Compare the2024 Cadillac CT5-VVS 2024 Audi S6

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CT5-V are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CT5-V (except Manual) has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S6 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The CT5-V has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the S6’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CT5-V has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the S6.

Both the CT5-V and the S6 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CT5-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the S6 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 85 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5-V’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 3 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The CT5-V Blackwing’s standard 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 224 more horsepower (668 vs. 444) and 217 lbs.-ft. more torque (659 vs. 442) than the S6’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the CT5-V Blackwing 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Audi S6 (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CT5-V’s fuel efficiency. The S6 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CT5-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The S6 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CT5-V offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The S6 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac CT5-V, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the S6.

The CT5-V’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 S6 doesn’t offer launch control.

The CT5-V stops shorter than the S6:

For better traction, the CT5-V Blackwing’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S6 (F:275/35R19 & R:305/30R19 vs. 255/35R21).

The CT5-V Blackwing’s 305/30R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S6’s 35 series tires.

The CT5-V has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The S6 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the CT5-V can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The S6 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The CT5-V Blackwing handles at 1.02 G’s, while the S6 Premium Plus pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CT5-V executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the S6 Prestige (24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ 74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CT5-V’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the S6’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Cadillac CT5-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the Audi S6.

The CT5-V has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear legroom than the S6.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac CT5-V has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the S6.

The CT5-V is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The CT5-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CT5-V will retain 50.43% to 56.36% of its original price after five years, while the S6 only retains 49.03% to 49.7%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Cadillac CT5-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CT5-V Blackwing was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 2 more times in the last 3 years. The S6 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Cadillac CT5 outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by over two to one during 2023.