2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured a design that blended Cadillac’s signature elements with a compact and tall profile. It had a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, albeit an ungainly 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. The interior, while luxurious with the optional Platinum Package, lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive compared to competitors.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450, in its base form, had a more subtle and less flashy look compared to other luxury SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade. The AMG GLS 63 and Maybach versions offered more visual drama with features like flared wheel arches, chrome accents, and larger wheels. The interior of the GLS 450, even in its basic form, felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well integrated, and the overall interior quality was high, though perhaps too subdued for some tastes.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with two engine options. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.6-liter V6, standard on the Sport model and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivered 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided ample power for everyday driving, with smooth and quick shifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride and excellent body control. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, and the cabin was impressively quiet.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission, assisted by the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The gasoline engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with the electric motor adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft in short bursts. The GLS 450’s engine provided ample power, and the electric assist was well integrated. However, the air suspension exhibited poor body control, making the ride less comfortable than expected. The GLS 450 had a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which was competitive but not class-leading.

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 excelled in legroom for both rows but had less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were comfortable but could have used more padding. 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, and the center console included a handy cubbyhole.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version featuring captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, and the bench seat could slide to increase legroom. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower for easier loading, and the power-folding seats and tailgate added convenience. However, the touchscreen was hard to reach, and some ergonomic issues were noted.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5’s standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display were available. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls was cumbersome. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5’s quiet interior.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, navigation, SiriusXM, and voice recognition. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with a head-up display optional. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was too sensitive. The graphics were good, but the navigation system had some issues. The GLS lacked the augmented-reality navigation feature available in the S-Class.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, park assist, automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and advanced driver-assistance features. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.