Compared: 2023 BMW 3 Series vs. 2023 Cadillac CT4

These compact luxury sedans can also offer a sporty drive.

Manuel Carrillo III & Carl Malek | 

Apr 22, 2024 | 3 min read

BMW | Cadillac

The 2023 BMW 3 Series is a long-running performance and sales benchmark in the compact luxury sedan class, and it has battled its fair share of contenders to maintain its leadership role in the segment. Meanwhile, the 2023 Cadillac CT4 is General Motors' latest attempt at making a true 3 Series fighter.

BMW

The Cadillac CT4 Boasts the Lower Cost of Entry

The CT4 wins the pricing battle with the base rear-wheel-drive Luxury trim starting around $36,000, about $9,000 lower than a base $45,000 BMW 330i. Whether it's the BMW or the Cadillac, adding all-wheel drive (AWD) costs the same — $2,000 — and both base models are powered by turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines.

The engine in the BMW makes 255 horsepower, while the Caddy's makes 237 horsepower. Unlike the Cadillac, the BMW is offered in a plug-in hybrid 330e variant, starting at $46,000. Those with more of a performance penchant will likely gravitate to the $57,000 BMW M340i with its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six making 382 horsepower.

Folks looking for more performance in the Cadillac camp are served by the CT4's available 310-hp 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the $46,000 CT4 Premium Luxury. Opt for the $48,000 CT4-V, and you also get the 2.7-liter, but with 325 horsepower.

There are much higher levels of performance in the 2023 BMW M3 and the 2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, but those versions are covered elsewhere.

Cadillac

The BMW Leaves a Stronger Tech First Impression

As soon as you open the 2023 BMW 3 Series' door, you're greeted by a huge, curved piece of glass spanning two-thirds of the dashboard. The BMW Curved Display, as it's called, is made up of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster screen ahead of the driver, flanked by a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen atop the center stack.

BMW

In contrast, the Cadillac's infotainment system uses an 8.0-inch screen exclusively, but a 12.0-inch driver instrument cluster is optional, along with a head-up display. You can also option the 3 Series with a head-up display.

The BMW may be rocking the more modern-looking tech suite, but it's a nice touch that GM engineers continue to include hard buttons, which prevents the burying of some features in an interface's myriad menus.

In terms of trunk space, these cars are in different leagues. The Cadillac is working with 10.7 cubic-feet compared with the BMW's 16.9 cu-ft. Even the plug-in 330e's smaller 13.2 cu-ft trunk beats the Caddy's.

Cadillac

The 3 Series Delivers More Efficiency and Performance

The efficiency victor in this comparison is the rear-drive BMW 330e. Operating in EV mode with up to 22 miles of range, the electrified 3 Series is good for 73 MPGe and 27 mpg when working as a conventional hybrid, according to the EPA. The AWD BMW 330e xDrive returns 68 MPGe, 26 mpg as a hybrid, and features an electric-driving range of 20 miles.

Electrified 3 Series models aside, the BMW also has the more efficient gasoline 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Despite 18 more standard horsepower, the BMW 330i returns 25/34/29 mpg city/highway/combined. AWD takes that down to 24/33/27 mpg. The Cadillac's 2.0-liter engine is good for 23/34/27 mpg and AWD lowers that to 22/31/26 mpg.

The most efficient EPA rating for the Cadillac's 2.7-liter turbo four-cylinder is 21/31/25 mpg, which is actually thirstier than the six-cylinder BMW M340i xDrive at 23/32/26 mpg. Pair Cadillac's 2.7-liter with AWD, and fuel economy falls to 21/29/24 mpg. The same engine and drive layout in the CT4-V returns 20/28/23 mpg, but the performance of that CT4 variant still doesn't match the M340i xDrive.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Manuel Carrillo III

Though he works within every facet of automotive media, Manuel Carrillo III is happiest in front of the camera, where he currently co-hosts a popular TV show on a major network. Before joining Capital One, Manuel was automotive reviews editor at a large technology publication. He also contributes feature stories to a leading outlet in the global luxury market, so adventures like driving house-priced automobiles in Sicily, or rubbing elbows with the rich and famous is well within the parameters of a “typical day at the office.”

Carl Malek

Carl Malek is an automotive journalist with more than 10 years of professional experience. He covers all aspects of the automobile industry but specializes in vehicle reviews and industry analysis with strong knowledge in both fields. When he is not writing, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife Emily and being involved in other family activities.