2023 Cadillac XT5 vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, blending high-end materials, advanced tech, and a powerful engine while keeping the price reasonable. However, the cabin's design seemed more fitting for a Buick or a top-trim Chevy rather than a luxury brand like Cadillac. Despite this, the interior was intuitively laid out and offered ample space across both rows. The XT5 also boasted above-average cargo space, with 30 cubic feet available behind the second-row seats, which helped offset some of its shortcomings.

Cadillac chose to retain many physical controls instead of going all-touch, making the XT5 more intuitive compared to many rivals. However, this decision also made the cabin feel somewhat dated and unmemorable. The XT5 provided good headroom and legroom in both rows, and the available panoramic sunroof added a light and airy feel to the space. 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.

The 2023 Lexus GX, with its massive spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and 74.2 inches of overall height, had a commanding visual presence. The front end appeared ready to dominate the road, framed by large headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colors: Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and Nori Green Pearl.

Despite its luxury badge, the GX's side profile revealed a short 109.8-inch wheelbase and minimal overhangs, emphasizing its off-road engineering. The design leaned sleeker compared to Toyota's blocky language, and the hood's quick drop-off made technical driving easier. Inside, the GX disappointed with its plastic materials, but it still offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came equipped 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, though the engine sounded rough under heavy throttle. An available V6 engine offered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, providing a more suitable companion in various driving situations. However, the XT5 lacked driving excitement with either engine. Handling was decent, but ride quality suffered on broken pavement, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin.

Compared to rivals, the XT5 had ground to make up. The Porsche Macan S delivered 340 horsepower, and while other models emphasized refinement over performance, the XT5 couldn't match the handling of the BMW X3 or the smoothness and responsiveness of the Genesis GV70. Cadillac also didn't offer any performance variants or upgrades for the XT5, unlike competitors such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, which had sportier options. The XT5's EPA-rated fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined for the turbo-four with FWD, to 18/25/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the V6 with AWD.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its V8 engine. The GX 460's 4.6-liter V8 produced 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While not impressive on paper compared to newer engines like Toyota's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid, the GX's V8 offered a satisfying sound and linear power delivery. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity, but its fuel economy was a drawback, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The GX's weight affected its handling, causing it to roll through corners, though the roll felt predictable and controllable. The GX's driving dynamics had improved over the years, with communicative road feel and strong, solid brakes. The Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential distributed the 4WD system into a 40:60 front:rear split, adjusting based on wheel slip, making the GX user-friendly in various conditions.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's interior featured more hard plastics and cheaper materials than expected, but Cadillac incorporated plenty of useful storage spaces. The center console storage bin was deeper than anticipated, and there were multiple places to stash small items. Front-seat ergonomics were good, with everything positioned for easy viewing and reach. Rear-seat storage was less generous but included large seatback pockets and a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, accessible via a wide liftgate opening and low load floor. Folding the rear seats expanded the space to 63 cubic feet, which was generous for its class. In comparison, the Porsche Macan offered only 17.2 cubic feet with the seats up and 52.9 with them down, while the Genesis GV70 started with 28.9 cubic feet.

The 2023 Lexus GX retained plenty of cubby space for small items, with a deep center console bin and a handy space ahead of the shifter for a phone. The cupholders were conveniently placed side-by-side between the front seats, and two USB-A ports were available in the forward cubby. The door pockets were small for larger water bottles.

Lexus stuck with hard buttons for controls, which was a blessing for those put off by touchscreens. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms to adjust the armrest for different-sized occupants. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs featuring fold-out cupholders or a standard three-across bench seat with cupholders in a fold-down armrest. Legroom was adequate, and headroom was excellent. The third row was tight for regular use, suitable only for emergencies.

The GX's trunk had a side-hinged door that required muscle to open and offered just 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Folding the third row provided 46.7 cubic feet, and with both the second and third rows folded, the GX offered 64.7 cubic feet, less than a Toyota RAV4's 69.8 cubic feet.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system, which offered an intuitive, responsive interface with crisp graphics and smooth navigation. The system ran on an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, dual-zone climate controls, and more. Passengers could interact with the system using a rotary controller, voice commands, or the touchscreen. Cadillac offered a Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation.

Cadillac retained physical buttons for the climate system and steering wheel controls, a refreshing move compared to rivals like the Porsche Macan, which relied heavily on touch-based controls. The XT5's system was not as generous with buttons as the Genesis GV70, but it was more intuitive and less distracting for the driver.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment technology, revamped for the 2022 model year, already looked dated. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was a significant improvement, sitting high on the dash and including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen.

The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote, a remote-start feature operable from a smartphone, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo with a CD player. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as those in competing models. The GX's infotainment technology was not its strong suit, but its off-road capability was impressive, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control. The GX also featured the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) and an Off-Road Package with additional off-road-focused technology.

The last Cadillac XT5 to receive full crash test results was the 2021 model, which missed a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The SUV earned top "Good" scores in all crash test areas, a "Marginal" score for its headlights, and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention. The optional crash prevention system earned a "Superior" score. Standard safety tech included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, and more. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic parking assist.

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-tested the 2023 Lexus GX. The GX was originally engineered for the 2010 model year, and there have been improvements in structural safety since then. However, the GX included advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams.