2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was a stylish addition to the Range Rover lineup, positioned between the compact Evoque and the larger Range Rover. Its design was neither too sleek nor too boxy, offering a balanced aesthetic. The Velar featured a low roof and steeply-raked windshield, giving it a unique profile compared to the traditional upright Range Rover. The front end was rounded, and the rear tapered slightly, maintaining its SUV identity with a broad front end and short overhangs for better off-road capability. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier touches, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips, enhancing its aggressive look.

Inside, the Velar's interior was a departure from its 1969 namesake, featuring high-quality leather upholstery and metal trim. The cockpit-like feel was achieved with a tall, sloping instrument panel and door panels, making occupants feel more integrated into the vehicle rather than sitting on top of it. The Velar's interior was designed for the urban environment, offering a luxurious and modern experience.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 showcased Cadillac's efforts to reclaim its status as a refined luxury brand. The XT5 received updates in 2020, including a new engine option, revised styling, and enhanced technology, which carried over to the 2021 model. The exterior featured a snub-nosed design with standard LED lights, highlighting its beefy proportions and sophisticated rear styling. The XT5's interior offered a more upscale design than its GM sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer, with sweeping horizontal lines and straightforward materials.

In the Premium Luxury trim, the XT5 exuded elegance with cut-and-sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents. While it didn't offer the full luxury experience of some competitors, it provided a more refined interior than previous Cadillac models. The XT5's design aimed to balance luxury and practicality, offering a comfortable and stylish cabin for its occupants.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar saw a performance boost with the introduction of the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, the Velar could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite its power, it wasn't the fastest in its class, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering quicker acceleration. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined driving experience, but its size made it less agile on tight roads.

The Velar's off-road capabilities were supported by Land Rover's Terrain Response system, offering drive modes for different surfaces and features like All-Terrain Progress Control and hill-descent control. However, its single-speed transfer case and road-focused tires limited its off-road prowess compared to other models. The Velar's powertrain lineup included a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 hp, a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 340 hp, and a 380 hp version, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered a choice of engines across its Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims. The base engine was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the Premium Luxury and Sport trims offered a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 hp and 237 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which was smooth when upshifting but clunkier when downshifting. The XT5's throttle response was immediate with the V6, but it could benefit from more low-end torque for better acceleration.

The XT5's fuel economy was competitive, with the AWD V6 achieving about 25 mpg during testing, surpassing the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined. The base engine offered 23 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The XT5's handling was smooth and composed, providing a comfortable driving experience. Its fuel efficiency was comparable to rivals like the Infiniti QX50 and Acura RDX, making it a practical choice for luxury crossover buyers.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar occupied a unique position in the luxury SUV market, being larger than compact SUVs like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but smaller than midsize models like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Despite its size, the Velar didn't offer more interior space than its smaller competitors. The GLC had more front and rear legroom, while the X3 provided more headroom. The Velar's cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 48.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The rear bench seat had a 40/20/40 split-fold configuration.

The Velar's avant-garde styling contributed to its limited interior space, with a chopped roof that reduced headroom and side glass, creating a claustrophobic feel. Visibility was also a challenge due to the tall hood and limited camera angles. The cockpit-like front seating area offered a unique experience but felt cramped with limited legroom. The Velar's towing capacity was respectable, with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models rated at 5,511 pounds, while the base four-cylinder model could tow 5,291 pounds.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 provided ample room for four adults in its two-row configuration, though it technically seated five with a three-seat bench in the second row. The back seat offered good legroom but limited headroom for taller occupants. The front seats, while visually appealing, were less comfortable on long road trips due to a hard bottom cushion. Heated front seats were standard, and the climate control system automatically activated heated or ventilated seats based on the interior temperature.

The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space, which was less than competitors like the Nissan Murano and Lincoln Nautilus. However, its deep rear cargo area was practical, despite being narrowed by wheel bump-outs. The SUV's cargo-management system allowed for secure storage of loose items, and a hands-free programmable height liftgate was available. Small-item storage was limited, with no convenient place for a smartphone and small map pockets.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which included dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a built-in WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. The system offered high-quality graphics and a well-organized menu layout but suffered from slow response times. Additional tech features included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 boasted a streamlined infotainment system and center stack, contributing to its elegant design. The climate control system was housed in Piano Black plastic with haptic feedback, and a chrome toggle switch adjusted the temperature. The XT5 offered a heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with a rotary controller for navigation, though the interface could be cluttered.

Cadillac equipped the XT5 with one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, AUX port, Bluetooth, wireless charging, and USB ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system available. The XT5 also offered a rear camera mirror, which was useful at night but distracting during the day. A head-up display was available, providing essential driving information.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were a lower priority for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. However, Land Rover's driver-assist tech offerings were less sophisticated than competitors, with only lane-keep assist available.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered a range of safety features, including front automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert. Not all features were available on all trim levels. The XT5 also featured a rear-seat reminder and a standard rearview camera. Cadillac's Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, allowing drivers to see large wildlife and hazards before headlights illuminated them. The system was effective in foggy conditions as well. General Motors' Teen Driver software was standard, allowing parents to limit vehicle features and monitor driving habits.