Cadillac XT5 vs Buick Envision

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, positioned between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave, was sold in China and North America. The 2021 model was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a more planted appearance with premium crossover styling. The Envision's sculpted look was more pronounced than its cousin, the Cadillac XT4, but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—offered distinct looks, with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir grade featured upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, and a unique interior trim pattern with leather-appointed seating.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5, on the other hand, featured a design that blended Cadillac’s trademark cues with a compact footprint and tall profile. The XT5's styling was a mix of bold grille, vertical taillights, and daytime running lights that extended past the headlights. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had different exterior styling cues, with the former featuring 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 models had 20-inch wheels. The interior of our test car, equipped with the optional Platinum Package, felt luxurious with semi-aniline leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped instrument panel. However, the interior design lacked a strong theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This was a downgrade from the previous model's 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance was more about comfortable cruising than sporty driving. The FWD models achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined, while AWD versions fared slightly worse. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but not particularly engaging, with noticeable engine and road noise.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine making 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine 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 with excellent body control. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, providing a nimble feel without being overly sensitive. The XT5's cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2021 Buick Envision, despite its improved aesthetics, had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row compared to its predecessor. Rear-seat passengers also experienced reduced legroom and headroom, with nearly six inches less hip room. The cargo capacity was 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was lower than other luxury SUVs. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front seat passenger's access to climate controls and the infotainment screen. Small-item storage was relatively good, and the Envision offered standard features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 compared favorably to German luxury crossovers in terms of interior space, offering more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but less than the BMW X3. The XT5 had more legroom in both rows but less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding. The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 63 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC. A hands-free power liftgate was available. The center console housed a rotary controller for the infotainment system and the shifter, but lacked ample storage space.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could easily scroll through channels using the available 8.0-inch driver information display. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display were available as part of the optional Technology Package. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not ideally placed and lacked physical feedback. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5's quiet interior.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models. The Envision did not have GM’s Super Cruise hands-free advanced driver assist system or lane-centering technology.

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 optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package included rear pedestrian alert, surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.