Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. Its grille leaned forward slightly, with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered a luxurious experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade Palermo leather, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, though its cabin materials were more akin to those found in a Buick or top-trim Chevy. Despite this, the XT5's interior was intuitively laid out, offering good space across both rows and above-average cargo space of 850 litres behind the second-row seats. Cadillac retained many physical controls, providing a more intuitive feel compared to rivals that opted for all-touch interfaces. The XT5 offered good headroom and legroom, with a panoramic sunroof available to enhance the airy feel. Standard synthetic leather upholstery could be upgraded to genuine leather in higher trims, and in Canada, heated front seats were standard, with heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel available on upper trims.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, impressive for its 2,900-kilogram weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, it could handle various terrains, although its size limited off-road capabilities. The cabin was quiet, and the air suspension provided a smooth ride, though the vehicle felt ungainly at higher speeds.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was in the high-seven-second range. An optional V6 engine offered 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, but the XT5 lacked driving excitement with either engine. Handling was decent, but ride quality suffered on rough roads, with noticeable cabin vibration and noise. The XT5's performance lagged behind rivals like the Porsche Macan S and BMW X3, and Cadillac did not offer performance variants for the XT5.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer could seat seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, though front-row space was more limited. With 775 litres of cargo space with all rows in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed, it surpassed rivals in commonly used configurations. However, its total cargo space of 2,667 litres with all rear seats folded was less than that of the Escalade, Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's interior featured more hard plastics than expected, but it offered ample storage spaces, including a deep centre console bin and large seatback pockets. The maximum cargo space of 850 litres behind the two rows was accessible via a wide liftgate opening, and folding the rear seats expanded it to 1,784 litres. These specs were generous for its class, surpassing the Porsche Macan and Genesis GV70. The XT5's cargo area shape was practical, accommodating larger items more easily than some rivals with sloping rooflines.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured an Android-based operating system with over-the-air updates, though the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the CUE infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was intuitive and responsive, with physical buttons for climate control and steering wheel functions. A Bose premium audio system, wireless charging, and navigation were available. The XT5's infotainment system was competitive in its segment, though not as advanced as Volvo's Google-based system.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet received crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's last full crash test was for the 2021 model, which earned top "Good" scores in most areas 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 a vibrating safety alert seat. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and enhanced automatic emergency braking.