Compare the2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVS 2024 Cadillac CT4

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI 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.

Both the Jetta GLI and CT4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Jetta GLI has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The CT4’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Jetta GLI and the CT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The Jetta GLI’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CT4’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta GLI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the CT4.

There are over 14 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Jetta GLI’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI’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.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is faster than the Cadillac CT4 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta GLI gets better mileage than the CT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The CT4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Jetta GLI has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the CT4. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta GLI higher (7 out of 10) than the Cadillac CT4 (6 to 7). This means the Jetta GLI produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CT4 every 15,000 miles.

The Jetta GLI offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The CT4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Jetta GLI 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.

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

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

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

The Jetta GLI handles at .95 G’s, while the CT4 Premium Luxury pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

The Jetta GLI has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CT4 (94.7 vs. 90).

The Jetta GLI has .2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT4.

The Jetta GLI has a much larger trunk than the CT4 (14.1 vs. 10.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Jetta GLI easier. The Jetta GLI’s trunk lift-over height is 28.7 inches, while the CT4’s liftover is 30 inches.

The Jetta GLI’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.

If the windows are left open on the Jetta GLI the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the CT4 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Jetta GLI’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.

The CT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Jetta GLI’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Jetta GLI 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.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Jetta GLI will be $5219 to $9899 less than for the Cadillac CT4.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Cadillac CT4 by over five to one during 2023.