Compare the2022 Audi A6 AllroadVS 2022 Cadillac XT5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi A6 Allroad have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

Both the A6 Allroad and XT5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A6 Allroad has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XT5’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi A6 Allroad has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XT5 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The A6 Allroad has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A6 Allroad. But it costs extra on the XT5.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the A6 Allroad’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the A6 Allroad and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi A6 Allroad is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	A6 Allroad	XT5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	292/435 lbs.	213/542 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A6 Allroad is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	A6 Allroad	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	135	183
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	716 lbs.	825 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	395	399
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	514 lbs.	799 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the A6 Allroad, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 6.2% to 8% less likely to roll over than the XT5, which received a four-star rating.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A6 Allroad its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT5 last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The A6 Allroad’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT5’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 7 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 100 more horsepower (335 vs. 235) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 25 more horsepower (335 vs. 310) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi A6 Allroad is faster than the Cadillac XT5 V6:

	A6 Allroad	XT5
Zero to 60 MPH	5.2 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.3 sec	17.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5.8 sec	7 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3 sec	3.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.9 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102 MPH	93 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the A6 Allroad gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
A6 Allroad
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	21 city/28 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the A6 Allroad’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The A6 Allroad offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XT5 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A6 Allroad’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The XT5 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A6 Allroad’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT5:

	A6 Allroad	XT5
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.4 inches

The A6 Allroad stops shorter than the XT5:

	A6 Allroad	XT5
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A6 Allroad has larger tires than the XT5 (245/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The A6 Allroad’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s standard 65 series tires. The A6 Allroad’s tires are lower profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A6 Allroad has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT5.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the A6 Allroad uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XT5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The A6 Allroad has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The A6 Allroad’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XT5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A6 Allroad’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the XT5 (115.2 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

The A6 Allroad Prestige handles at .82 G’s, while the XT5 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A6 Allroad Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT5 AWD (26.5 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the A6 Allroad Prestige w/All-Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the XT5’s (36.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The A6 Allroad is 7.2 inches shorter in height than the XT5, making the A6 Allroad much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The A6 Allroad has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.

Cargo Capacity

The A6 Allroad has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (63.8 vs. 63 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A6 Allroad easier. The A6 Allroad’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the A6 Allroad is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport, the A6 Allroad Prestige offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The A6 Allroad’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT5’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the A6 Allroad the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the XT5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The A6 Allroad has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT5 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The A6 Allroad’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The XT5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The A6 Allroad’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XT5’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A6 Allroad has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XT5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A6 Allroad to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The A6 Allroad has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport.

The A6 Allroad Prestige offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi A6 Allroad has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi A6 Allroad and the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.