2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a unique blend of styling, positioned between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more conventional designs of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. It featured Cadillac’s signature design elements, 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 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 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and the upward kick of the third-row window gave the spacious Highlander a more compact appearance. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it ideal for families. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander’s trim lineup included LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, each offering a range of features from standard all-wheel drive and an 8-inch touchscreen to premium amenities like a panoramic moonroof and a JBL premium audio system in the higher trims.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-litre V6 engine standard on the Sport trim and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine provided a reasonably quick performance, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride with excellent body control. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without being overly sensitive, and the cabin remained impressively quiet.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, generating 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to standard all-wheel drive. The Highlander’s V6 engine excelled in providing better pickup once in motion, with a throaty exhaust note during acceleration. The XSE trim featured a sport-tuned suspension that reduced body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride over bumps. The Highlander’s handling was commendable in various driving scenarios, and it could tow up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) when properly equipped.

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 more legroom in both rows but less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were comfortable but not up to luxury-vehicle standards, with narrow bottom cushions and a need for more cushioning in the rear. 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 but falling short of the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and the centre console featured a small cubbyhole for storage.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered up to 2,387 litres of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 1,370 litres with the second-row seats in use, and 453 litres behind the third row. The seats were easy to lower and lift, and every trim above the base LE included a power liftgate. The Highlander’s interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring deep cargo pockets, extra ledges, and a spacious centre console. The XSE trim included second-row captain’s chairs, providing a centre aisle to the rear seats and additional space for occupants. While the second-row seats were spacious for adults, the third row was best suited for short trips.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, 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 with the optional Technology Package. While the infotainment system was an improvement over previous versions, it still lagged behind other luxury brands in terms of screen size, graphics, and voice-recognition technology. The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not ideally placed and 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.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured standard Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, as well as SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons on either side of the screen, offering a blend of screens and hard controls. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, along with a digital instrument panel screen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

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, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. The Technology Package included a rear pedestrian alert function, surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. All trims featured standard blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and eight airbags. Optional safety features included front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, and a digital rearview mirror. The Highlander was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.