2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2023 Lexus RX

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured a design that balanced between the Cyberpunk angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional styling 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 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, but not a particularly graceful one.

The Premium Luxury and Sport models of the XT5 had distinct exterior styling cues to differentiate them. The Premium Luxury trim was adorned with bright chrome, giving it a more traditional Cadillac appearance, while the Sport trim featured darker accents and a mesh grille, signaling performance. The XT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury models came with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, whereas the Sport models boasted 20-inch wheels. The interior, especially with the optional Platinum Package, felt luxurious with semi-aniline leather upholstery and other high-end materials, but without this package, the XT5’s interior struggled to meet luxury standards.

The 2023 Lexus RX, on the other hand, was shorter in height, broader in width, and had a longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor, though it maintained the same overall length. This redesign offered more cargo space, despite the RX appearing smaller due to reduced rear overhang and softer design lines. The front featured a better-integrated spindle-style grille with a modern mesh texture, flowing into an elevated hood. The body sides were upswept, reminiscent of the Lexus IS sedan, and the rear showcased a light-blade taillight design and sporty bumper.

The RX’s exterior styling was familiar yet fresh, ensuring it was recognizable as a Lexus RX while looking more conservative compared to the previous generation. The interior was thoroughly modern, with fewer buttons and knobs, digital instrumentation, and a choice of 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays. The quality levels were high, with standard NuLuxe artificial leather and available genuine leather and simulated suede. The RX 350, available in various trims, offered a range of features and a modern, sophisticated cabin.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with 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 engine provided a reasonably quick and smooth driving experience, with linear power delivery and quick shifts from the transmission.

The XT5’s performance suspension with adaptive dampers, part of the optional Platinum Package, offered a comfortable ride, cushioning bumps while maintaining excellent body control. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, providing a nimble feel without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the overall luxury experience.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine offered better performance at higher altitudes and slightly improved fuel economy compared to the outgoing V6. However, it lacked the smooth and refined sound of the V6. The RX 350 Luxury trim displayed occasional torque steer and excess body motion over uneven pavement, but generally provided a smooth and comfortable ride.

The RX 350 F Sport Handling trim, with its adaptive damping suspension, felt more secure and sure-footed, especially in Sport mode. Both RX 350 models had 21-inch wheels, but the F Sport Handling’s suspension eliminated most unwanted bouncing and rolling. The turbocharged engine provided satisfying acceleration, with the RX 350 AWD reaching 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. Fuel economy was expected to average 25 mpg for the FWD model and 24 mpg for the AWD model, though real-world results were slightly lower.

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, though less than the BMW X3. Rear headroom was less than all three German rivals, but the XT5 provided more legroom in both rows. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC, but not the Infiniti QX50.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided comfortable seating, though the sport seat bolsters in the F Sport Handling trim might have been too snug for some. The RX 350 Luxury trim featured semi-aniline premium leather upholstery, ten-way power-adjustable front seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The RX 350 F Sport Handling had black NuLuxe simulated leather seats and Dark Graphite trim, with eight-way power-adjustable front seats. Both trims offered exceptional comfort, though taller passengers might find rear headroom tight.

Lexus improved storage areas and cargo space in the RX, with the trunk offering 29.6 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 46.2 cubic feet with them folded. This was an improvement over the previous generation but still not generous for the segment.

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 head-up display were available with the Technology Package. While the infotainment system was easy to navigate, it lacked the sophistication and larger screens offered by competitors. The array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not ideally placed and lacked physical feedback.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system with a 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen display. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, satellite radio, and various connected services. The Intelligent Assistant natural voice recognition was generally accurate, though it occasionally provided incorrect results. User profiles could be set up to save individual settings and preferences, and streaming services like Apple Music and Amazon Music were available.

The RX’s infotainment system was a significant improvement over previous Lexus technology, though it lacked the ability to view multiple data panels simultaneously. The 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system provided excellent audio quality, and additional features like a digital rearview mirror, digital key smartphone technology, and a color head-up display were available.

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 scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus RX featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve speed-reduction. New semi-autonomous driving technologies included Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist. While LSS+ 3.0 was impressive, it had some flaws, such as unmarked adaptive cruise controls and non-predictive curve-speed reduction technology.