2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 boasted a unique design that stood out somewhere between the radical, angular appearance of the Lexus NX and the more traditionally styled competitors like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It featured Cadillac’s recognizable design elements, such as a bold grille, elongated daytime running lights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. However, the combination of these design cues with the XT5's compact and tall profile made it an unusual sight. The Premium Luxury and Sport models offered distinct exterior styling cues, with the former sporting bright chrome and the latter featuring a darker trim and mesh grille. Standard wheels were 18-inch alloy on the Luxury and Premium Luxury models and 20-inch on the Sport models. Optional styling packages like Onyx and Radiant allowed further personalization with dark and bright chrome accents, respectively.

Inside, the XT5's interior materials and features took a leap in luxury, partly due to the optional Platinum Package, which introduced semi-aniline leather upholstery, a microfiber sueded headliner, and a heated steering wheel. Without this package, it was unclear if the overall luxury experience held up to the standard. The interior design lacked a thematic statement, unlike some rivals with strong brand-specific interiors, making the XT5's cabin feel somewhat generic.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 stuck to the design introduced in 2019, particularly in trims like the Adventure and TRD Off-Road, which retained the two-part face that set it apart. The Adventure trim accentuated its rugged look with a more aggressively styled grille, blacked-out wheels, and bold black cladding around the wheel arches, though it was more style than substance in terms of off-road capability. The interior of the Adventure trim featured orange accents with contrast stitching and a relatively basic center console enlivened by orange plastic borders.

The frameless rearview mirror added a touch of modernity, whereas the overall interior design leaned more towards practicality. Different trims offered varying levels of upholstery, from fabric seats in the LE and XLE trims to synthetic leather (SofTex) in the XLE Premium. The upper trims featured heated, ventilated seats, and dual-zone climate control was standard, offering a blend of comfort and functionality.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine choices. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, generated 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The XT5 Sport and optional for the Premium Luxury trim came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 delivered a reasonable performance with smooth power delivery and responsive shifts from the transmission, making it suitable for everyday driving. The optional Platinum Package included an advanced "performance suspension" with adaptive dampers, favoring a luxury-leaning ride over sporty handling. The steering offered a balanced ratio, contributing to the XT5's nimbleness without making it too twitchy, and the cabin's quietness added to the overall luxury experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 provided a simpler, single-engine option for its gas models. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the eight-speed struggled to impress in terms of acceleration, it was preferable to the continuously variable transmission (CVT) found in some competitors. The noise level of the engine was moderate, louder than some but quieter than others, like the Subaru Forester's boxer engine.

The Adventure trim, though styled for off-road escapades, fell short in performance compared to the TRD Off-Road trim, which came equipped with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension. The standard RAV4's suspension setup and all-season tires underlined its suitability for light off-roading and everyday use, rather than hardcore off-road adventures.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 sat comfortably among its luxury crossover competitors. It boasted generous front headroom, although it fell short of the BMW X3 in this regard, and it had less rear headroom compared to the Q5, X3, and GLC. However, the XT5 outshined its rivals with more legroom in both rows, although the Lincoln Corsair offered slightly more front legroom. The seats were comfortable but not exceptionally plush, with narrow bottom cushions in the front and insufficient cushioning in the rear. The XT5 excelled in cargo space, offering 30 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet when folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC but trailing behind the Infiniti QX50. Storage features included a handy cubbyhole below the touchscreen, compensating for the limited center console space.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 aimed to provide a balanced approach to interior space. With the moonroof, it offered 37.7 inches of front headroom and 39.5 inches in the rear, which was ample but lagged slightly behind the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester in the front. Legroom was commendable at 41 inches in the front and 37.8 inches in the rear, aligning closely with the CR-V but falling short in the back compared to the CR-V and Forester. The narrow back seat called for consideration based on passenger needs. Practical storage solutions abounded, including a front-row shelf, generous door pockets, and side-by-side front center cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, placing it ahead of the Mazda CX-5 and just behind the Honda CR-V in this aspect.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display. The infotainment system improved usability over previous versions, but it still lacked the sophistication, screen size, and advanced voice-recognition tech of some competitors. The 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system provided excellent sound, leveraging the XT5's quiet cabin. However, secondary controls were poorly organized, and capacitive touchpads lacked physical feedback, making navigation challenging while driving.

In 2023, Toyota revamped the RAV4's infotainment system, addressing the tech gap. The base model featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen, while the Limited and TRD Off-Road trims upgraded to a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The new system supported over-the-air updates and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with voice commands. The Adventure trim we tested came with the upgraded multimedia system, including the larger screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio setup. The standard driver-information display was 7 inches, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited and TRD Off-Road trims.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came equipped with a robust suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, park assist, and lane-keeping features. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic braking, while the Technology Package introduced a surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. Despite these comprehensive offerings, the lack of Cadillac's advanced Super Cruise driver-assist system was noticeable. The XT5 earned top “Good” scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, although it received “Marginal” and “Acceptable” scores for headlights and LATCH ease of use, respectively.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 continued to impress with its safety features, now upgraded to the TSS 2.5 suite. Standard across the lineup were lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, high-beam LED headlights, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard from the XLE trim onwards. The updated cruise control could now operate at speeds under 20 mph. The RAV4 earned top evaluations from the IIHS, securing a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award despite some middling scores, upgrading from its 2022 Top Safety Pick status.