Toyota Land Cruiser vs Cadillac XT5

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, blending high-end materials, advanced technology, and a robust engine while maintaining a reasonable price. However, the cabin's design seemed more fitting for a Buick or a high-end Chevy rather than a luxury Cadillac. Despite this, the interior was well-organized and spacious, offering ample room across both rows. The XT5 boasted above-average cargo space, with 850 litres available behind the second-row seats, which helped compensate for its shortcomings. Cadillac retained many physical controls, providing an intuitive feel, though this choice made the cabin appear somewhat dated. The XT5 offered good headroom and legroom, with options for a panoramic sunroof and genuine leather upholstery in higher trims.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, with its iconic boxy design and flat roof, paid homage to its predecessors while aligning with modern standards. The heritage grille and round headlights on the First Edition were nods to earlier models, while LED lighting and colour-selectable fog lights added contemporary flair. The lowered beltline improved visibility, and the vehicle came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available. Inside, the Land Cruiser offered cloth seats in the base trim, with SofTex and real leather in higher trims. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with additional features like a moonroof and ventilated seats in upper trims. The cabin emphasized comfort with cushy seats, a padded centre console, and contrast stitching, allowing drivers to focus on the terrain ahead.

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 and all-wheel drive options. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was in the high-seven-second range, though 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 companion for various driving situations. However, the XT5 lacked driving excitement, with decent handling but a ride quality that suffered on uneven surfaces. The XT5's fuel economy was competitive, with the turbo-four and FWD achieving 10.9 L/100 km city, 8.2 highway, and 9.7 combined, while the V6 and AWD reached 13.1/9.5/11.5 L/100 km.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 1.87-kWh battery pack, and a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive, with a two-speed transfer case for high and low range. The Multi-Terrain Select system operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo, and the vehicle included standard rear- and centre-locking differentials. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by features like a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar and the latest CRAWL control function, which managed braking and acceleration over challenging terrain with five speed settings.

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 of 850 litres behind the two rows was accessible via a wide liftgate opening, with folding rear seats expanding the space to 1,784 litres. These specs were generous compared to rivals like the Porsche Macan and Genesis GV70, which offered less cargo capacity.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had two rows of seating, with headroom measuring 917 mm in the front and 897 mm in the back, and legroom at 838 mm front and 678 mm rear. The centre console provided easy access to off-road features, with hard controls for climate and media placed conveniently below the infotainment screen. The cargo area, with a raised load floor and rubber mat, offered 1,063 litres of space, equipped with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims.

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 and steering wheel controls, contrasting with rivals' touch-based systems. A Bose premium audio system with 14 speakers, wireless charging, and navigation were available.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser came with a Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard above the base trim, displayed on a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen. The system activated automatically at low speeds, aiding off-road navigation. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system, head-up display, and digital rear-view mirror.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's last full crash test results were from the 2021 model, which earned top "Good" scores in crash tests but a "Marginal" score for headlights. 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 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA, but its platform-mates like the 2024 Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick award. All Land Cruisers came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and more. The Premium Package and First Edition added lane-change assist and front cross-traffic alert.