2021 Honda CR-V vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

Even in a grim year, Honda is selling a staggering number of CR-Vs. The CR-V is the best-selling Honda by far. It’s also the second best-selling compact SUV, just behind the Toyota RAV4. And it's the fifth best-selling vehicle in the U.S., and if you take out all the commercial sales of full-size pickups it’s one of the two best-selling vehicles year in and year out.

So it’s hard to argue against the CR-V formula. Honda’s been at this almost as long as crossovers have been a thing, launching the CR-V in 1997—a year after the RAV4 debuted.

The funny thing is, aside from sales volume, there’s only one thing the CR-V particularly excels at. Aesthetics are subjective, but it would be hard to argue the CR-V is the best looking vehicle in its class. It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the best equipped, especially at the middle to lower trim levels. It’s not the fastest, nor is it the quietest, or the most fuel efficient. It’s not even the most reliable, showing up nowhere in J.D. Power's Most Reliable list.

So what makes it so appealing to American consumers? Let’s see if we can figure that out.

Cadillac spent the early 2000s methodically developing sports sedans in pursuit of BMW, but while it focused on that market trends turned toward SUVs. So for the past few years, Cadillac has tried to execute a product planning sidestep with more SUVs and updated versions of existing models.

The Cadillac XT5 (short for Crossover Touring 5) was introduced for the 2017 model year as the replacement for the SRX crossover SUV. It now sits between the XT4 and XT6 in Cadillac’s SUV lineup, and is positioned against small luxury crossovers like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Infiniti QX50, Lexus NX, Lincoln Corsair, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.

Most of those models have benefitted from recent redesigns, while the XT5 carries over to the 2022 model year with minimal changes. The lineup still consists of Luxury base model, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels. For 2022, the XT5 Sport gets front Brembo brakes, red front and rear brake calipers, and new 20-inch 12-spoke wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish. All trim levels also get color-keyed floor mats and new Latte Metallic and Rosewood Metallic extra-cost paint colors.

There are no mechanical changes to report, so the XT5 is still offer with turbocharged four-cylinder and naturally-aspirated V6 engines, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Our test car was a Premium Luxury model with the V6, AWD, and the optional Platinum Package.