2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2022 Volvo XC60

Volvo made subtle styling changes to the 2022 XC60, including a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look, a rear bumper that hides the tailpipes, and new wheel designs. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90. Inside, the XC60 retained its clean design with a new digital instrument cluster, a portrait-oriented touchscreen, and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, while the Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5's styling was a mix of Cyberpunk angularity and traditional luxury cues. It featured a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had different exterior styling cues, with the former getting bright chrome and the latter darker trim and a mesh grille. The XT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury models came with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Sport model had 20-inch wheels. The interior felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, which added semi-aniline leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, a microfiber sueded headliner, and a heated steering wheel. However, the interior design lacked a strong theme and brand-specific markers.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and an integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD and the B6 in AWD only. The B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid had a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims. The 3.6-liter V6, standard on the Sport and optional on the Premium Luxury, produced 310 hp and 271 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided ample power for everyday driving, with smooth and quick shifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride and excellent body control. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, providing a nimble feel without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2022 Volvo XC60's interior space remained competitive, with above-average front-seat headroom but tied for worst rear-seat headroom with the Audi Q5. Legroom was average in both rows. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with them down. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space at 21.1 and 49.3 cubic feet, respectively. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 compared favorably to German luxury crossovers in interior space, offering more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but less than the BMW X3. It had more legroom in both rows compared to its German rivals but less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. 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 down, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC but trailing the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available. The front included a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen, compensating for limited center console space.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Optional features included a head-up display and upgraded audio systems from Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins. The new system integrated Android-specific features like Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. Over-the-air software updates were also enabled. The system was compatible with iPhones, though without the added functionality of syncing Google profiles. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5's standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display were available with the optional Technology Package. While usability was improved, the tech still lagged behind other luxury brands in screen size, graphics, and voice recognition. The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but secondary controls like the rotary controller and capacitive touchpads were not user-friendly. The standard eight-speaker Bose audio system could be upgraded to a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system, which delivered excellent sound quality.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2021 model received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.

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 Safety Alert Seat vibrated when a warning system was triggered. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. The Technology Package included rear pedestrian alert, a surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. Blind-spot monitoring was also available. The XT5 received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech but had a "Marginal" headlight rating and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave the XT5 a five-star overall safety rating.