The 2026 Cadillac CT5 received multiple Poor ratings in updated crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including revised side-impact and moderate overlap front evaluations. The results highlight potential injury risks in several crash scenarios, even as the luxury sedan retains a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Updated IIHS Tests Reveal Significant Injury Risks
The IIHS’s revised side-impact test exposed the driver dummy to forces of up to 161 G when a 4,300-pound moving barrier, shaped to represent a modern SUV, struck the driver’s side of the vehicle at 37 mph.
During the test, the driver dummy slid below the side curtain airbag and struck the windowsill and door trim panel. The resulting Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) score was 1,282. According to the IIHS, a score of 700 is estimated to represent a 5% risk of a severe injury, indicating a substantially higher risk of serious head trauma in this test.
Multiple Categories Receive Low Scores
Beyond the side-impact evaluation, the 2026 Cadillac CT5 received a Poor rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test.
The IIHS also assigned:
- Poor for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing.
- Marginal or Poor headlight ratings, depending on the trim level.
- Acceptable for front pedestrian crash prevention.
- Moderate for seat belt reminder performance.
Rear-Seat Results Affected Overall Rating
According to Motor1, Premium Luxury versions of the CT5 weighing between 3,663 pounds and 3,802 pounds showed a moderate risk of chest injury and a likely head or neck injury for the rear-seat dummy. Those findings contributed to the vehicle’s overall Poor rating, despite the front crash structure performing relatively well.
Not all results were negative. The rear passenger dummy received a Good rating for injury measures related to the airbags and the rear side structure.
How the Results Compare
Although the IIHS identified several areas of concern, the 2026 Cadillac CT5 continues to hold a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The article notes that the NHTSA and IIHS use different testing procedures, with the IIHS conducting more demanding evaluations. It also notes that vehicles such as the BMW 5 Series and Toyota Corolla have performed well in comparable IIHS tests.
The updated IIHS findings provide new data on the CT5’s crash performance and may inform future safety improvements in upcoming General Motors gasoline-powered sedans, including an expected successor to the CT5-V Blackwing.
