2022 Acura RDX vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Acura RDX featured subtle styling changes inspired by its larger sibling, the MDX. These updates included modifications to the grille surround, front and rear bumper styling, and new wheel designs and paint colors. The limited-production RDX PMC Edition returned with exclusive Long Beach Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid white interior, built at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. The RDX lineup included various trims, with starting prices ranging from $42,300 to $53,300, excluding a $1,045 destination charge. The A-Spec Advance package, priced at $53,645, boasted high-quality interior materials, solid build quality, and a quieter cabin, making it a stylish and comfortable choice.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to balance affordability and luxury but fell short in some areas. The cabin, while spacious and intuitively laid out, featured materials that seemed more fitting for a Buick or top-trim Chevy. Despite this, the XT5 offered good headroom and legroom in both rows, with a panoramic sunroof available to enhance the airy feel. The XT5's cargo space was a strong point, providing 30 cubic feet behind the second-row seats. Cadillac retained many physical controls, making the cabin more intuitive but somewhat dated. The XT5's interior, though functional, lacked the refinement and unique touches found in some competitors.

The 2022 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered a responsive and enjoyable driving experience. The RDX offered front-wheel drive as standard, with the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system available on higher trims. The SH-AWD system could direct up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel, enhancing cornering performance. The RDX's Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) provided distinct driving modes, and the adaptive-damping suspension offered a smoother ride in Comfort mode and greater responsiveness in Sport mode. The RDX's fuel economy was rated at 23 mpg, but real-world testing averaged 20.6 mpg.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The XT5 offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with a 0-60 mph acceleration time in the high-seven-second range. An available V6 engine produced 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, providing better performance but still lacking driving excitement. The XT5's handling was decent, but ride quality suffered on rough roads, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin. The XT5's fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined for the turbo-four with FWD, to 18/25/21 mpg for the V6 with AWD.

The 2022 Acura RDX, despite being a compact SUV, offered ample room for four adults and their luggage, with a standard panoramic sunroof enhancing the spacious feel. The interior featured a sporty design, with a dramatic IDS driving mode knob on the dashboard. The control layout required some acclimation, particularly the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with available ventilation and heating. However, the rear seats were less comfortable, lacking support and a natural backrest angle. The RDX provided 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 58.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's interior, though featuring more hard plastics than expected, offered useful storage spaces and good ergonomics for front-seat passengers. The center console storage bin was deeper than anticipated, and the glove box provided adequate space for paperwork. Rear-seat passengers had access to large seatback pockets and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The XT5's cargo space was generous, with 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63 cubic feet with the seats folded. The wide liftgate opening and low load floor made accessing the cargo area easy, and a hands-free power liftgate was available.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, which paired a 10.2-inch display screen with a sectioned touchpad controller. This system required a learning curve, as it introduced a direct one-to-one relationship between the touchpad and the screen. The RDX also included Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. The Technology package added a navigation system, and higher trims featured an ELS Studio 3D surround-sound audio system with 16 speakers. The RDX also offered a 10.5-inch head-up display on the Advance and A-Spec Advance packages.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's CUE (Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and dual-zone climate controls. The system could be operated using a rotary controller, voice commands, or the touchscreen. Cadillac retained physical buttons for the climate system and steering wheel controls, making the system more intuitive. The XT5 offered a Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation. The CUE system was user-friendly and not overly distracting for the driver.

The 2022 Acura RDX received structural upgrades to improve side-impact safety, aiming to maintain its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. New safety features included a rear seatbelt reminder system, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. The RDX's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems were mostly accurate but not as refined as some competitors. The NHTSA awarded the 2022 RDX a five-star overall crash-test rating, with four-star frontal-impact and rollover resistance ratings, and five-star side-impact ratings.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's last full crash test results were for the 2021 model, which earned top "Good" scores in all crash test areas but missed a Top Safety Pick award due to "Marginal" headlight scores. The XT5's standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist, and a vibrating safety alert seat. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT5's car seat anchors were noted to be near other hardware, potentially causing confusion.