Both the Impala and the CTS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Impala is safer than the Cadillac CTS:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Impala is safer than the CTS:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Impala is safer than the Cadillac CTS:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Impala its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 170 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CTS is not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2015.

There are over 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Impala's warranty.

The Impala has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine's coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The CTS doesn't offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car's engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Impala's reliability 55 points higher than the CTS.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2019 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 5 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Impala's 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 37 more horsepower (305 vs. 268) than the CTS' standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Impala uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CTS V-Sport requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Impala stops shorter than the CTS:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Impala LT has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CTS. The Impala Premier's optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the CTS.

The Impala has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn't available on the CTS; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Impala's drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CTS doesn't offer drift compensation steering.

The Impala LT handles at .84 G's, while the CTS Luxury AWD pulls only .81 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Impala LT is quieter than the CTS V-Sport Premium Luxury:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Impala a Large car, while the CTS is rated a Mid-size.

The Impala has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CTS (105 vs. 97).

The Impala has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 4.4 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more rear hip room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CTS.

The Impala has a much larger trunk than the CTS (18.8 vs. 13.7 cubic feet).

The Impala's standard towing capacity is much higher than the CTS' (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

Consumer Reports rated the Impala's headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the CTS' headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Insurance will cost less for the Impala owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Impala will cost $745 to $5480 less than the CTS over a five-year period.

The Impala will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Impala will retain 42.7% to 43.7% of its original price after five years, while the CTS only retains 30.06% to 37.42%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impala is less expensive to operate than the CTS because typical repairs cost much less on the Impala than the CTS, including $615 less for a muffler, $11 less for front brake pads, $387 less for a fuel pump, $219 less for front struts and $305 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Impala will be $23747 to $36067 less than for the Cadillac CTS.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Impala, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac CTS isn't recommended.

The Chevrolet Impala outsold the Cadillac CTS by almost six to one during the 2019 model year.