2023 Cadillac CT5 vs 2024 Nissan Altima

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V was a rare sight on Canadian roads, often turning heads and drawing attention, particularly from male onlookers. Its unique light grey metallic colour, Rift, and 19-inch aluminum wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish set it apart in a market dominated by Asian and German luxury cars. The CT5-V's design was a harmonious blend of black, body colour, chrome, and wheel-matching finishes, with every line and detail meticulously crafted. Positioned as the sporty variant of the midsize luxury sedan, the CT5-V offered a balance between the standard CT5 and the high-performance CT5-V Blackwing, with a starting price of $58,429. Our test model, equipped with the Climate Package and Super Cruise 1 Package, was priced at $66,044, offering a competitive alternative to its German rivals in terms of size and power, though its interior quality left room for improvement.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Altima, a familiar name since 1993, maintained its sixth-generation design with minor updates like a new grille for 2023. Available in four trims in Canada, the Altima stood out with standard all-wheel drive, a rarity among its midsize sedan competitors. Our test vehicle, similar to the Canadian Platinum trim, featured a red exterior and 19-inch alloy wheels, presenting a conservative yet appealing look. The Altima's interior, while somewhat outdated, offered comfort with impressively supportive seats and practical features like a wireless phone charger. However, the quality of materials, particularly the leather upholstery and plastic parts, was underwhelming. Despite these drawbacks, the Altima's practicality and comfort made it a viable option for those seeking a reliable midsize sedan.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V was powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. This placed it above the base engines of competitors like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, though it fell short of the BMW M340i and Mercedes-AMG C 43. Weighing 1,803 kilograms, the CT5-V could accelerate to 100 km/h in about five seconds, though it felt slower than it sounded. The car featured Active Fuel Management for cylinder deactivation, achieving a fuel economy rating of 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving. A 10-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with an optional all-wheel-drive system available. The CT5-V offered various driving modes, including Tour, Sport, Track, My Mode, and V-Mode, allowing drivers to tailor the car's performance to their preferences. Despite its impressive balance, body control, and grip, the CT5-V's steering lacked feedback, and the car's overall refinement was lacking, with noticeable road noise and suspension issues.

The 2024 Nissan Altima, equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, produced 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. While not exhilarating, the Altima's performance was adequate for most drivers, with a 0 to 96 km/h time of approximately 7.5 seconds. The Altima's "intelligent" all-wheel-drive system provided power to the rear wheels as needed, contributing to a fuel economy rating of 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.9 combined. The Altima's steering was light, but its low centre of gravity minimized body roll in corners. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) managed power output effectively, though it produced a droning noise under heavy acceleration. Despite these drawbacks, the Altima's noise insulation was generally impressive, making it a comfortable choice for everyday driving.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V, built on the same platform as the smaller CT4 and Chevrolet Camaro, offered a spacious and comfortable interior. The standard 18-way power-adjustable front performance seats, wrapped in artificial leather, provided good comfort and support, with genuine leather and ventilated seats available as options. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard in Canada. The rear seats, while offering decent knee clearance and foot room, were less accessible due to the door frame design. The CT5-V's trunk, with a capacity of 337 litres, was small and narrow, though it featured hidden storage and a 60/40 split back seat for longer items.

The 2024 Nissan Altima boasted impressive interior space, with front seats offering more room than competitors like the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. The rear seat provided 895 millimetres of legroom, surpassing the Hyundai Sonata and matching the Kia K5. The Altima's trunk, with a capacity of 437 litres, outclassed the Legacy and Camry, though it fell short of the Koreans and the Accord. The wide trunk-lid opening facilitated loading bulky items, and the 60/40-split folding rear seat maximized cargo space. The Altima's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with well-placed cupholders and cubbies enhancing its user-friendliness.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V excelled in making technology accessible and user-friendly. Its Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system featured a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrumentation display, offering simplicity over flashy graphics. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a Bose 15-speaker audio system. The CT5-V also offered wireless smartphone charging and natural voice recognition. While an embedded navigation system was optional, the test car relied on Apple CarPlay for navigation. Additional upgrades included a head-up display, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a Performance Data Recorder.

The 2024 Nissan Altima, equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the SR Premium and Platinum trims, offered crisp graphics and excellent resolution. The system featured static icons for easy navigation and an organized tile view on the home screen. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, with wireless versions available on the larger screen. The available nine-speaker Bose stereo was underwhelming, and the SiriusXM interface appeared cluttered. NissanConnect, standard on higher trims, allowed remote access to the Altima via the MyNissan app, offering features like remote start and emergency calling.

The 2023 Cadillac CT5 came with a standard Cadillac Smart System, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and a vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The CT5-V added features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic rear braking. The optional Super Cruise 1 Package offered hands-free driving assistance on approved highways, with features like lane-centring and lane-change systems. While Super Cruise was impressive, it required driver attention and had occasional issues with lane changes and highway entry-exit sections.

The 2024 Nissan Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it scored four stars in frontal crash tests. The Altima's IIHS rating was affected by poor performance in updated side-impact tests. Despite these concerns, the Altima offered a comprehensive suite of standard ADAS, including forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Platinum trim added a 360-degree surround-view monitor and traffic-sign recognition. ProPilot Assist, standard on all but the base trim, provided semi-autonomous driving assistance, blending steering assistance with adaptive cruise control.