2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a nod to the classic Bronco, capturing its rugged spirit in a more compact, urban-friendly package. It featured a modern retro design that was both stylish and functional, with short front and rear overhangs for improved off-road capability. The vehicle's tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were designed to minimize obstructions during trail driving. The Bronco Sport's bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate, along with its modest Ford blue oval badge, added to its distinctive look. Inside, the Bronco Sport offered a tastefully rugged interior with an uncluttered design, featuring a unique shape for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, with options for cloth or leather-trimmed seats and rubberized or carpeted flooring.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5, on the other hand, presented a mix of Cadillac's trademark design cues with a compact footprint and tall profile. It featured a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. The XT5's styling varied between the Premium Luxury and Sport models, with the former showcasing bright chrome and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille. The interior, while luxurious, relied heavily on the optional Platinum Package for standout features like semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microfibre sueded headliner. The XT5's interior lacked a strong design theme, with no brand-specific markers to remind occupants they were in a Cadillac.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, delivering 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands model featured a more powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, the 2.0-litre engine in the Badlands trim provided a better match for the vehicle's character, while the 1.5-litre engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came standard with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The XT5 Sport and optional Premium Luxury models featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6-equipped Premium Luxury model offered a smooth and quick driving experience, with linear power delivery and responsive shifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, providing a comfortable ride with excellent body control. The XT5's steering was well-suited to luxury driving, offering nimbleness without excessive nervousness, and the cabin remained impressively quiet.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with clever features like cargo space designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford offered a wide range of accessories for transporting outdoor gear, and the roof could support up to 68 kilograms. The 2.0-litre engine could tow up to 997 kilograms, while the 1.5-litre engine could handle 907 kilograms. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin provided ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might have found visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

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, but less than the BMW X3. The XT5 excelled in legroom for both rows, though it trailed the Lincoln Corsair in front legroom. The seats were comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. Cadillac quoted 850 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,784 litres with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and the front cabin featured a small cubbyhole for storage, though the centre console space was limited.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, with additional off-road assistance through trail control technology. Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except the Base model, and higher trims offered heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels and a digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display were available with the Technology Package. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls was less user-friendly, with a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads that lacked physical feedback. The standard eight-speaker Bose sound system could be upgraded to a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system, delivering excellent sound quality in the quiet cabin.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and navigation features. All models featured AWD and a terrain management system with built-in traction control and electronic stability control. The Bronco Sport received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Safety Alert Seat was also standard, providing haptic feedback for warnings. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, enhanced braking, and additional alert functions. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, though it had lower ratings for headlights and child seat anchor ease of use.