2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured a design that balanced between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional aesthetics of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It incorporated Cadillac’s signature design elements, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights. However, this combination resulted in an awkward mix with the XT5’s compact size and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, but not a particularly 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 fitted on the Luxury and Premium Luxury models, while the Sport models 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, door trim, a microfiber sueded headliner, and a heated steering wheel. Without this package, it was unclear if the XT5 met luxury standards. The interior design lacked a strong theme, unlike the Volvo XC60’s minimalism or the Lincoln Corsair’s Midcentury Modern look. It also didn’t have brand-specific markers like Audi, BMW, or Mercedes, making it hard to remember you were in a Cadillac.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L extended the classic Grand Cherokee design by more than a foot, maintaining its tough and upscale look. The High Altitude package on our Hydro Blue test model blacked out the grille, logos, and door handles, paired with dark gray 21-inch wheels and black leather with gold stitching. The U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse were quintessential Jeep, while modern elements like slim LED lighting and body-color bumpers added a contemporary touch. The interior of upper trims was impressive, with 90 percent of materials feeling justified for a $70,000 truck. Features like a polished black dash with an optional touchscreen, a thick metal gear selector dial, and diamond-patterned stitching on the seats added to the luxury feel.

The Grand Cherokee L’s interior space was cavernous, especially with the added length. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, and the third row, while tight for adults, was suitable for children. The driver’s seat offered good visibility, and the dashboard featured two rows of buttons for various controls. Cargo space was ample, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded, making it one of the most spacious in its class.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6-liter V6, standard on the Sport 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 provided a reasonably quick performance, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, which offered a comfortable ride and excellent body control. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, making the XT5 feel nimble without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, was its weakest element. The engine was noisy and lacked low-end torque, making it feel underpowered for the heavy SUV. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was a better choice, especially for towing, with a max rating of 7,200 pounds compared to 6,200 with the V6. The V8 also sounded fantastic. Fuel economy for the V6 was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8’s ratings were 14/22/17. The chassis felt solid and stiff, providing confident handling, especially with the air suspension. The steering could have been quicker, but the overall handling was top-notch. Jeep offered three four-wheel drive systems, with the most advanced being Quadra-Drive II, which included a low-range transfer case and a limited-slip differential. The air suspension allowed for adjustable ground clearance, making the Grand Cherokee L capable off-road.

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. Rear headroom was less than all three German rivals. The XT5 had more legroom in both rows, though less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding. Cargo space was 30 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC but not the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available. The center console had limited space, but a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen was handy for small items.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L’s added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, making it feel spacious even with the front seats slid back. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a 60/40 bench seat available as an option. The third row was tight for adults but suitable for children. The driver’s seat offered good visibility, and the dashboard featured two rows of buttons for various controls. Cargo space was generous, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded, making it one of the most spacious in its class.

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 optional Technology Package. The infotainment system was improved but still lagged behind competitors in screen size, graphics, and voice recognition. The 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 provided excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L’s Laredo and Altitude trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation that displayed full-screen maps on the instrument panel. All systems ran Uconnect 5, which was generally quick and easy to use despite some legibility issues. The McIntosh sound system, with 19 speakers, was good but lacked surround imaging from the rear speakers. Navigation was standard on the Limited and Overland trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all trims. The night vision system and Active Driving Assist were impressive, with the latter providing semi-automated control on marked highways. The passenger screen was a standout feature, allowing the front passenger to control navigation, activate cameras, and stream video independently from the rear entertainment system.

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, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. The Technology Package added 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 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L scored a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS for models built after May 2023 and five stars in NHTSA tests except for rollover, where it scored four stars. Standard safety features included driver and passenger front knee airbags, forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included front cross-traffic braking, a backup camera washer, and 360-degree cameras. Night vision was available only on the Summit and Summit Reserve trims. The Active Driving Assist was standard on the Summit Reserve.