Quick Answer: The 2026 Cadillac CT5 received the lowest possible “Poor” rating in the IIHS’s updated side-impact crash test. The driver-side dummy’s head moved past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill, registering a peak g-force of 161 — more than double the roughly 80g threshold linked to brain injury risk. The rear passenger dummy scored “Good.”
Arlington, VA: Luxury sedans are supposed to set the safety benchmark, but the redesigned 2026 Cadillac CT5 just failed one of the industry’s toughest tests. The IIHS’s newly updated side crash evaluation uses a heavier, 4,200-pound deformable barrier moving at 37 mph to simulate a modern SUV striking the driver’s door.
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What Went Wrong in Testing
In the CT5’s side-impact test, the driver dummy’s head moved downward past the side curtain airbag and made hard contact with the window sill, producing a peak g-rating of 161 and a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value of 1,282. Researchers say brain injuries become likely above roughly 80g of head impact force. By contrast, the “Good”-rated 2026 BMW 5 Series recorded no peak g-force at all in the same test, with a HIC of just 193, because its side curtain airbag kept the dummy’s head from hitting a hard surface.
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CT5 vs. BMW 5 Series — Side Impact Test Results
| Metric | 2026 Cadillac CT5 | 2026 BMW 5 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Side Rating | Poor | Good |
| Driver Peak G-Force | 161g | No head contact |
| Driver HIC Value | 1,282 | 193 |
| Rear Passenger Rating | Good | Good |
More Than Just the Side Test
The CT5 also picked up “Poor” ratings in the updated moderate overlap front crash test (rear-passenger protection was the weak point), headlight performance, and front crash prevention — four “Poor” scores in total, the worst result of any vehicle in this IIHS test batch. In the same generation of tests, the CT5 still carries a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, highlighting how differently the two agencies’ protocols are structured.
A Cadillac spokesperson told AutoAkhbar’s sourced outlets: “The safety of our vehicles is the highest priority for the entire GM team. We are confident in the safety of the 2026 Cadillac CT5 that achieved a 5-Star rating in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. We respect the consumer metric ratings from IIHS and look to incorporate their findings into our vehicle designs.”
AutoAkhbar Verdict
A 5-star NHTSA rating and four “Poor” IIHS scores on the same car underline how much crash-test protocols matter. Buyers cross-shopping the CT5 against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A5, or Mercedes-Benz C-Class should weigh the IIHS side-impact result carefully, especially anyone who regularly carries rear-seat passengers.
Source Name : Jalopnik
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Cadillac CT5 fail the IIHS side-impact test?
The driver dummy’s head slipped past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill directly, producing forces more than double the level associated with brain injury risk, while the vehicle’s B-pillar also compressed further than allowed.
Does the CT5’s NHTSA 5-star rating mean it’s safe?
NHTSA and IIHS use different testing protocols. The CT5’s 5-star NHTSA rating doesn’t reflect the newer, more demanding side-impact and moderate-overlap tests that IIHS uses, in which the car scored Poor.
Which other 2026 vehicles were tested alongside the CT5?
IIHS tested nine 2026 model-year vehicles in this round, including the BMW 5 Series, which scored Good across the board while the CT5 scored Poor in four categories.
