2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2023 Mazda CX-5

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 lighting elements, but its compact size and tall profile created an awkward aesthetic. 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. The interior, while luxurious with the optional Platinum Package, lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, making it feel less distinctively Cadillac.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-5 was noted for its stylish appearance and high-quality materials, giving it the feel of a small luxury SUV. Despite its age, the CX-5 remained a strong contender in the compact crossover segment, with its available turbocharged engine providing impressive power. The CX-5 was redesigned and renamed as the CX-50, but it continued to offer a refined and sophisticated experience across all trim levels. The interior upgrades, including Nappa leather in the Signature trim, added to its luxurious feel, although the technology and storage space were areas where it fell short.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-litre V6 producing 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6, available on the Sport and optional on the Premium Luxury trims, provided a smooth and quick driving experience, with linear power delivery and responsive shifts. 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, and the cabin was impressively quiet.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered a standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, available in higher trims, delivered 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. The turbo engine's power increase, along with structural and suspension improvements, made the CX-5 feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle. The driving experience was enhanced by the firm, connected ride quality, responsive steering, and snappy shifting, making it a delight to drive on various road conditions.

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. It provided more legroom in both rows, although the seats were not as comfortable as expected for a luxury vehicle. The XT5 boasted 850 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,784 litres with them folded, surpassing its German rivals but falling short of the Infiniti QX50. The interior included a small cubbyhole for storage, but the centre console space was limited.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, following updates, featured improved front seat comfort and support, with height-adjustable seats and various upholstery upgrades available. The Signature trim included luxurious Nappa leather, but the CX-5's technology, storage space, and rear-seat room were lacking. The cargo area offered 871 litres with the rear seats up and 1,680 litres with them folded, which was reasonable but less than some mainstream rivals. The infotainment system's lack of a touchscreen and voice recognition system was a drawback, making it less user-friendly compared to competitors.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. While usability was improved, the tech still lagged behind other luxury brands in terms of screen size and sophistication. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality, but the array of secondary controls and touchpads were not ideally placed, making them difficult to use while driving.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics, but the Mazda Connect system was frustrating to use due to its lack of voice recognition and awkward physical controls. The system required memorization and focus, detracting from the driving experience. Despite this, the CX-5 offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial of Mazda Connected Services. The test vehicle included a front-facing camera and a surround-view camera system, enhancing its feature set.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Optional packages added adaptive cruise control, enhanced emergency braking, and a surround-vision camera system. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, but its headlight and LATCH ratings were less impressive.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with most i-Activsense technology offered as standard. Exclusive features in the 2.5 Turbo Signature included a surround-view camera system and Traffic Jam Assist. The CX-5 received five-star ratings from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick ranking from IIHS. However, a warning message for nighttime driving without headlights was needed, as the running lights could be misleading.