2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load and unload children, especially in tight parking spaces. The third-row seat was comfortable and spacious, accommodating additional passengers without hassle. The Odyssey also offered substantial cargo space, rivaling that of larger SUVs when the seats were folded or removed. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, particularly in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and clean, hockey-stick character lines.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac XT5 had a distinctive look that blended Cadillac’s trademark design cues with a compact footprint and tall profile. The Premium Luxury and Sport models featured different exterior styling elements, with the former showcasing bright chrome and the latter opting for darker trim and a mesh grille. The XT5’s interior, especially with the optional Platinum Package, felt luxurious with semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microfiber sueded headliner. However, the design lacked a strong theme, making it less memorable compared to other luxury brands.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It was a front-wheel-drive vehicle with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. While it lacked the hybrid options available in competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica, the Odyssey offered a more engaging driving experience. During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg and demonstrated quick acceleration, responsive handling, and good composure on various road types. However, its brakes tended to heat up and produce pedal vibration during extended downhill driving.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6, in particular, provided smooth and linear power delivery, making the XT5 feel reasonably quick. The optional performance suspension with adaptive dampers offered a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps while maintaining excellent body control. The steering was well-tuned for a luxury vehicle, and the cabin remained impressively quiet.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and practicality. Its low step-in height and wide-opening doors made entry and exit easy. The Elite trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey’s Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger comfort and safety. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the cargo area offered 32.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded and 144.9 cubic feet with the second row removed.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 provided ample legroom in both rows, though it fell short in rear headroom compared to its German rivals. The seats were 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 competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The interior featured a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen for additional storage, but the center console was cluttered with controls, reducing usable space.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like navigation, WiFi hotspot access, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display and wireless headphones. However, the Odyssey’s infotainment system felt outdated, with a small screen and a lack of advanced voice-recognition capabilities. The embedded navigation system was also less user-friendly compared to smartphone-based options.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, 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. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the secondary controls on the center console were less intuitive. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system delivered excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5’s quiet cabin.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. However, the safety systems could be overly sensitive and abrupt, leading to an unnatural driving experience.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keep assist. 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 the NHTSA. However, it lacked the advanced Super Cruise driver-assist system available on other Cadillac models.