2026 Cadillac CT5 Gets Poor Rating in Updated IIHS Side Crash Test

The 2026 Cadillac CT5 has earned the lowest possible rating of Poor in the IIHS's updated side crash test.

The test uses a 4,200-pound deformable sled designed to mimic the front of a modern SUV slamming into the side of a vehicle at 37 mph. In the CT5, the driver dummy's head moved downward past the side curtain airbag and hit the window sill hard, producing peak forces of 161 g and a HIC-15 value of 1,282.

Values above 900 are believed to cause major fractures and severe unconsciousness, and brain injuries are likely with head impacts above about 80 g. The driver in this crash would likely be severely injured.

The updated side test uses small, fifth-percentile female or 12-year-old-sized dummies in both the driver and rear passenger seats. The rear dummy in the CT5 fared much better, earning a Good rating. By comparison, the Good-rated 2026 BMW 5 Series driver dummy had no head contact and a HIC value of 193, while the Good-rated 2026 Toyota Corolla also avoided hard-surface contact and came in at 114.

The CT5 also scored Poor in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, mainly because the rear dummy showed forces indicating a moderate risk of chest injury and likely head or neck injury.

Cadillac said vehicle safety is the highest priority for the GM team, expressed confidence in the CT5's five-star NHTSA rating, and said it respects IIHS metrics and will incorporate their findings into vehicle designs.

The CT5s tested were Premium Luxury trims weighing between 3,663 and 3,802 pounds depending on drivetrain. The CT5 was updated in 2025 and is slated to be discontinued after the 2026 model year, with a new sedan set to replace it.