2019 Cadillac CTS

large luxury car / 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Superior
Optional system	Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Optional lane departure warning
Optional lane departure prevention
Optional rear automatic braking

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Luxury Collection 4-door

The Cadillac CTS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the front suspension steering links were modified to better control wheel movement during small overlap frontal crashes. The tested car was a 2015 model but was retrofitted by a Cadillac dealership with the revised steering links for 2016 models.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the instrument panel, steering wheel, and door frame after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space wasn't maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Instrument panel intrusion contributed to a significant risk of injury to the right lower leg and a moderate risk to the left hip and left lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1547
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	10
Footrest (cm)	16
Left toepan (cm)	12
Brake pedal (cm)	11
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	10
Upper dash (cm)	16
Lower instrument panel (cm)	15

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1547
Head
HIC-15	183
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	5
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	19
Femur (kN)
Left	5.9
Right	3.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	8
Right	6
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	14
Right	1
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.43
Right	0.74
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	5.7
Right	7.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	145
Right	105

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Cadillac CTS Performance Collection 4-door 4wd

The Cadillac CTS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1228
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	1
Left (cm)	2
Center (cm)	2
Right (cm)	1
Brake pedal (cm)	2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-1
Rearward (cm)	-2
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1228
Head
HIC-15	250
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	13
Maximum Nij	0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm)	26
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.4
Femur force - right (kN)	3.6
Knee displacement - left (mm)	3
Knee displacement - right (mm)	4
Maximum tibia index - left	0.36
Maximum tibia index - right	0.55
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	6.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	85
Right	97

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2014-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Cadillac CTS (base) 4-door 2wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags

The Cadillac CTS was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1304
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-14.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1304
Head HIC-15	482
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.0
Compression (kN)	0.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	47
Lateral force (kN)	2.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	38
Average deflection (mm)	36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.05
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.52
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.6
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.2
Combined force (kN)	3.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.6
L-M moment (Nm)	52
A-P moment (Nm)	102

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1304
Head HIC-15	18
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.2
Compression (kN)	0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	6
Lateral force (kN)	0.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	19
Average deflection (mm)	11
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	1.83
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.17
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.0
Acetabulum force (kN)	2.0
Combined force (kN)	3.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.2
L-M moment (Nm)	42
A-P moment (Nm)	36

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Luxury Collection 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,764 lbs
Peak force	15,989 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	4.25

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power leather seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	6
Distance below top of head (mm)	15
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	10.2
Head contact time (ms)	45
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	20
Max neck tension (N)	388

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

2.0L Turbo trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	2.0L Turbo trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	No
Overall rating Applies to 2016-19 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	85.3 m	None
Straightaway left edge	48.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	48.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	43.8 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	38.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	36.9 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	119.3 m
Straightaway left edge	76.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	48.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	49.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	38.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	38.0 m

Trim level(s)

2.0L Turbo Luxury trim
3.6L V6 Luxury trim
3.6L V6 Premium Luxury trim
3.6L Twin Turbo V-Sport trim
3.6L Twin Turbo V-Sport Premium Luxury trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	HID projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on both left curves and fair on both right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	2.0L Turbo Luxury trim 3.6L V6 Luxury trim 3.6L V6 Premium Luxury trim 3.6L Twin Turbo V-Sport trim 3.6L Twin Turbo V-Sport Premium Luxury trim
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	HID projector
Curve-adaptive?	Yes
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2016-19 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	93.1 m	92.5%
Straightaway left edge	62.2 m	92.5%
250m radius right curve, right edge	73.2 m	13.3%
250m radius left curve, left edge	61.3 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	60.5 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.6 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	117.5 m
Straightaway left edge	110.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	74.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	76.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	60.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	66.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

Ratings are given for 2 different trim variations available on this vehicle.

System details

Optional Forward Automatic Braking

Package name

Optional Driver Assist Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2018-19 models

Superior

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph.

System details

Optional Forward Collision Alert

Package name

Optional Driver Awareness Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2014-19 models

Basic

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
Autobrake not available.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	Luxury Collection
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	Luxury Collection
Seat type	leather

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	90
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	75
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	4-6
Force (lbs)	could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees)	71
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation