Compare the2023 Volkswagen GTIVS 2023 Cadillac CT4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen GTI 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 CT4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen GTI are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Cadillac CT4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The GTI has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CT4 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.

The GTI’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The CT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GTI and the CT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GTI the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 158 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CT4 has not been tested, yet.

The GTI’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CT4’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the GTI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the CT4.

There are over 13 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GTI’s warranty.

The Volkswagen GTI’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the CT4’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (241 vs. 237) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the CT4’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the GTI gets better mileage than the CT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen GTI uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT4 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The GTI offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CT4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The GTI offers an optional 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 CT4 doesn’t offer an SMG.

The GTI Automatic’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CT4 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the GTI’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CT4:

The GTI stops much shorter than the CT4:

The GTI’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 CT4 Luxury’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GTI has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CT4 Luxury.

The GTI has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CT4; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the CT4 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The GTI 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 CT4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GTI handles at .96 G’s, while the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GTI executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the CT4 Premium Luxury AWD (25 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GTI’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the CT4’s (35.8 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The GTI’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the CT4 AWD’s (35.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Volkswagen GTI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Cadillac CT4.

The GTI is 1 foot, 6.4 inches shorter than the CT4, making the GTI easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GTI has .2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear legroom than the CT4.

The front step up height for the GTI is 1.5 inches lower than the CT4 (15” vs. 16.5”). The GTI’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the CT4’s (15” vs. 17”).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the GTI easier. The GTI’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the CT4’s liftover is 30 inches.

The GTI’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 CT4 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The GTI’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The CT4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The GTI has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The CT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The GTI’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 CT4’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the GTI to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CT4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GTI has a standard rear wiper. The CT4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The GTI has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the CT4. The GTI Autobahn also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CT4.

The GTI 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 CT4.

The GTI Autobahn’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The CT4 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The GTI was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 16 of the last 16 years. The CT4 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the GTI as their 2015 Car of the Year. The CT4 has never been chosen.

The GTI was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 5 of the last 15 years. The CT4 has never been an “All Star.”

The Volkswagen Golf/GTI outsold the Cadillac CT4 by 54% during the 2021 model year.