Compare the2025 Lexus LSVS 2025 Cadillac CT5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus LS 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.

The LS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CT5 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The LS has standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the LS 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 Lexus LS weighs 869 to 1430 pounds more than the Cadillac CT5. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 16th.

The LS 500h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 117 more horsepower (354 vs. 237) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 258) than the CT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The LS 500h’s 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (354 vs. 335) than the CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6. The LS 500’s standard 3.4 turbo V6 produces 81 more horsepower (416 vs. 335) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 405) than the CT5’s optional 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the LS 500h 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Cadillac CT5 turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the LS 500h gets better fuel mileage than the CT5 3.0 turbo V6 AWD (22 city/29 hwy vs. 18 city/26 hwy).

The LS can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for .6 miles. The CT5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the LS 500h’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The LS’ standard fuel tank has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CT5 (21.7 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The LS Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the CT5 (22.2 vs. 17.4 gallons).

The LS has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. 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.

The LS 500h has a standard 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 CT5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

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

The LS stops shorter than the CT5:

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

The LS F-Sport offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The CT5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The LS has a standard 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.

The LS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The LS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The CT5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the LS’ wheelbase is 7 inches longer than on the CT5 (123 inches vs. 116 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the LS is 1.5 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CT5.

The LS 500 handles at .88 G’s, while the CT5 Premium Luxury pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The LS 500 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CT5 Sport (25.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the LS’ turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the CT5’s (36.8 feet vs. 39 feet). The LS AWD’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the CT5 AWD’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The LS 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 LS has 1.8 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the LS’ available rear seats recline. The CT5’s rear seats don’t recline.

The LS has a much larger trunk than the CT5 (17 vs. 11.9 cubic feet).

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the LS has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The CT5 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Cadillac. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Cadillac is ranked fifth.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CT5, the LS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The LS offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CT5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the LS and power rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CT5 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The Lexus LS has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the CT5.

Both the LS and the CT5 have standard heated front seats. The LS also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT5.

The LS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The CT5 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the LS and the CT5 offer available massaging front seats. The LS also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the CT5.

The LS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CT5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.