2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 showcased Cadillac's efforts to reclaim its status as a refined luxury brand. Updated in 2020 with 40 enhancements, including a new engine option and revised styling, the XT5 carried these improvements into 2021. The SUV featured a snub-nosed exterior with standard LED lights and 20-inch wheels, giving it a sophisticated and stylish look. Inside, the XT5's Premium Luxury trim exuded elegance with cut-and-sewn leather, natural wood, and carbon fiber accents, offering a more upscale experience compared to its GM sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, boasting a distinctive look that set it apart from VW's gasoline models. The ID.4 featured a streamlined profile with wheels pushed to the corners, eschewing the fake toughness of the Tiguan and Atlas crossovers. Its interior combined Volkswagen's minimalism with a smartphone aesthetic, using piano black and matte plastic materials. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1st Edition models offered leatherette upholstery.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 was available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims. 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. The V6 provided smooth upshifts but clunkier downshifts, with a more jittery experience in Sport mode. The XT5 achieved about 25 mpg in AWD during a 2,000-mile test drive, surpassing the EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined for the V6.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It was the first RWD Volkswagen passenger car sold in the U.S. since the Beetle. An AWD version with a second electric motor arrived later in 2021, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The ID.4's RWD provided balanced handling, while the AWD version offered increased power and traction. However, the ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sportiness, with a smooth ride but noticeable body roll in corners. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 did not offer aggressive regenerative braking for one-pedal driving.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered seating for four adults in two rows, with a three-seat bench in the second row technically allowing for five passengers. The back seat had limited headroom for tall occupants, but legroom was good in both rows. Heated front seats were standard, and the SUV had 30 cubic feet of cargo space, though wheel bump-outs reduced the width. The cargo-management system allowed for secure storage, and a hands-free programmable height liftgate was available. Small-item storage was limited, with no good place for a smartphone within eyesight.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 felt spacious compared to other EVs, with more front and rear headroom than competitors, though legroom was average. It offered 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, more than many EV rivals but less than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a frunk, but the cabin felt spacious, with good forward visibility but substandard rearward visibility. The center console was narrow, with plenty of places for a phone but limited space for larger items. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, providing efficient cabin heat.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 featured a streamlined infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen housed in Piano Black plastic, providing haptic feedback. The tri-zone automatic climate control had a chrome toggle switch for temperature adjustments, though it often ran colder than displayed. The XT5 offered a rotary controller for the infotainment system, one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, 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. A rear camera mirror and head-up display were also options.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a standard 10-inch touchscreen (12-inch optional) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced nearly all switchgear. The touchpads were difficult to use without tactile feedback, but the natural-language voice-control system allowed for easier adjustments. The ID.4 also featured ID.Light, a light strip at the base of the windshield that communicated information to the driver. The touchscreen was well-positioned with smart graphics and easy-to-navigate menus, offering a choice between smartphone-like icons or a split-screen setup.

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 trims. The XT5 also had a rear-seat reminder and a standard rearview camera. Cadillac's Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, allowing hazards to be seen at a distance. General Motors' Teen Driver software was standard, allowing parents to limit certain vehicle features and view a report card of driving habits.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The ID.4 also introduced Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist, designed to stop the car if the driver is incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding well to acceleration and deceleration.