2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

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 and distinctive vertical taillights, but its compact footprint and tall profile created an awkward mix. The Premium Luxury and Sport models offered different exterior styling cues, with the former showcasing bright chrome and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille. Inside, the XT5’s interior felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, but lacked a strong design theme or brand-specific markers.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid maintained a more understated appearance, with the RX 350h Luxury test vehicle looking identical to the standard RX 350, save for the badge. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its performance-tuned design, featuring a blacked-out grille and aggressive styling. The RX models carried a visual weight over the front wheels, giving them a smaller appearance despite their size. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner, minimalistic look with contemporary textures and ambient lighting. The RX 350h Luxury model boasted luxurious Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance featured a sportier, all-black interior with artificial suede and dark grey aluminum trim.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and 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 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, 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 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a new hybrid powertrain for the RX 350h, based on a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to average 6.5 L/100 km in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, on the other hand, employed a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, generating 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to consume 8.6 L/100 km in combined driving. The RX 500h offered a dynamic driving experience with its adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering. However, accessing the various drive modes required navigating through the infotainment system, which could be cumbersome. The RX 350h provided a more fuel-efficient option, averaging 7.4 L/100 km, and offered a secure and comfortable ride.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered favourable interior space compared to its German 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 the seats could have been more comfortable. 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. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and the front included a small cubbyhole for storage.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable interior, with the RX 350h Luxury model featuring ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard heated and ventilated seats. The hybrids’ battery packs were housed under the back seat, resulting in excellent leg support but tight rear headroom. The RX offered 838 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,308 litres with the back seat folded, an improvement over the previous model but still slightly less than some rivals.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display. 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 ideally placed, making them difficult to use while driving. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring activation of free trial subscriptions for connected services. The Lexus Interface offered Drive Connect, a cloud-based navigation system with an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The system worked reasonably well, but had some limitations, such as only displaying one screen menu at a time and suffering from reflections. The available head-up display included dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which could be distracting, especially for those wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with 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 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 only received a “Marginal” headlight rating and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included a motorcycle detection system, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. The RX also had Proactive Driving Assist, which maintained a safe following distance and recharged the battery pack through regenerative braking. While the safety features operated mostly with refinement, some irritations were noted, such as the front cross-traffic alert system and curve-speed reduction tech. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, although these were not tested.