The Most Affordable Luxury Vehicles — Which is the Best Buy?

Are you considering purchasing a Cadillac? If so, you deserve a medal. Or at least a pat on the back, because you’re making a wise decision for your financial future as well as your level of comfort when you hit the road.

Why? Because Cadillacs offer plenty of luxurious touches and sophistication while still managing to price their vehicles lower or similar to their top competitors.

Demonstrating Cadillac’s Value

What will it take to convince you that, when you buy a Cadillac, you’re getting the luxury you want along with an approachable price? How about a comparison of some of the American automaker’s top models and their feistiest rivals?

Comparison: Cadillac CT5 vs. Mercedes-Benz C-class

The CT5 is Cadillac’s sport sedan, bringing a powerful engine and stylish exterior to the party. The Mercedes-Benz C-class attempts to do the same thing, with a fair amount of success. While the C-class is certainly a popular model for luxury sedan owners, there’s plenty of reasons to prefer the CT5 in a head-to-head comparison.

First, the CT5 brings a comparable amount of luxury and style while carrying a smaller price tag — the CT5 starts at $37,990 MSRP while the C-class starts at $42,650 MSRP.

How else does the CT5 provide terrific value compared to the C-class? There’s the standard 10” infotainment display with outstanding usability, which surpasses the C-class’ 7” display. The two vehicles also get nearly the same gas mileage, and feature similar standard driver assistance technology (with more optional goodies).

The CT5’s look and feel screams luxury, just like the C-class’. While the C-class has a more powerful base engine, it’s clear the CT5 ups the “value” factor with similar features and a larger infotainment display at a reduced starting price.

Comparison: Cadillac XT4 vs. Audi Q3

The XT4 is one of Cadillac’s most popular crossover SUVs, offering a superior mix of size, speed and technology. Compared to the Audi Q3, another one of the most popular luxury crossovers on the market, it’s clear that Cadillac again delivers tremendous value across its entire lineup.

In terms of price, the XT4 and Audi Q3 are nearly even. Cadillac’s crossover starts at $36,790 MSRP, while the Q3’s base model begins at $37,095 MSRP. It’s a fairly negligible difference, but any money saved is a plus, right?

While the XT4 falls a bit behind in terms of driver assistance features (Audi is known for loading their vehicles with modern conveniences), there are plenty of other areas it takes the cake in. The XT4 has a more powerful engine, creating 237 horsepower compared to the Q3’s 184 horsepower. It also has a far more spacious interior, while the Q3 is small and squishy on the inside — not a great option for families.

Yet again, Cadillac offers tremendous value with the XT4 without forcing you to break the bank.

Comparison: Cadillac Escalade vs. Lincoln Navigator

At first glance it’s easy to assume these two titans of the luxury SUV world are on an even playing field. They boast nearly identical starting prices — $77,490 MSRP for the Escalade and $77,480 MSRP for the Navigator — and are often considered rivals.

However, upon closer inspection, it’s easy to see that the Escalade does laps around the Navigator in terms of value.

Here’s where the Cadillac Escalade wins: technology. If you want to feel like you’re riding in a luxurious, modern SUV, then the Escalade is for you. Featuring a fascinating, tiered digital dashboard that makes you feel like you’re driving a car from the future, it’s an experience unlike any other. Throw in the augmented-reality nav system and AKG sound system, and it becomes easy to see that there’s no comparison.

The Navigator’s infotainment system is boxy and clunky, and it doesn’t offer as many standard safety features as the Escalade. The Navigator is equipped with a more powerful engine, but subsequently gets inferior gas mileage.

The takeaway here is that Cadillac packs a heaping pile of luxury and value into its vehicles, regardless of size or style. Whether it’s the CT5, XT4, Escalade or another model, drivers can’t go wrong when they set their sights on a Cadillac.

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