The midrange class of luxury sedans is mostly dominated by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but Cadillac and Audi have been working hard to get their names in the discussion. Caddy has its CTS, which recently received a refresh, and Audi has its legendary A4, which is all-new for 2017.
The CTS and A4 have been around seemingly forever, and both have a lot to offer. Which one plays best against the big boys from BMW and Mercedes?
See a side-by-side comparison of the CTS & A4 >>
What the Audi A4 Gets Right
The Audi A4 was all-new for 2017, and got a new look that modernized the brand’s timeless shape, a new cabin, and a new pair of engines. While the A4 may lack the pizzazz of the CTS's styling, its sleek design will age with the best of them.
Despite being rated as a compact to the CTS's midsize rating by the EPA, the A4 actually has slightly more rear-seat legroom. What’s more, the A4’s cabin is extremely refined, putting a significant gap between it and the CTS.
The A4 does give up a little power to the CTS, but its 31 mpg combined in the base Ultra model and 28 mpg combined with the 252-horsepower 2-liter engine easily best all of the CTS's ratings.
What the Cadillac CTS Gets Right
The refreshed CTS is a bit of a 'tweener, larger than the A4 but smaller than an A6 or other midsize luxury sedans. This extra size allows the CTS to offer up a bit more room in its trunk and far roomier front seats.
The CTS also wins out in performance thanks to its potent powertrains that include a 268-horsepower 2-liter turbo engine, 335-horspeower 3.6-liter V6, and 420-horsepower 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 in the V-Sport model. The latter powertrain delivers a sport-car-like 4.9-second 0-to-60 sprint time.
With its rear-wheel drive setup, the CTS also delivers a sportier feel in the corners relative to the front-drive basis of the A4.
Why Choose the Cadillac?
If you must have six cylinders and rear-wheel drive in your sports sedan, the CTS makes plenty of sense.
Our Verdict: Audi A4
The Audi is the better car overall—and it's not worth getting snobby over its front-wheel drive layout because you'll miss out on one of the best cars in this class.
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