2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a unique blend of design elements, sitting somewhere between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional styling of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. It featured Cadillac’s signature design cues, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. However, this combination resulted in an awkward mix with the XT5’s compact size and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, albeit an ungainly one. The Premium Luxury and Sport models offered slightly different exterior styling cues, with the former showcasing bright chrome for a traditional look and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille for a sportier appearance. The XT5’s interior, while luxurious, relied heavily on the optional Platinum Package to meet luxury standards, lacking a strong design theme and brand-specific markers.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX boasted a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille, 206 millimetres of ground clearance, and an overall height of 1,885 millimetres. The GX’s front end appeared ready to conquer the road, framed by massive headlights. The Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colours, including the new Eminent White Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX’s dimensions seemed to shrink along the sides, with a short wheelbase and minimal overhangs, emphasizing its off-road capabilities. The interior, however, was marred by an abundance of plastic materials, reflecting the GX’s low sales volume and the need for cost-effective manufacturing. Nevertheless, it offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a base 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-litre V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6-equipped Premium Luxury model provided a reasonably quick driving experience, with linear power delivery and smooth, quick shifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, enhancing the XT5’s ability to cushion bumps while maintaining excellent body control. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, offering nimbleness without excessive nervousness, and the cabin remained impressively quiet.

The 2023 Lexus GX, on the other hand, featured a naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. While it didn’t excel on paper compared to more advanced engines, the GX’s V8 offered a satisfying sound and linear power delivery. However, its 2,948-kilogram towing capacity lagged behind other SUVs, and its fuel economy was less than stellar, with estimates of 16.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving. The GX’s weight contributed to noticeable body roll in corners, but it remained predictable and controllable. The steering provided decent road feel, and the brakes were strong and reliable. The GX’s 4WD system, with a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space compared to German luxury crossovers, with more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, though less than the BMW X3. It provided ample legroom in both rows, although the seats could have been more comfortable, particularly in terms of cushioning. The XT5 boasted 850 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 1,784 litres with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and the interior featured a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen for added convenience.

The 2023 Lexus GX retained ample cubby space for small items, with a deep centre console bin and a handy space for a phone. The GX featured hard buttons for controls, which some users preferred over touchscreens. The centre console lid had adjustable sliding mechanisms, and the second row offered comfortable seating with captain’s chairs or a three-across bench seat. However, the third row was too tight for regular use, and the side-hinged trunk door required effort to open. The GX provided 328 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 1,322 litres with the third row folded, and 1,832 litres with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 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 infotainment system was an improvement over previous Cadillac systems, it still fell short compared to other luxury brands. The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not ideally placed. The XT5 featured an eight-speaker Bose sound system, with an optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system for excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Lexus GX received an updated 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a significant improvement over the previous system. It included SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was still present but rendered unnecessary by the improved touchscreen. The GX came with three years of Lexus Enform Remote, a remote-start feature, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system. However, the GX’s tech offerings felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with a lagging touchscreen and less crisp graphics. The GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System for improved driving dynamics.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, front and rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated when a warning system was triggered, was also standard. An optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT5 received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it featured the Lexus Safety System+ with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX incorporated advanced driver assistance systems to enhance safety.