2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a unique blend of styling that sat between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional aesthetics of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. It featured Cadillac’s signature design elements, such as a bold grille and distinctive vertical taillights, which were somewhat at odds with its compact size and tall profile. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims offered different exterior styling cues, with the former showcasing bright chrome for a classic Cadillac look, while the latter embraced darker trim and a mesh grille for a sportier appearance. Inside, the XT5's interior felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, which added semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microfibre sueded headliner. However, the interior design lacked a strong thematic presence, failing to make a statement like some of its competitors.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was more conservative compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs, yet it remained an attractive SUV. The Santa Fe maintained the same look as the 2022 model, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights as its distinctive elements. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured a dark blue Stormy Sea paint and a black interior with Nappa leather seats, offering a high-quality look and feel. The cabin was dark and monotone, but the beige or grey interior options provided visual contrast. The Santa Fe's interior was praised for its comfort, with heated and cooled front seats and heated second-row seats, making it a pleasant environment for both driver and passengers.

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 engine provided ample power for everyday driving, with smooth and quick shifts from the transmission. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, which excelled in providing a comfortable ride while maintaining excellent body control. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, offering nimbleness without being overly sensitive, and the cabin remained impressively quiet.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre engine, available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The naturally aspirated engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged version offered 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, providing immediate acceleration and passing power. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four customizable modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. The turbocharged engine delivered brisk acceleration without excessive noise, and the handling was smooth with minimal body lean. The Santa Fe's towing capacity varied between 907 kilograms for the non-turbo version and 1,587 kilograms for the turbo version, with trailer brakes required for maximum capacity.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space compared to its German luxury crossover rivals, with more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but less than the BMW X3. It provided more legroom in both rows, although it trailed the Lincoln Corsair in front legroom. The seats were comfortable but could have benefited from additional 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, but falling short of the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen offered convenient storage.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom at 1,060 millimetres, among the best in its class. Cargo space was also generous, with 1,032 litres behind the second row and 2,041 litres with the seats folded. An underfloor storage compartment added to its practicality. The Santa Fe's seats were praised for their comfort, with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats as standard. Higher trims included features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered advanced features such as Remote Smart Parking Assist and a head-up display. However, the wide centre console slightly compromised driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster 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 competitors in terms of screen size and graphics. The rotary controller and capacitive touchpads were not user-friendly, and the array of secondary controls cluttered the centre console. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system delivered excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5's quiet interior.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, offering a 4.2-inch colour LCD multi-information display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Wireless device charging was available on higher trims, and the Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and extensive customization options. Voice-recognition capabilities were mixed, with some commands requiring specific terminology and occasional difficulty in understanding commands.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came equipped with standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The 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. However, it received a "Marginal" headlight rating and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Highway Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests.