Compare the2026 Cadillac CT5-VVS 2025 Tesla Model S

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac CT5-V 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 Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Model S 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 Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CT5-V has a standard HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CT5-V has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CT5-V and the Model S have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac CT5-V is safer than the Tesla Model S:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 3 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CT5-V’s warranty.

The CT5-V Blackwing offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Model S doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The CT5-V has standard Intelligent Brake Assist to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Model S doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The CT5-V stops shorter than the Model S:

For better traction, the CT5-V Blackwing’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model S (F:285/35R19 & R:305/30R19 vs. F:265/35R21 & R:295/30R21).

The CT5-V’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 Model S’ standard 45 series front 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 Model S 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 Model S doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The CT5-V Blackwing handles at 1.13 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CT5-V Blackwing executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.9 seconds quicker than the Model S (22.6 seconds @ .95 average G’s vs. 26.5 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CT5-V’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Model S’ (39 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

The Cadillac CT5-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 650 pounds less than the Tesla Model S.

The CT5-V is 3.9 inches shorter than the Model S, making the CT5-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CT5-V is quieter than the Model S Plaid (67 vs. 68 dB).

The CT5-V has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (99 vs. 94).

The CT5-V has 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.4 inches more rear hip room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CT5-V’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the CT5-V to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, air filter replacement, and brake pad replacement, based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model S.

The CT5-V’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

The CT5-V offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model S doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CT5-V’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CT5-V’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CT5-V has standard extendable sun visors. The Model S doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The CT5-V has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model S.

The CT5-V is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model S, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the CT5-V offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model S.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the CT5-V equipped with available HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model S, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Cadillac CT5-V empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Cadillac CT5-V, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Tesla Model S isn't recommended.

The CT5-V Blackwing was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 3 more times in the last 4 years. The Model S hasn’t been picked since 2016, and the Model S has only been chosen twice.

The Cadillac CT5 outsold the Tesla Model S by 28% during 2024.