2021 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Toyota Venza

The 2021 Toyota Venza was a sleek and stylish SUV that many critics noted looked more like a Lexus than a typical Toyota. Its design, from the grille to the elongated profile, closely resembled the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. The Venza was available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—and offered seven paint colors, though not all were available on every trim. Standard features included dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted a wireless charging pad, leather-trimmed steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, among other amenities.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5, updated for the 2020 model year, carried over its refined design into 2021. The SUV featured a more snub-nosed exterior with distinct trim level differentiation. Standard LED lights highlighted the XT5’s robust proportions, and 20-inch wheels were standard. 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 Premium Luxury trim level, as tested, exuded elegance, rivaling even the Cadillac Escalade in terms of interior finery.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system, coupled with an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT), provided smooth acceleration, though it was not particularly rapid. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Its handling was confident and typical of a Toyota, making it a reliable choice for daily driving.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6, as tested, provided smooth upshifts but clunkier downshifts, especially in Sport mode. The XT5 achieved about 25 mpg in a variety of driving conditions with AWD, 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. The XT5 handled well, offering a comfortable and confident driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Venza offered a practical and comfortable interior, with premium appointments in the center stack and a deep center console featuring various controls and storage options. The front seats were accommodating, and the rear seats provided ample comfort for two adults. The Venza had slightly more headroom than the RAV4 but less legroom up front. It offered 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily use. The quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks made arranging the cargo space easy.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 provided enough room for four adults in two rows, though the back seat had limited headroom for tall occupants. The front seats, despite their appearance, were not as comfortable during extended drives. Heated front seats were standard, and the rear seats featured 60/40 split-folding capability. The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space, which was less than some competitors but benefited from a deep rear cargo area. The 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 good place for a smartphone within eyesight.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system on the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim had a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system, though improved, was not the best in the industry. The Venza included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hot spot as standard. A nine-speaker JBL premium audio system was available on the XLE and standard on the Limited. Toyota connected services, including Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect, were also standard, with dynamic navigation available on models with the larger screen.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 had a streamlined infotainment system and center stack, with climate control housed in Piano Black plastic providing haptic feedback. The SUV featured a rotary controller for the infotainment system, which included one-touch phone pairing, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, and USB ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and a 4G LTE WiFi hot spot and 14-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system were available. A rear camera mirror and head-up display were also available, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. Additional features included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

The 2021 Cadillac XT5 offered 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 and a rearview camera. Cadillac’s Night Vision technology enhanced nighttime drivability, allowing large wildlife and 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.