Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 Cadillac CTS-V VS 2016 Mercedes E63 Near Scottsdale, AZ

Both the CTS-V and E63 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The CTS-V has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The E63’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To help make backing safer, the CTS-V’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The E63 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the CTS-V and the E63 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, collision warning systems, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the CTS-V 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E63. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the E63 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The CTS-V’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the E63’s (6/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

Cadillac pays for scheduled maintenance on the CTS-V for 4 years and 50,000 miles. Cadillac will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the E63.

There are almost 5 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CTS-V’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 7th.

The CTS-V’s 6.2 supercharged V8 produces 63 more horsepower (640 vs. 577) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (630 vs. 590) than the E63’s 5.5 turbo V8.

The CTS-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The E63 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the CTS-V’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the E63:

The CTS-V stops much shorter than the E63:

For better traction, the CTS-V has larger tires than the E63 (F:265/35R19 & R:295/30R19 vs. F:255/35R19 & R:285/30R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CTS-V’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the E63 Sedan (114.6 inches vs. 113.2 inches).

The Cadillac CTS-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 450 pounds less than the Mercedes E63.

The CTS-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The E63 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CTS-V has 2.5 inches more front headroom and 4.4 inches more front legroom than the E63 Sedan.

The CTS-V has a larger trunk than the E63 Sedan (13.7 vs. 12.9 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the CTS-V’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The E63’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The CTS-V has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The E63 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The CTS-V has a standard heads-up display which projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The E63 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CTS-V has standard extendable sun visors. The E63 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

On extremely cold Winter days, the CTS-V’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The E63 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CTS-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. Kiplinger’s estimates that the CTS-V will retain a greater percentage of its original price after three and five years than the E63.

The CTS VSport was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 6 of the last 8 years. The E Class has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CTS as their 2014 Car of the Year. The E Class was Import Car of the Year in 1996.

The CTS-V was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2014. The E Class has never been an “All Star.”