2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, reminiscent of its Charger and Challenger siblings. Despite its age, the Durango's design was refreshed for 2021, particularly evident in the SRT Hellcat model, which featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, and a rear spoiler. The SUV offered a variety of wheel options and came in 11 exterior colors with six interior schemes. Inside, the Durango boasted a modernized dashboard with a new instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior materials ranged from cloth to premium leathers, with options for contrast stitching and unique seat belt colors, providing a blend of functionality and style.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a mix of Cadillac's trademark design cues, such as a bold grille and vertical taillights, with a compact footprint and tall profile. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had distinct styling elements, with the former featuring bright chrome and the latter darker trim and a mesh grille. The XT5's interior, especially with the optional Platinum Package, felt luxurious with semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microfiber sueded headliner. However, the interior design lacked a strong theme, and the seats, while comfortable, didn't quite meet luxury standards. The XT5 offered competitive cargo space, with 30 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some German rivals.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines, from a 3.6-liter V6 producing up to 295 horsepower to a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 delivering 710 horsepower in the SRT Hellcat model. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, and the Durango could be configured with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Durango's performance was impressive, with smooth acceleration and responsive steering, though its chassis showed its age, particularly on rough roads or the track. The Durango R/T, with its 5.7-liter V8, offered a Tow N Go Package, enhancing its towing capacity to 8,700 pounds. The SRT models featured Performance Pages for detailed performance metrics, adding to the driving experience.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower, while a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower was available on higher trims. Both engines were mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided adequate power for daily driving, with smooth power delivery and quick shifts. The XT5's performance suspension with adaptive dampers offered a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps well while maintaining body control. The steering was well-tuned for a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without being overly sensitive. The XT5's cabin was notably quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering seating for up to seven across three rows. The front and second-row seats were spacious, and the third row was more accommodating than many competitors. The Durango provided 21 seat options, allowing for customization to suit various preferences. Cargo space was average for its class, but the Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly over the years, contributing to its appeal as a versatile and stylish midsize SUV.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space, with more front headroom than some German rivals but less rear headroom. It provided ample legroom in both rows, though the seats could have been more comfortable. The XT5's cargo capacity was impressive, with 30 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing several competitors. The interior featured a small cubbyhole for storage, but the center console was limited in space due to the rotary controller and shifter.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 10.1-inch screen on higher trims, with the latter running the advanced Uconnect 5 system. This system offered enhanced personalization, multiple Bluetooth connections, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Durango also provided a family entertainment system with Blu-ray and DVD players. The TomTom navigation system was user-friendly, though a head-up display would have improved usability. The gauge cluster's design made it challenging to read the speedometer accurately.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added a digital instrument cluster and head-up display. While the infotainment system was an improvement over previous versions, it still lagged behind competitors in screen size and graphics quality. The rotary controller and capacitive touchpads were not user-friendly, and the button layout was not intuitive. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system delivered excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with a rearview camera as the only standard active safety feature. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The NHTSA awarded the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but other ratings were pending.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced emergency braking. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its headlights and LATCH system received lower ratings.