Compare the2025 Audi S5VS 2025 Cadillac CT5-V

The S5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CT5-V doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the S5 and CT5-V have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CT5-V’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The S5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT5-V 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S5. But it costs extra on the CT5-V.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The S5 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The CT5-V doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S5 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist with Automatic Brake Activation, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The CT5-V Manual doesn't offer automatic rear cross-traffic braking.

Both the S5 and the CT5-V 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 and available around view monitors.

The S5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the CT5-V’s (12 vs. 6 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the S5 has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 6.2 supercharged V8 in the CT5-V.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 14 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi S5 is faster than the Cadillac CT5-V turbo V6 (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the S5 gets better mileage than the CT5-V:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT5-V requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S5 higher (4 out of 10) than the Cadillac CT5-V (2 to 4). This means the S5 produces up to 15.6 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CT5-V every 15,000 miles.

The S5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The CT5-V doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the S5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the CT5-V:

The S5 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The S5’s 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-V doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The S5 is 3.5 inches shorter than the CT5-V, making the S5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The S5 has 1 inch more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear headroom than the CT5-V.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the S5 has a standard power liftgate, 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-V doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

If the windows are left open on the S5 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CT5-V can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CT5-V doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the S5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CT5-V doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Audi S5 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-V.

Both the S5 and the CT5-V have standard heated front seats. The S5 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT5-V.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Cadillac CT5 by 55% during 2024.