2022 Acura RDX vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5's styling was a blend of Cyberpunk angularity and traditional luxury cues. It featured Cadillac’s signature design elements, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights. However, this mix created an awkward combination with the XT5’s compact size and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, but not a graceful one. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had different exterior styling cues, with the former showcasing bright chrome and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels were included on the Luxury and Premium Luxury models, while the Sport model came with 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the XT5's interior felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, which added semi-aniline leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, and a microfiber sueded headliner. However, without this package, it was unclear if the XT5 met luxury standards. The interior design lacked a strong theme, unlike competitors such as the Volvo XC60 or Lincoln Corsair, and didn’t have brand-specific markers like Audi, BMW, or Mercedes interiors, making it less distinctive.

The 2022 Acura RDX had subtle styling changes inspired by the larger MDX model, including updates to the grille surround and bumper styling. New wheel designs and paint colors were also introduced. The limited-production PMC Edition returned with exclusive Long Beach Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid white interior. The PMC Edition was built at Acura’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, where the NSX sports car was also made, and topped the RDX lineup, which included the base model and various option packages.

Our test vehicle featured the new-for-2022 A-Spec Advance package, with Apex Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid interior, totaling $53,645. The RDX A-Spec Advance justified its price with high-quality materials, solid build quality, and a quieter interior. Despite some reservations about the new vertical air inlets on the front fascia, the RDX demonstrated more style than many rivals.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6-liter V6, standard on the Sport trim and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6-equipped Premium Luxury test car felt reasonably quick, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, providing a comfortable and controlled ride. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, offering a nimble feel without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The engine delivered maximum thrust quickly, contributing to the RDX’s enjoyable driving character. However, heavy-footed driving reduced fuel economy, with an average of 20.6 mpg during testing. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters was standard, and the drivetrain performed beautifully. 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 deliver up to 70 percent of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel, enhancing cornering performance. The revised Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) provided distinct differences between driving modes, and the adaptive-damping suspension offered a smoother ride in Comfort mode and greater responsiveness in Sport mode. The RDX also featured a quieter ride, thanks to sound-deadening measures.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space compared to German luxury crossovers. It had more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but less than the BMW X3. The XT5 trailed all three in rear headroom but offered more legroom in both rows. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC. A hands-free power liftgate was available. Up front, a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen was handy for small items, compensating for limited center console space.

The 2022 Acura RDX, though a compact SUV, offered ample room for four adults and their luggage, with a standard panoramic sunroof. The interior emphasized a sporty driving position and featured a dramatic IDS driving mode knob on the dashboard. The control layout required some acclimation, with transmission buttons and the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system control pad being unusual. The A-Spec models had metallic gauge faces with red markings that were hard to read in low light. The standard 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats were comfortable and supportive, with available ventilation. The back seat, however, was less comfortable, feeling flat and lacking support. The RDX offered 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 58.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and featured a standard power liftgate with available hands-free operation.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display were available with the Technology Package. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not user-friendly. The standard eight-speaker Bose audio system could be upgraded to a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system, which delivered excellent sound quality.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, pairing a 10.2-inch display with a touchpad controller. The TTI required a learning curve, as it involved matching finger location on the pad with the cursor location on the screen. The RDX also included Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. Standard features included satellite radio and AcuraLink connected services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims added a navigation system and premium sound systems, with the top-tier ELS Studio 3D surround-sound audio system featuring 16 speakers. The RDX also offered a 10.5-inch head-up display on higher trims.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package included rear pedestrian alert, a surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured structural upgrades for improved side-impact safety and new safety features, including a rear seatbelt reminder system. The standard AcuraWatch suite added pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims included 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 rivals. The RDX received a five-star overall crash-test rating from NHTSA.