Compare the2022 Cadillac XT5VS 2021 BMW X6

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac XT5 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X6 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the XT5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The X6 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the X6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XT5 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 213 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X6 has not been tested, yet.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X6 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT5’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the XT5’s reliability 27 points higher than the X6.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 14th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 10th.

On the EPA test cycle the XT5 AWD V6 gets better fuel mileage than the X6 M50i xDrive V8 (18 city/26 hwy vs. 16 city/22 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The X6 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X6 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT5 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X6 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT5 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X6 (3). This means the XT5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X6 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X6.

The XT5 stops shorter than the X6:

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X6 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For better maneuverability, the XT5’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the X6’s (38.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet). The XT5 w/20” wheels’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the X6’s (39 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 850 pounds less than the BMW X6.

The XT5 is 5.2 inches shorter than the X6, making the XT5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XT5 has .4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more rear headroom and 3.3 inches more rear legroom than the X6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the XT5’s rear seats recline. The X6’s rear seats don’t recline.

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X6 with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 27.4 cubic feet). The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X6 with its rear seat folded (63 vs. 59.6 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 17% lower rating, BMW is ranked 8th.

The XT5’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X6 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XT5 has a standard rear wiper. The X6 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $5900 to $8800 less than the X6 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT5 is less expensive to operate than the X6 because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the X6, including $670 less for a water pump, $733 less for a muffler, $149 less for front brake pads, $252 less for a starter, $16 less for fuel injection, $440 less for a fuel pump, $326 less for front struts and $1517 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac XT5 will be $19524 to $26207 less than for the BMW X6.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.