Jeep Cherokee vs Cadillac XT5

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had evolved since its debut, with opinions mellowing over time. While the short grille opening and swept-back headlights were initially polarizing, they became more accepted after seven years. The Cherokee's proportions improved, making it look better than when it first arrived. The exterior appearance varied significantly with trim levels, from the basic Latitude with 17-inch wheels to the more refined 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding. The Cherokee also featured an optional panoramic sunroof, enhancing its unique look. Overall, the Cherokee stood out in a crowded SUV market, bearing a resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee, especially from the front.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5's styling was a mix of Cyberpunk angularity and traditional luxury cues. It featured Cadillac's trademark design elements, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights. However, the XT5's compact footprint and tall profile created an odd combination. 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 offered standard 18-inch alloy wheels on Luxury and Premium Luxury models, while the Sport model came with 20-inch wheels. The interior, especially with the optional Platinum Package, felt luxurious but lacked a strong design theme, making it less distinctive compared to other luxury brands.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options. The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower, available on the Latitude and Latitude Plus trims. The 3.2-liter V-6 engine, available on higher trims, delivered 271 horsepower. The top-tier 2.0-liter GMET4 turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, optional on the Latitude Lux and Limited trims. Despite these options, none of the engines provided outstanding acceleration, with the V6 and turbo-four achieving 0-60 mph times of around 7.2 and 7.4 seconds, respectively. All Cherokee models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, which improved over time. The Trailhawk model excelled in off-road capabilities, thanks to features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. The Cherokee was also available in front-wheel drive, making it more affordable for rental fleets.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with two engine options. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on the Sport trim and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. 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 and controlled ride. 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 Jeep Cherokee occupied a space between the smaller Renegade and larger Grand Cherokee, competing with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, it fell short in utility, offering 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 55 cubic feet with them folded, which was less than competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Escape. The Cherokee provided about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive in that metric. The interior layout was simple and businesslike, varying in quality depending on the trim level. Higher trims like the Trailhawk and Latitude Lux offered more upscale materials and features.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 compared favorably to German luxury crossovers in terms of interior space. It offered 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 compared to its German rivals, though it trailed the Lincoln Corsair in front legroom. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC but falling short of the Infiniti QX50. The interior featured a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen, compensating for limited center console space.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee featured the Stellantis Uconnect infotainment system, praised for its user-friendly interface. It offered two screen sizes: a 7-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired), a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa integration. Remote start was also available. The Uconnect system was consistent across Stellantis vehicles, providing a familiar and reliable experience for Cherokee buyers.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were less 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 2021 Jeep Cherokee received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crashworthiness categories but did not earn a Top Safety Pick award. It received a "Marginal" rating for headlights on lower trims and an "Acceptable" rating on upper trims. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included lane departure warning, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was available only on higher trims.

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, a surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.