2020 Cadillac CT5 vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Cadillac CT5 was a striking representation of Cadillac's future design, heavily influenced by the Escala concept vehicle. It boasted sleek and elegant lines, with only minor quibbles such as the chrome spear on the rear roof pillars. The CT5's standard 18-inch wheels were well-proportioned, and the Red Obsession Tintcoat paint, though costly, added a touch of luxury. The Premium Luxury trim, equipped with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, offered a more satisfying driving experience compared to the base turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The interior, especially with the Platinum Package, featured premium semi-aniline leather and carbon-fiber trim, creating an exclusive and appealing cabin. Despite some areas for improvement in materials, the CT5's cabin provided a luxurious feel at an affordable price point.

In contrast, the 2020 Toyota Prius maintained its iconic jellybean-like shape, optimized for aerodynamics. The design evolved to incorporate sedan-like styling cues while retaining its hatchback functionality. The Prius's futuristic style remained contemporary, with a cabin defined by its central instrumentation and gauges. The Prius offered various trim levels, from the entry-level L Eco to the range-topping Limited, each adding more features and technology. The Prius's interior was spacious and versatile, with ample cargo space, making it a practical choice for those seeking efficiency and functionality.

The 2020 Cadillac CT5 offered a choice between an unrefined 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a more powerful twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. The latter, available on the Premium Luxury and standard on the CT5-V, delivered 335 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque in the Premium Luxury trim, and 360 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque in the CT5-V. The V6 engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided exhilarating acceleration and a satisfying engine note. However, the transmission's behavior in Sport mode sometimes detracted from the driving experience. The CT5's suspension offered a comfortable ride, and its steering and braking were well-calibrated, making it enjoyable to drive up to 8/10ths of its limits.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a hybrid powertrain with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a battery, producing a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. The Prius offered smooth and confident acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and conventional power. It had three drive modes—EV, Eco, and Power—each catering to different driving preferences. The Prius's unique shifter design and engine braking mode added to its distinctiveness. While not a sports car, the Prius's low center of gravity contributed to sharper handling, and its ride quality was smooth, making it ideal for daily commutes.

The 2020 Cadillac CT5's interior was a significant improvement over its predecessor, the CTS, thanks to a stretched wheelbase and new design. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim offered 18-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar massage, automatic heating and cooling, and premium leather upholstery. The rear seats provided ample legroom and comfort, with air conditioning vents for rear passengers. Interior storage was impressive, with a smartphone tray, wireless charging, and a sizable center console. However, the trunk space was limited to 11.9 cubic feet, with a non-flat floor and enclosed hinges.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its space, with deep door pockets, a large tray area between the front seats, and sub-trays around the center console. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, with good visibility for the driver. The rear seats offered ample space, though taller passengers needed to be cautious when entering and exiting. The Prius excelled in cargo space, with 50.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, depending on the model. Its hatchback design made loading and unloading items easy and convenient.

The 2020 Cadillac CT5 featured an updated Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system with a 10.0-inch high-definition touchscreen, stereo knobs, and piano-key controls. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Near Field Communication for smartphone pairing. Optional upgrades included a navigation system and a 15-speaker Bose sound system. The CT5 also offered a high-definition surround-view camera system, a rearview-camera mirror, and parking assist with automatic emergency braking. A head-up display was available, though its speed-limit data was occasionally inaccurate.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout, though it lacked Android Auto. The Prius offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display, and a 10-speaker JBL audio system. The top-center instrument panel, a defining feature of the Prius, displayed hybrid drivetrain status and other critical information, with menus accessible via the steering wheel.

The 2020 Cadillac CT5 offered advanced safety features, but they were only available beyond the base Luxury trim. The test car's safety systems issued no false warnings, though the lane-keeping assistance was subtle in its operation. The CT5 featured adaptive cruise control, maintaining a safe following distance and braking smoothly. Super Cruise, Cadillac's hands-free driver-assist technology, was not available for the 2020 model. The CT5 earned five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, but the IIHS had not rated it at the time of review.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" accolade from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest rating due to "average" scores in certain tests.