2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, blending high-end materials, advanced tech, and a powerful engine. However, its cabin felt more akin to a Buick or a top-trim Chevy rather than a true luxury vehicle. Despite this, the interior was well-organized and spacious, offering good headroom and legroom in both rows. The XT5 also boasted above-average cargo space with 30 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, which helped offset some of its shortcomings.

Cadillac retained many physical controls, making the XT5 more intuitive to use compared to rivals that have gone all-touch. This choice, however, made the cabin feel somewhat dated and unremarkable. While the XT5 provided a comfortable and airy environment, especially with the available panoramic sunroof, it lacked the unique and memorable design elements found in competitors like the Porsche Macan and Volvo XC60.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was available in six trim levels, ranging from the budget-friendly RAV4 LE to the feature-rich RAV4 Limited. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims stood out with their distinctive two-part face design. The Adventure trim, which we tested, featured a more aggressive grille, blacked-out wheels, and additional cladding, giving it a rugged appearance, though it was more style than substance.

Inside, the Adventure trim added orange accents and contrast stitching, enhancing the otherwise basic interior. The frameless rearview mirror added a touch of premium feel. The RAV4 offered a range of seating options, from fabric seats in the LE and XLE trims to synthetic leather in the XLE Premium. Higher trims featured heated and ventilated power-adjustable front seats and available heated rear seats and steering wheel. Dual-zone climate control was standard on all but the base trim, providing a comfortable environment for all passengers.

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. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Acceleration from 0-60 mph was in the high-seven-second range, but the engine sounded rough under heavy throttle. An available V6 engine delivered 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, offering better performance but still lacking driving excitement. Handling was decent, but the ride quality suffered on rough roads, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin.

Compared to rivals, the XT5 lagged behind in performance. The Porsche Macan S offered 340 hp, and other competitors like the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 provided better handling and smoother rides. The XT5 also lacked performance variants, unlike the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, which offered sportier options. Fuel economy for the XT5 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 decent figures for its class.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While not particularly exciting, this setup was adequate for everyday driving. The RAV4 offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on all trims and standard on the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims. The AWD system included a Snow Mode for better traction in slippery conditions. The RAV4 Hybrid and Prime models were exclusively AWD.

The Adventure trim featured 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and a standard suspension setup, while the TRD Off-Road trim had 18-inch wheels with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension for better off-road capability. Despite its rugged appearance, the Adventure trim was more suited for light off-roading. The RAV4's performance was more about reliability and practicality than excitement, with a focus on providing a comfortable and capable ride.

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 there were multiple places to stash small items. The glove box was small but sufficient for paperwork. Front-seat ergonomics were good, with controls easily accessible. Rear passengers had access to large seatback pockets and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 63 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it competitive in its class.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered 37.7 inches of headroom in the front row and 39.5 inches in the rear with the moonroof. Legroom measured 41 inches in the front and 37.8 inches in the rear, comparable to the Honda CR-V but less spacious than the Subaru Forester. The RAV4's back seat was narrower than its competitors, which could impact comfort for rear passengers. The front row featured convenient storage options, including a shelf above the glove compartment and large door pockets. The RAV4 provided 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, placing it in the middle of the pack for storage capacity.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and dual-zone climate controls. The system was intuitive and responsive, with crisp graphics and smooth navigation. Cadillac retained physical buttons for climate controls and steering wheel functions, making it easier to use while driving. The XT5 offered a Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation. While not as advanced as some competitors, the CUE system was user-friendly and not overly distracting.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, upgraded to a 10.5-inch screen for Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air updates and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our RAV4 Adventure tester featured the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim and optional on the TRD Off-Road. The new system brought the RAV4's tech up to modern standards, offering a more enjoyable user experience.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's last full crash test results were from the 2021 model, which earned top "Good" scores in all crash test areas but missed a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS due to a "Marginal" headlight rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front and rear parking sensors, lane-keep assist, and more. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, though its crash test ratings were not the highest.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Higher-end driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control were also standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on the base LE model and standard on higher trims. The 2023 RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, indicating excellent crash test performance and advanced safety features.