2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a boon for parents, making it easier to load children into car seats without the hassle of narrow SUV doors. The Odyssey's third-row seating was comfortable and spacious, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpoolers with ease. The minivan also boasted impressive cargo space, rivaling that of larger SUVs when the seats were folded down or removed. Despite the utilitarian design, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, particularly in the Touring trim with its dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and kinked sliding doors that added character to its clean lines.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac XT5 presented a blend of Cadillac's signature design elements with a compact SUV footprint. Its styling was a mix of bold grilles and vertical taillights, reminiscent of classic Cadillacs, but the overall look was somewhat ungainly. The XT5 offered different exterior styling cues for its Premium Luxury and Sport models, with chrome accents for the former and darker trims for the latter. The interior, while luxurious with the optional Platinum Package, lacked a cohesive design theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive compared to its competitors. The XT5's interior space was competitive with German luxury crossovers, but the seats fell short of luxury standards in terms of comfort.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked the all-wheel-drive and hybrid options available in some competitors, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The minivan was noted for its enjoyable driving character, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, the brakes were prone to heating up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and noise, which was a concern when the vehicle was fully loaded.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a base 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6-equipped Premium Luxury model provided ample power for everyday driving, with smooth and quick shifts. The optional performance suspension with adaptive dampers offered a comfortable ride, cushioning bumps while maintaining excellent body control. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without being overly sensitive. The XT5's cabin was notably quiet, enhancing the luxury experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Touring trim featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan excelled in storage space, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo capacity to 2,452 litres, and removing the second-row seats expanded it to 3,984 litres.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space compared to German luxury crossovers, with more front headroom but less rear headroom. The seats were comfortable but lacked the cushioning expected in a luxury vehicle. The XT5 provided 850 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 1,784 litres with them folded, surpassing some competitors. A hands-free power liftgate was available for added convenience. The centre console housed a rotary controller and shifter, but space was limited. A small cubbyhole below the touchscreen offered additional storage for small items.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. It included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies for monitoring and communicating with rear passengers. The rear entertainment system featured a 10.2-inch display with media playback options, but it was considered outdated. The Touring trim also had an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the infotainment system was criticized for its small screen size and lack of a tuning knob, and the navigation system required specific voice commands.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added a digital instrument cluster and head-up display. While the infotainment system was an improvement over previous versions, it was still considered average compared to competitors. The rotary controller and capacitive touchpads were not user-friendly, and the array of secondary controls was cluttered. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system delivered excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5's quiet interior.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. However, the Honda Sensing system was noted for its lack of refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered 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 braking features. The XT5 received top scores in 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.