2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 presented a more understated and less ostentatious appearance compared to its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Land Rover Range Rover, and Lincoln Navigator. Mercedes avoided the flashy grilles seen on the BMW X7 and Lexus LX, opting for a more refined look. However, other GLS models offered more visual drama. The AMG GLS 63 featured flared wheel arches, a muscular grille, and AMG-specific 21-inch wheels, while the Maybach version was adorned with chrome accents, a traditional hood ornament, and power running boards, available with 23-inch wheels.

Inside, the GLS 450's interior, though basic by GLS standards, still exuded luxury with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The intricate speaker grilles and rectangular air vents added a rugged touch. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were seamlessly integrated under one piece of glass, framed nicely by the upright dashboard. Overall, the GLS 450's interior felt high-quality and appropriate for a luxury SUV, even if it was a bit subdued for some tastes.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to balance affordability and luxury but fell short in some areas. The cabin, while spacious and intuitively laid out, featured materials that seemed more fitting for a Buick or top-trim Chevy. Despite this, the XT5 offered good headroom and legroom in both rows, with a panoramic sunroof enhancing the airy feel. The standard synthetic leather upholstery could be upgraded to genuine leather in higher trims, which also included heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

Cadillac retained many physical controls, making the XT5 more intuitive to use compared to rivals that relied heavily on touch interfaces. However, this also made the cabin feel somewhat dated. The XT5's cargo space was a strong point, with 30 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 63 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing many competitors. The wide liftgate opening and low load floor made accessing the cargo area easy, further enhancing its practicality.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The gasoline engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with an electric motor adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. This setup allowed for a more aggressive engine start/stop system and reduced the engine’s workload by powering most accessories. The GLS 450 also featured standard 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) and a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.

The GLS 450’s inline-six engine provided ample power, making the V8 variants less necessary. However, the air suspension, while capable of adjusting ride height and absorbing impacts, exhibited poor body control, leading to excessive bouncing and leaning in corners. This detracted from the overall comfort expected in a luxury SUV.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The base powertrain accelerated from 0-60 mph in the high-seven-second range but sounded rough under heavy throttle. An available V6 engine offered 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, providing a more suitable performance but still lacking driving excitement.

Handling was decent, but the XT5 struggled on broken pavement, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin. Compared to rivals, the XT5 lagged in performance, with competitors like the Porsche Macan S and BMW X3 offering better handling and refinement. The XT5’s fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined for the turbo-four FWD, to 18/25/21 mpg for the V6 AWD, which were competitive figures in its class.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS offered a seven-seat configuration with a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat and two third-row seats. An optional six-seat version replaced the bench with individual captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, and the bench seat could slide fore and aft as one piece, increasing legroom by 3.4 inches. The GLS provided 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower to facilitate loading and unloading cargo.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5’s interior featured more hard plastics and cheaper materials than expected, but it offered plenty of useful storage spaces. The center console storage bin was deeper than anticipated, and front-seat ergonomics were good, with controls positioned for easy reach. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 63 cubic feet with the seats folded. The wide liftgate opening and low load floor made accessing the cargo area easy, and the hands-free power liftgate was a convenient option.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. A 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with a head-up display available as an option. The voice recognition system, responding to “Hey Mercedes,” was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was overly sensitive and cumbersome.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and dual-zone climate controls. The system could be controlled via a rotary controller, voice commands, or the touchscreen. Cadillac offered a Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation. Physical buttons for the climate system and steering wheel controls were retained, making the system more intuitive and less distracting than all-touch interfaces.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS included standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and advanced driver-assistance features like Active Steering Assist and Active Lane Change Assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5’s 2021 model received top “Good” scores in all crash test areas from the IIHS, except for a “Marginal” score for its headlights. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist, and a vibrating safety alert seat. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The Driver Assist Package added features like automatic seatbelt tightening and reverse automatic braking.