Compare the2022 GMC TerrainVS 2022 Cadillac XT5

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

Both the Terrain and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

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

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 GMC Terrain is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

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

There are almost 2 times as many GMC dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Terrain’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC 17th in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 5 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

On the EPA test cycle the Terrain gets better mileage than the XT5:

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Terrain higher (7 out of 10) than the Cadillac XT5 (6 to 7). This means the Terrain produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XT5 every 15,000 miles.

The Terrain’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

The Terrain has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The XT5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Terrain w/17” wheels’ turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XT5’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Terrain SLT/AT4/Denali has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT5 (7.9 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Terrain to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GMC Terrain may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 700 pounds less than the Cadillac XT5.

The Terrain is 7.3 inches shorter than the XT5, making the Terrain easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Terrain uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XT5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Terrain has .3 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the XT5.

The Terrain has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (63.3 vs. 63 cubic feet).

The Terrain’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Terrain offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Terrain owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Terrain will cost $615 less than the XT5 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Terrain is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because typical repairs cost much less on the Terrain than the XT5, including $49 less for a water pump, $7 less for front struts, $239 less for a timing belt/chain and $55 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Terrain will be $15039 to $16556 less than for the Cadillac XT5.

The GMC Terrain outsold the Cadillac XT5 by almost two to one during the 2021 model year.