Compare the2025 Acura TLXVS 2025 Cadillac CT5

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 CT5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the TLX and the CT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura TLX is safer than the Cadillac CT5:

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 Acura TLX is safer than the Cadillac CT5:

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

The TLX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the CT5’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 CT5.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura above average in initial quality. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated below average.

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 CT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (355 vs. 335) than the CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Cadillac CT5 turbo 4 cyl.:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Acura TLX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 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 CT5. 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 CT5:

The TLX stops much shorter than the CT5:

For better traction, the TLX has larger tires than the CT5 (255/35R20 vs. 245/45R18).

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 CT5’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TLX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the CT5.

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 CT5’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the TLX is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .7 inches wider in the rear than on the CT5.

The TLX Type S handles at .96 G’s, while the CT5 Premium Luxury pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The TLX Type S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the CT5 Sport (24.7 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .68 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 CT5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The TLX has .1 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room and .9 inches more rear hip room than the CT5.

The TLX has a much larger trunk than the CT5 (13.5 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the TLX offers cargo security. The CT5’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

Insurance will cost less for the TLX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the TLX will cost $160 to $3175 less than the CT5 over a five-year period.

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