2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2022 Lexus RX

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 interior, while luxurious with the optional Platinum Package, lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, leaving little to remind occupants they were in a Cadillac.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus RX maintained a modern and sporty design, continuing the aesthetic introduced in its 2020 facelift. It stood out among its midsize luxury crossover competitors with aggressive exterior styling and sharp character lines. The RX’s design language was eye-catching yet restrained, avoiding excessiveness. The F Sport models added performance-oriented styling elements, such as 20-inch wheels, black-housing mirrors, and unique front fascia, enhancing the vehicle’s athletic appearance. Inside, the RX offered a luxurious cabin with sporty touches in the F Sport models, featuring model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. However, the centre stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport were less comfortable than expected, with limited lumbar support and challenging driving position adjustments.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 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 smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable and controlled ride. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without excessive nervousness. The XT5’s cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the overall luxury experience.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 featured a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two electric motors for a total output of 308 horsepower. All RX models came with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX’s performance was underwhelming, with an engine note resembling a turbocharged four-cylinder rather than a V6. Acceleration was unimpressive, and the driving experience lacked confidence. The F Sport models included adaptive variable suspension and additional drive modes, but the differences between Normal and Sport/Sport+ modes were negligible. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing road imperfections and providing a serene environment. Fuel efficiency varied, with the RX 350 using 12.2 L/100 km in the city and 9.0 on the highway, while the RX 450h hybrid offered better fuel economy at 7.9 L/100 km combined.

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, surpassing its German rivals but falling short of the Lincoln Corsair in front legroom. The seats were comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. The XT5 boasted 850 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,784 litres with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC but not the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen offered convenient storage.

The 2022 Lexus RX, in its standard two-row configuration, provided 2,826 litres of passenger volume, comfortably accommodating four adults. The front seats offered 1,001 millimetres of headroom and 1,120 millimetres of legroom, while the rear seats had 993 millimetres of headroom and 964 millimetres of legroom. The three-row L models shared the same wheelbase, resulting in limited space for the third row. Cargo space in the standard RX was 453 litres behind the second row, expanding to 923 litres with the seats folded. The three-row models offered 210 litres with all seats up, 651 litres with the third row down, and 1,657 litres with both back rows folded. The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 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 optional Technology Package. While usability had improved, the tech still lagged behind competitors with larger screens and more sophisticated features. The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but secondary controls were cumbersome, with a rotary controller and poorly placed buttons. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system delivered excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5’s quiet interior.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version standard on the 450h L and optional for other trims. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreen’s positioning remained ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip obstructing access to icons. The display was responsive, but the touchpad and voice commands were frustrating to use. The RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, wireless charging, a WiFi hotspot, and premium audio systems. The Lexus App provided additional connectivity options, such as remote engine start and vehicle settings.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came equipped with standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, 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. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, and more. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, though it had a “Marginal” headlight rating and an “Acceptable” LATCH rating.

The 2022 Lexus RX included the Lexus Safety System 2.0+ as standard, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by IIHS with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the “plus” designation due to its headlight rating. NHTSA awarded the RX four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.