2025 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2024 Cadillac CT5

The 2024 Cadillac CT5, a successor to the Cadillac CTS, presented a more restrained design compared to its predecessor. While it lacked the bold chrome and geometric surfacing of the CTS, the CT5 maintained a distinctive front fascia with a confident sneer. Its stretched wheelbase and slightly fastback silhouette gave it a stately appearance, distinguishing it from the smaller CT4. Despite being older than some competitors, the CT5's design remained contemporary, offering a cleaner look than the newly redesigned German sedans. The trim levels ranged from the base Luxury to the performance-oriented CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing, with the Sport model featuring boy-racer styling elements. Inside, the CT5's interior seemed a mix of various car influences, with surfaces that didn't blend seamlessly. Despite optional luxury features like massaging seats, the cabin felt somewhat cheap, reinforcing stereotypes about General Motors interiors.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 Sport hatchback showcased an organically shaped design with a long hood and tapered greenhouse, creating S-shaped reflections on its flanks. Depending on the light, its proportions could appear odd, a common trait among hatchbacks. The test car's Polymetal Grey paint over red leather was striking, and the interior focused on the driver with a calming atmosphere and top-notch materials. However, the gloss black plastic trim showed wear easily. The Mazda 3 Sport offered non-turbo and turbocharged engine options, with trims including GX, GS, GT, and the hatchback-exclusive Suna Edition. The GT model, tested with a manual transmission, featured extra-cost paint and a rear hatch spoiler. Despite its compact size, the Mazda 3 provided a delightful driving experience, with a smooth and refined standard engine and a manual gearbox that was a joy to use.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 was available, delivering 335 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with a mandatory 10-speed automatic transmission, with Canadian buyers having the choice between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The CT5-V variant featured a tuned version of the V6, producing 360 hp, while the high-performance CT5-V Blackwing boasted a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 668 hp and 659 lb-ft of torque, available with a six-speed manual transmission. The CT5 Premium Luxury test car, equipped with AWD and the twin-turbo V6, offered a balanced driving experience, with a 0 to 96 km/h time of 5.1 seconds for AWD models. The ride quality leaned towards a sports sedan feel, and the interior noise was well-managed, enhancing driving comfort.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 came with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine from the Skyactiv family, producing 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged version of this engine offered 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. Most Mazda 3 models featured a six-speed automatic transmission, but the GT trim offered a six-speed manual gearbox, providing driving enthusiasts with a rewarding experience. The manual transmission delivered a smooth and effortless shifting experience, and the Mazda 3's G-Vectoring Control Plus technology enhanced handling and stability. Despite some road noise at highway speeds and a torsion-beam rear suspension that amplified sharper bumps, the Mazda 3 remained communicative and predictable, making every drive enjoyable.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 offered comparable passenger space to its rivals, with more front headroom than the Audi A6 and the outgoing Mercedes E-Class, and nearly the same as the BMW 5 Series. However, second-row headroom was the worst in the group, although it provided the most legroom in both rows. The CT5's trunk space was limited to 337 litres, the smallest among its competitors. The driving position was well-suited for a sporty sedan, with easy seat adjustments and good visibility. The base Luxury grade featured standard 12-way power and 10-way front passenger adjustment, while higher trims offered more advanced seat adjustments and features like heated and ventilated seats. The centre console was well-utilized, providing decent storage space and a wireless phone charger.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 felt compact, with snug seating and limited stretch-out room. However, the seats were comfortable, and the test car's eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat allowed for an ideal driving position. The red leather upholstery was soft and supple, and the heated front seats provided warmth on chilly mornings. Forward visibility was excellent, but the design compromised rear visibility, and the reversing camera lacked guidance lines. Rear-seat legroom was tight, with limited amenities for passengers. The Mazda 3 offered a practical cargo space of 569 litres behind the back seat, expandable to 1,334 litres with the rear seat folded.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 featured a standard 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. The Technology Package added a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. Standard features included three USB ports and wireless phone charging, while a 15-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system was optional. Cadillac's infotainment system had improved significantly, offering smooth operation and easy-to-use controls. However, the touchscreen was prone to glare, and the voice-recognition feature lagged behind competitors. While lacking the flashy tech of some rivals, the CT5 prioritized everyday usability.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 stuck with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch or 10.25-inch display, depending on the version. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be used via touchscreen, other functions required physical controls or voice recognition, which was less reliable. Alexa Built-in faced connectivity issues during testing. The GT trim offered wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio system provided excellent sound quality. A two-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services was standard, but the test car's wireless charging pad was non-functional.

The 2024 Cadillac CT5 received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in frontal, side, and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not released ratings for the CT5 at the time of publication. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. The Super Cruise hands-free driver-assist system was available on higher trims, offering impressive performance on divided highways.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five stars in all NHTSA crash tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and more. The adaptive cruise control system performed smoothly in traffic, and the head-up display showed blind spot warnings. However, the lane departure warning system issued inaccurate alerts in certain situations, and the lane centring assist was unavailable.