There are the main players in the compact luxury car arena, and then there are outliers like the 2025 Cadillac CT4 and the 2025 Volvo S60. These two can appeal to buyers who still want the comfort and tech of a typical luxury ride, perhaps even a dash of sportiness, yet would rather look further afield than Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz. The CT4 has competitive pricing at each of its trim levels, while the S60’s quality and refinement justify its higher cost. Just one major thing to bear in mind — the CT4 is alive and well (for the time being), but the S60 has already ended its production run as Volvo puts most of its resources into electric SUVs.
Let’s take a closer look at these two intriguing choices.
2025 Cadillac CT4
2024 model shown
The Cadillac CT4 is the company’s most affordable new vehicle. Despite that, it still features an appealing exterior design (in our opinion) and a spirited powertrain. It comes standard with a 237-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Moving up the pecking order results in a 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine making 310 hp. The CT4-V bristles with 325 hp and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) can be added to any of these choices. The ultimate version is the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, developing a considerable 472 hp from a turbocharged V6. And to emphasize the “sport” in sport sedan, a 6-speed manual transmission with rear-wheel drive is standard, although a 10-speed automatic is available for those who prefer just two pedals.
The CT4’s cabin shows Cadillac’s evolution from interiors covered in wood and leather with pillow-like seating to a more tech-oriented setup. Launched for the 2020 model year, the 2025 CT4 brings a few new exterior paint choices (Deep Space Metallic and Typhoon Metallic — the former being a dark gray, the latter a green hue. There’s also a light blue Drift Metallic offered with the CT4-V), 8-way power-adjustable front seats for the CT4-V, and a new wheel design.
Cadillac CT4 Highlights
Safety smarts: The Cadillac Smart System’s standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a safety alert vibrating seat, rear parking sensors, and a Teen Driver mode.
Super Cruise: This enables hands-free driving on hundreds of thousands of highway miles mapped by Cadillac. It can even handle automatic lane changes without the driver touching the wheel. The Volvo S60 doesn’t offer anything comparable.
Tech enhancements: An option package adds a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, a color head-up display, and additional cabin air filtration to the Premium Luxury and Sport trims of the Cadillac CT4.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the CT4 models near you.
2025 Volvo S60
Since its introduction, the Volvo S60 has put up an admirable fight against top rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. However, production has already ceased. As a farewell flourish, the S60’s top trim changes its name from Ultimate to Ultra, and the T8 plug-in hybrid loses the Recharge part of its title.
At the entry level, a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine develops 247 hp, slightly more than the base Cadillac CT4. Not that this front-wheel-drive 4-door is much of a canyon carver. Instead, it provides ample muscle to match a ride that excels in comfort. All-wheel drive is optional here. More muscle comes in the T8 plug-in hybrid, which generates a substantial 455 hp.
The S60’s cabin is a sophisticated space, starting with a choice of Nappa leather or a wool blend for the seats. Other aspects offer similar levels of luxuriousness. The infotainment system requires some getting used to, but we’ve found that it’s worth the effort.
Volvo S60 Highlights
Driver assist: Pilot Assist is Volvo’s partial self-driving system. Standard in all but the base Core trim, it combines features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and road sign information to make highway driving nearly effortless.
Hey Google: This Google-based infotainment system comes with Google Maps (one of our favorite navigation systems) as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and four USB-C ports.
Excellent audio: A 14-speaker/600-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system is optional in the Plus trim and standard with the Ultra models. An even better 15-speaker/1,410-watt Bowers & Wilkins system (which, in our opinion, blows away the Cadillac CT4’s Bose system) is available for the Ultra trim.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the S60 models near you.
Similarities
Both the Cadillac CT4 and Volvo S60 make interesting entry points into luxury driving. Neither one is an obvious choice.
Pricing
New 2025 Cadillac CT4 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (38632)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$36,490 |
$34,479 |
|||
$41,390 |
$39,117 |
|||
$42,590 |
$40,971 |
New 2025 Volvo S60 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (38632)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$43,795 |
$41,649 |
|||
$46,595 |
$43,953 |
|||
$51,495 |
$49,357 |
|||
$52,195 |
TBD |
|||
$53,295 |
TBD |
|||
$56,095 |
TBD |
|||
$58,595 |
TBD |
|||
$59,295 |
TBD |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Cadillac CT4 vehicles and New 2025 Volvo S60 vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Cadillac CT4 | 2025 Volvo S60 | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 237 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 247 hp @ 5,400 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 258 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 22 city mpg/32 highway mpg/26 combined mpg | 27 city mpg/36 highway mpg/30 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 2.7-liter turbo 4-cylinder/AWD | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder/plug-in hybrid/AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 109.3 inches | 113.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 187.2 inches | 188.1 inches |
| Width | 71.4 inches | 75.4 inches |
| Height | 56.0 inches | 56.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.1 feet | 37.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.3 inches | 37.4 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 36.5 inches | 37.2 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.4 inches | 42.3 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 33.4 inches | 35.2 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.2 inches | 56.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 53.9 inches | 54.5 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 10.7 cubic feet | 11.6 cubic feet |
Conclusion
It’s pretty obvious that the winning car out of these two is the one that’s still available, the CT4. It would also have been the cheapest. Despite its quality, comfort and fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid variant, the Volvo S60 won’t be competing, unless you can find one in the corner of a Volvo dealership going for a low price because it’s taking up space.
