GM debuted the Cadillac CT4 last year, with the hot-to-trot CT4-V being announced in May followed by the “standard” CT4 in September. Offered as an indirect replacement for the Cadillac ATS sedan, the new CT4 arrives as Cadillac’s smallest contemporary sedan model, primed and ready to take on C-segment rivals like the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA-Class, as well as the BMW 1 Series sedan and 2 Series Gran Coupe.
With the GM Alpha 2 vehicle architecture underneath a freshly-styled body, the latest Global B electrical architecture to run a plethora of modern tech, and a fresh range of powerplants, the CT4 is a big step forward compared to the ATS. But from a dimensional standpoint, how does the all-new CT4 stack up to the outgoing ATS Sedan? To find out, we lined them up side by side and checked the specs.
Cadillac CT4
Cadillac ATS Sedan
Exterior Dimensions
With regard to exterior sizing, the Cadillac CT4 is larger than the outgoing Cadillac ATS in nearly every dimension.
The biggest difference is in terms of overall length, with the CT4 gaining an extra 4.4 inches compared to the ATS. The CT4 is also 0.4 inches wider, 0.1 inches taller, and an extra 0.8 inches wider with regard to front and rear track. To note, the overall width measurements listed here does not include the width added by the sideview mirrors.
However, the wheelbase is identical for both models, meaning that any exterior styling differences are the result of body treatment.
| Dimension | Cadillac CT4 | Cadillac ATS | +/- Cadillac CT4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase (in.) | 109.3 | 109.3 | 0 |
| Overall Length (in.) | 187.2 | 182.8 | 4.4 |
| Overall Width (in.) | 71.5 | 71.1 | 0.4 |
| Overall Height (in.) | 56 | 55.9 | 0.1 |
| Front Track (in.) | 60.3 | 59.5 | 0.8 |
| Rear Track (in.) | 61.7 | 60.9 | 0.8 |
Cadillac CT4-V interior
Cadillac ATS interior
Interior Dimensions
Moving into the cabin, we find the Cadillac CT4 actually has less passenger space in numerous measurements when compared to the ATS. Front passengers have 0.3 inches less headroom and 0.1 inches less legroom, while second-row passengers have 0.3 inches less headroom and 0.1 inches less legroom. Meanwhile, first row shoulder room, first row hip room, and second row shoulder room are identical between the two sedans.
The only interior dimension measurement where the Cadillac CT4 bests the ATS is in second row hip room, where the CT4 offers an extra 0.2 inches compared to the outgoing model.
| Dimension | Cadillac CT4 | Cadillac ATS | +/- Cadillac CT4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Row Headroom (in.) | 38.3 | 38.6 | -0.3 |
| First Row Legroom (in.) | 42.4 | 42.5 | -0.1 |
| First Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 55.2 | 55.2 | 0 |
| First Row Hip Room (in.) | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| Second Row Headroom (in.) | 36.5 | 36.8 | -0.3 |
| Second Row Legroom (in.) | 33.4 | 33.5 | -0.1 |
| Second Row Shoulder Room (in.) | 53.9 | 53.9 | 0 |
| Second Row Hip Room (in.) | 52.5 | 52.3 | 0.2 |
Cadillac CT4-V
Cadillac ATS
We should note that we don’t consider the fact that the CT4 has slightly less space than the ATS Sedan is problematic, since it now competes in a smaller size class than the ATS Sedan did before it.
Cargo Dimensions
Our final dimensional comparison is with regard to cargo volume, and despite offering somewhat smaller passenger dimensions, the Cadillac CT4 bests the ATS when it comes to the trunk space, offering an extra 0.3 cubic feet over the ATS Sedan.
| Dimension | Cadillac CT4 | Cadillac ATS | +/- Cadillac CT4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) | 10.7 | 10.4 | 0.3 |
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This report was written in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
“We should note that we don’t consider the fact that the CT4 has slightly less space than the ATS Sedan is problematic, since it now competes in a smaller size class than the ATS Sedan did before it.”
Yes, costumers will think this way. All of them are GM loyalists.
Nice car, however. Interior looks like a big improvement.
X2. As an ATS owner I won’t get in this new larger on the exterior, smaller on the interior car and be happy because it is in a different category now. Seems like with the exterior growing the interior could have at least stayed the same, not gotten smaller.
Clearly not an all new vehicle. Oh well. Looking forward to new Escalade reveal.
Does GM really believe or hope people don’t research these things? Who buys a “luxury” car they need to defend. Now, if GM considers Cadillac as a ‘Premium ‘ brand, then they are right where they need to be and people can begin to realign their expectations for the brand. PERCEPTION matters, especially in the LUXURY segment. And somehow Cadillac and loyalist seem to miss this.
Another mistake!
Looks as if inspired by Pontiac G6…
I’d love to be in the meetings where these decisions are made.
Consumers: ATS is kinda small on the inside despite being a similar size to the C/3/A4.
GM team: Ok if we made it smaller on the inside they will think less about how big it is on the outside.
I pray that GM is taking these short sighted Steps with the recent Cadillac vehicles due to the Future of Cadillac being 100% Meaning instead of spending the R&D on these vehicles that just came out recently, they went cheap so they can move a lot more money into their upcoming EV Vehicles. And I mean Tesla level EV’s not like the one from Audi and Jaguar which were basically duds. If that is not the case, then kiss Cadillac goodbye in the future. These cars are just not up to par in the Luxury field. Not one Cadillac vehicle is up to Par in their respected Segments. Not one.
And remember that in theory Cadillac vehicles are all Tweeners that really don’t compete head to head with the German Big Three.
If you are a Cadillac fan as myself, do yourself a favor and avoid all the Reviews of the CT5. It’ll just upset you.
Hope they at least get the Slade right. Can’t wait until tomorrow.
Tesla Level EV? Tesla are junk! The new Porsche Taycan EV is the top of the food chain when it comes to EV’s at this time!
Cadillac has lost this customer. I thoroughly dislike the CT5 and 4. They are steps backward in styling. I’ve personally owned 6 Cadillacs over the years (I am 48 y/o). The last attractive car they produced was XTS (it took a while to grow on me). I will never buy a CUV or SUV. So it looks like an Audi, Volvo, or Lexus the next time I buy.
Rusty the chap that is now head of Cadillac was the CEO of GM Canada operations at headquarters near the Oshawa Assembly plant where your excellent XTS was probably built along side Impala till it was discontinued sadly before Christmas last year ,someone else must be calling the shot not him on newer designs and the customer base wants !
I won’t trade my ATS premium with V6 for a CT4VC because the styling is terrible on the CT4 compared to the ATS. I drove a loaner CT4v for 2 weeks and I am convinced that the ATS is a better designed and built car compared to the CT4.
If someone likes their ATS, they should like this CT4.
It’s not different enough to attract new buyers who passed on the ATS.
I think the ATS looks a little better and the spoiler brake light on the ATS looks a loot better than the rear of CT4.
The ATS is still a nice looking vehicle, especially from the rear three quarter angle in the picture above. I’m having a hard time deciding between the CT4 and the ATS as to which looks better.
It wasn’t mentioned, but the front & rear track measurements are a carryover from the ATS coupe.
So now it’s a physically larger car, but the interior will be still perceived by critics as cramped when it fails to meet the spacious expectations created by the larger exterior. We’re to believe that the interior is right-sized now because they dropped the price to compete with lower-hanging fruit. I’m not sure that equates a greater value proposition…
So they made it longer, but interior is smaller? The back end is bulbous on this thing.
Consumer: We don’t care for the current ATS because it has a cramped interior, poor rear legroom and a tiny useless trunk.
GM: Well we are going to kill off the ATS and bring out the all new CT4 so just wait until that comes out. It will be the same car underneath, longer and slightly wider, offer 35 less HP and 37 less torque on the std 2.0T engine and ditch the 335 Hp V6 option.
Consumer: But will it correct the deficiencies of the current car?
GM: Well it will have a larger trunk 10.7 Cu.FT vs 10.4. It’s going to sell like hotcakes.
Consumer: But what about the interior
GM: Well it’s physically larger on the outside!
Consumer: bashes head into wall
Consumer:……..(purchases other brand…..ANY other brand)
Given that the CT4 and ATS share the same starting point which is similar to the Chevrolet Camaro, one had to think that overall dimensions had to be very similar which will cause some people to wonder how much difference can there be between the CT4 and ATS or why there should be a question whether the 650 hp LT4 supercharged 6.2L V8 can be shoehorned into the CT4 (given it’s Camaro genetics).
What is in need of defense? They put better powertrains in, way better interior, updated exterior that’s a small improvement. Then they lowered the price to say it competes in a slightly smaller. They then released a ct5 to go up against the 3 series and it’s slightly larger than that.
They made it better and cheaper. Sounds good to me. Bigger cars aren’t necessarily better, which is why there is a 2 series and 3. An a3 and a4.
Sounds like it’s one of the best thing Cadillac had done in a long time.
People here except CT4 to beat every luxury maker on everything while offering it for $29,999 with a V8, then say they’ll buy the competition with similar shortcomings if not more (like fwd and/or old platforms).
IMO the interior should offered more room
But they didn’t change the wheelbase for back seat passenger comfort ,That many have complained above just lengthened it !
And now it’s time to provide a similar comparison for the power plants and drive train options.
Exterior dimensions almost all got bigger yet the interior dimensions almost all got smaller. Impressive engineering, couldn’t have been easy. 4.4″ longer, yet a slight increase in trunk space. Wider, taller, longer, hard to believe.
Less HP, less room, no coupe, no thanks.