2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Honda CR-V

Cadillacs used to be the most refined vehicles in the General Motors lineup, but that changed over time. Recently, Cadillac has been working hard to reverse that trend, and the results were evident in the XT5. The 2021 Cadillac XT5 carried over the 40 upgrades introduced in the 2020 model, including a new engine option, revised styling, and enhanced technology. The exterior featured a more snub-nosed design with standard LED lights and 20-inch wheels, giving it a stylish and sophisticated look. Inside, the XT5 offered a more upscale design compared to its GM sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer, with cut and sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5, especially in the Premium Luxury trim, exuded elegance, rivaling even the Escalade. The interior featured sweeping horizontal design lines and straightforward materials, creating a chic and refined cabin. However, the front seats were not as comfortable as they appeared during long road trips, and the back seat offered limited headroom for tall passengers. Despite these drawbacks, the XT5's interior design and styling were more upscale than many of its competitors.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, on the other hand, had a more utilitarian design, blending in with other compact crossovers. While its exterior styling was not particularly distinctive, it offered a few unique details like the grille opening and chromed plastic features. The CR-V was available in eight colors, though most were shades of gray, black, or white, with only a few vibrant options like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic. Inside, the CR-V featured angular seats and a modern look, with wood panels and chrome accents available in higher trims.

The CR-V's interior was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear, boasting 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The cargo area could be accessed in various ways depending on the trim, with the Touring trim offering a hands-free power tailgate. However, roof rails were only standard on the top-of-the-line Touring trim, limiting the CR-V's versatility for carrying additional cargo.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 was available in three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Premium Luxury trim could be upgraded to a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque, which was standard on the Sport trim. 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 additional low-end torque.

The XT5 offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option. The Sport trim came standard with AWD. During a 2,000-mile test drive, the XT5 AWD achieved about 25 mpg, better than the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined for the V6. The base engine achieved 23 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. These fuel economy figures were comparable to rivals like the Infiniti QX50 and Acura RDX.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, regardless of trim, came with a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds, which was competitive within its class. The CR-V featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that held engine revs at a constant level as the vehicle gained speed. While this drivetrain was not particularly engaging, it provided smooth and steady acceleration. The CR-V came standard with FWD, with AWD available as an option. The suspension setup included a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear, offering decent handling and ride quality.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 had enough room for four adults in two rows, though it technically fit five with a three-seat bench in the second row. The back seat offered limited headroom for tall occupants, but legroom was good in both rows. The front seats, while visually appealing, were not as comfortable during extended road trips. Heated front seats were standard, and depending on the model, either heated or ventilated seats were activated upon starting the SUV.

The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space, which was less than competitors like the Nissan Murano and Lincoln Nautilus. However, the deep rear cargo area was hampered by wheel bump-outs that minimized its width. The SUV's cargo-management system allowed for dividing and securing loose items, and a hands-free programmable height liftgate was available. Small-item storage was limited, with no good place for a smartphone within eyesight and small map pockets.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space, with 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The cargo area could be accessed in various ways depending on the trim, with the Touring trim offering a hands-free power tailgate. The CR-V's interior was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear, making it a practical choice for families. However, roof rails were only standard on the top-of-the-line Touring trim, limiting its versatility for carrying additional cargo.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 featured a streamlined infotainment system and center stack, with an 8-inch touchscreen housed in Piano Black plastic that provided haptic feedback. The climate control system included a tri-zone automatic climate control with a chrome toggle switch for adjusting the temperature. The XT5 offered a heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats that could slide and recline.

The XT5's infotainment system included a rotary controller on the center console, one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, AUX port, Bluetooth, 15-watt wireless charging, and USB-A and USB-C ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a 4G LTE WiFi hot spot and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system available. A rear camera mirror and a head-up display (HUD) were also available, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while all other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim had a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and a satellite navigation system with voice recognition.

Charging ports were abundant in the CR-V, with USB ports in the front console, a 12-volt outlet in the center console, and additional USB ports in the second row. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger up front, enhancing convenience for tech-savvy drivers.

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 technologies were available in all trim levels. The XT5 also featured a rear-seat reminder, a federally-mandated rearview camera, and General Motors' Teen Driver software. The available Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, allowing large wildlife and hazards to be seen at a distance in the dark.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. However, it did not receive the highest IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating due to lower scores in the headlight evaluation and the updated side crash test. The CR-V's LATCH child safety seat anchoring system received an "Acceptable" rating for ease of use.

Honda's approach to safety was commendable, with the Honda Sensing system making advanced safety features standard across all trim levels. These features included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was the blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, which became standard on the EX trim and above.