cadillac CT5 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by 51% during 2023.