2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a unique blend of design elements, positioned between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more conventional styling of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It featured Cadillac’s signature design cues, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. However, this combination resulted in an awkward mix with the XT5’s compact size and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, albeit an ungainly one. The Premium Luxury and Sport models offered slightly different exterior styling, with the former showcasing bright chrome for a traditional look and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille for a sportier appearance. The interior, while luxurious with the optional Platinum Package, lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, leaving little to remind occupants they were in a Cadillac.

The 2023 Lexus GX, with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance, commanded a strong visual presence. Its front end appeared ready to conquer the road, framed by large headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colors, including the new Eminent White Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX’s design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota’s blocky designs. The interior, however, was marred by an abundance of plastic materials, which detracted from its luxury status. While the GX offered some luxury touches, such as heated and cooled front seats and impressive leather upholstery, it was clear that the model’s research and design budget had long been exhausted, with Lexus focusing on easy manufacturing to maintain its luxury price premium.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6, available on the XT5 Sport and optional on the Premium Luxury, provided a reasonably quick performance with linear power delivery and smooth shifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride with excellent body control. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without excessive nervousness, and the cabin remained impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While it didn’t excel on paper compared to more advanced engines, the GX’s V8 offered a satisfying sound and linear power delivery. However, its performance was hindered by a 6,500-pound towing capacity and poor fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX’s weight contributed to noticeable body roll in corners, though it remained predictable and controllable. The steering was vague off-center, but the brakes were strong and reliable. The GX featured a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, enhancing its 4WD system’s user-friendliness in challenging conditions.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered favorable interior space compared to German luxury crossovers, with more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, though less than the BMW X3. It provided more legroom in both rows but trailed its American rival, the Lincoln Corsair, in front legroom. The seats were comfortable but fell short of luxury standards, with narrow bottom cushions and insufficient rear seat cushioning. The XT5 boasted 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC, but not the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen offered convenient storage.

The 2023 Lexus GX retained ample cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin and a handy space for a phone. The cupholders were conveniently placed, and the GX featured hard buttons for controls, avoiding the trend of haptic-touch interfaces. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests, and the second row was comfortable with captain’s chairs or a three-across bench seat. However, the third row was too tight for regular use, and the side-hinged trunk door required effort to open. The GX offered 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with it folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded, less than a Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display were available with the optional Technology Package. While usability had improved, the XT5’s tech offerings remained merely adequate compared to other luxury brands. The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but secondary controls were cumbersome, with a rotary controller and poorly placed capacitive touchpads. The standard eight-speaker Bose audio system could be upgraded to a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Lexus GX received a 10.3-inch touchscreen, a significant improvement over the previous system, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo. However, the tech felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with lagging touchscreen performance and less crisp graphics. The GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System and Off-Road Package further enhanced its off-road prowess.

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 XT5 received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though it had a "Marginal" headlight rating and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included advanced driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX featured modern safety technology, though it lacked some top-end features like lane-tracing assist and road-sign recognition.