BMW M3 vs. Cadillac CTS-V
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW M3 and Cadillac CTS-V contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW M3 and the Cadillac CTS-V.
In comparing the BMW M3's and the Cadillac CTS-V's specifications and ratings, the BMW M3 has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, reliability, resale value and overall quality score. The Cadillac CTS-V has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the BMW M3's and the Cadillac CTS-V's specifications and ratings, the BMW M3 is a better car than the Cadillac CTS-V.
Pricing: A used 2018 BMW M3 ranges from $43,631 to $64,965 while a used 2018 Cadillac CTS-V is priced between $54,422 to $79,992.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW M3 loses 42.3 percent of its value and the Cadillac CTS-V loses 54.5 percent of its value. This means the BMW M3 retains 12.2 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Cadillac CTS-V.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the BMW M3 is 7.7 out of 10 while the Cadillac CTS-V's quality rating is 7.2 out of 10. This results in the BMW M3 being ranked 16 out of 36 Best Luxury Small Cars and the Cadillac CTS-V being ranked 13 out of 24 Best Luxury Large Cars.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the BMW M3 is 7.5 out of 10. For the Cadillac CTS-V the reliability rating is 6.6 out of 10. This gives the BMW M3 a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Cadillac CTS-V.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW M3’s base engine makes 425 horsepower, and the Cadillac CTS-V base engine makes 640 horsepower. The M3 is rated to deliver an average of 20 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 395 miles. The CTS-V is rated to deliver an average of 17 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 399 miles.This gives the BMW M3 the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Cadillac CTS-V the advantage in maximum range. Both models use premium unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Cadillac CTS-V has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The BMW M3, a compact car, has the advantage in the areas of rear head room and rear shoulder room.
Safety Ratings: The Cadillac CTS-V has an average safety rating of 4 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$66,500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$42,046
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$28,100 - $66,500
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$86,495
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Large Cars)
$79,743
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Large Cars)
$29,565 - $133,300
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$53,876
Price Range:
$43,631 - $64,965
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$26,145
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$18,855 - $53,876
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
55
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
51,457
# Good or Great Deals:
9
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$68,373
Price Range:
$54,422 - $79,992
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Large Cars)
$42,393
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Large Cars)
$19,448 - $94,476
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
8
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
46,839
# Good or Great Deals:
2
BMW M3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.7 / 10
Reliability:
7.5 / 10
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Cadillac CTS-V Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.2 / 10
Reliability:
6.6 / 10
Retained Value:
7.1 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW M3
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
6.2
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
5.1
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.1 - 8.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
1.5%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Cadillac CTS-V
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
3.7
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Large Cars)
5.2
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Large Cars)
1.7 - 8.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.6
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.6
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.4 - 14.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
0.9
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Large Cars)
2.1
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Large Cars)
0.5 - 100.6
BMW M3 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 3Ranking
1 out of / 2Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
5 out of / 36Ranking
8 out of / 36Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
12 out of / 12Ranking
13 out of / 36Ranking
16 out of / 36Ranking
29 out of / 31Cadillac CTS-V Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 24Ranking
3 out of / 24Ranking
3 out of / 7Ranking
7 out of / 24Ranking
13 out of / 24Ranking
17 out of / 24Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW M3 Trim Levels
Base, CS
Cadillac CTS-V Trim Levels
Base
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
6 years / 70000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
425 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque:
406 foot-lbs @ 1850 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.119 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
640 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque:
630 foot-lbs @ 3600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.155 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
17 / 25 / 20
Range (city/hwy):
269 / 395 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
6.2 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
8
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
14 / 21 / 17
Range (city/hwy):
266 / 399 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Standard
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.7 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.1 inches
Cargo Space:
12 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
96.2 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
45.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.8 inches
Cargo Space:
13.7 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
97.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3575 lbs
Width:
80.2 inches
Height:
56.1 inches
Length:
184.5 inches
Wheelbase:
110.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.7 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4141 lbs
Width:
72.2 inches
Height:
57.2 inches
Length:
197.6 inches
Wheelbase:
114.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 9.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
255/40R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 9.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P265/35R19
Exterior Colors
Black
Azurite Black Metallic / Black Sapphire Metallic
Blue
Tanzanite Blue Metallic / Yas Marina Blue Metallic
Brown
Smoked Topaz Metallic
Gray
Mineral Grey Metallic
Orange
Sakhir Orange II Metallic
Silver
Champagne Quartz Metallic / Silverstone Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Yellow
Austin Yellow Metallic
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Raven
Blue
Vector Blue Metallic
Brown
Not available
Gray
Phantom Gray Metallic / Satin Steel Metallic
Orange
Not available
Silver
Glacier Metallic
White
Crystal White Tricoat
Yellow
Not available
Red
Red Obsession Tintcoat
Interior Colors
Beige
Sonoma Beige
Black
Black
Brown
Amaro Brown / Cohiba Brown/Black / Golden Brown / Nutmeg
Gray
Anthracite/Black / Silverstone
Orange
Sakhir Orange/Black
Red
Sakhir Orange/Black
White
Opal White
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Jet Black w/Jet Black Accents / Jet Black w/Morello Red Accents / Jet Black w/Saffron Accents
Brown
Not available
Gray
Light Platinum w/Jet Black Accents
Orange
Not available
Red
Not available
White
Not available
