2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, but its interior leaned more towards the aesthetic of a Buick or a high-end Chevrolet rather than a true luxury brand. Despite this, the cabin was well-organized and spacious, offering ample room in both rows. The XT5 boasted above-average cargo space, with 850 litres available behind the second-row seats, which helped offset some of its interior shortcomings. Cadillac retained many physical controls, which made the XT5 feel more intuitive compared to rivals that opted for all-touch interfaces. However, this choice also contributed to a somewhat dated cabin feel, lacking the modern flair seen in competitors like the Porsche Macan or the Volvo XC60. The XT5 provided good headroom and legroom, and a panoramic sunroof was available to enhance the cabin's airy atmosphere. Standard synthetic leather upholstery could be upgraded to genuine leather in higher trims, and heated front seats were standard in Canada, with heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel available in upper trims.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 offered a range of trim levels in Canada, from the base RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited. The design remained consistent with the 2019 model, particularly in the Trail trim, which featured a distinctive two-part face. The Trail trim also included blacked-out wheels, a faux skid plate, and beefier black cladding, giving it a rugged appearance. Inside, the Trail trim added orange accents, contrast stitching, and a stripe down the middle of the seats. The RAV4's interior was practical, with a frameless rearview mirror adding a touch of premium feel. The LE and XLE trims came with fabric upholstery and standard heated front seats, while the XLE Premium package upgraded to synthetic leather. The Limited trim offered heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats with memory settings. The RAV4's interior was functional, with a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets. Cargo space was competitive, with 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the seats folded.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was in the high-seven-second range, but the engine could sound rough under heavy throttle. An available V6 engine delivered 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, providing a more suitable performance, though the XT5 lacked driving excitement with either engine. Handling was decent, but ride quality suffered on rough roads, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin. The XT5's fuel economy was rated at 10.9 L/100 km city, 8.2 highway, and 9.7 combined for the turbo-four with FWD, while the V6 with AWD rated at 13.1/9.5/11.5 L/100 km city/highway/combined.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with AWD across all trims, featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the RAV4's performance was more "unobjectionable" than "exciting." The engine was not as loud as some competitors, but it wasn't quiet either. The RAV4 Trail trim featured 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and shared the same suspension setup as other RAV4 models. While the RAV4's performance was not particularly thrilling, it offered a reliable and consistent driving experience.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's interior featured more hard plastics than expected, but it offered useful storage spaces, including a deep centre console storage bin and large seatback pockets. The maximum cargo space was 850 litres behind the two rows, expanding to 1,784 litres with the rear seats folded. The wide liftgate opening and low load floor made accessing the cargo area easy. These specs were generous for its class, surpassing competitors like the Porsche Macan and Genesis GV70 in cargo capacity.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered 958 mm of headroom in the front row and 1,001 mm in the back with the moonroof. Legroom measured 1,039 mm in the front and 960 mm in the second row. The RAV4 provided practical storage options, including a shelf along the glove compartment and large door pockets. Cargo space was competitive, with 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the seats folded, placing it ahead of some competitors but behind the Honda CR-V in terms of storage capacity.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the CUE infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, offering Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and more. The system was intuitive and responsive, with physical buttons for climate controls and steering wheel functions. A Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation were available. The XT5's infotainment system was competitive, though not as advanced as some rivals.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, upgraded to a 10.5-inch screen in the Limited trim. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice command. The Limited trim also featured an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version in the Limited trim. The Trail and Limited trims included a wireless charging pad.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's last full crash test results were from the 2021 model, which earned top "Good" scores in crash tests but missed a Top Safety Pick award due to "Marginal" headlight scores. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features like lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The RAV4 was equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The 2023 RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, indicating strong safety performance.