Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2021 Volvo V60

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 V60 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 V60 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the V60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 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 Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Volvo V60:

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 Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Volvo V60:

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

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the V60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the V60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 60 more horsepower (310 vs. 250) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 258) than the V60 T5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the V60 T5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The V60 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the XT5 and the V60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All XT5s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch costs extra on the V60.

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 V60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the V60 (19.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the V60 (21.7 vs. 15.9 gallons).

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 Volvo V60 (5 to 7). This means the XT5 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the V60 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 V60.

The XT5 stops much shorter than the V60:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The V60’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo V60 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The front and rear suspension of the XT5 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the V60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT5 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the V60.

For greater off-road capability the XT5 has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the V60 (7.8 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the XT5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the XT5 2.0 Turbo uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The V60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT5 has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the V60 (104.5 vs. 94).

The XT5 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the V60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the XT5’s rear seats recline. The V60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the V60 with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 23.2 cubic feet). The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the V60 with its rear seat folded (63 vs. 50.9 cubic feet).

The XT5’s cargo area is larger than the V60’s in every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the XT5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The V60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo V60 is limited to 2000 pounds. The XT5 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The V60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 V60 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the XT5 has standard extendable sun visors. The V60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The V60 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The V60’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $120 less than the V60 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT5 is less expensive to operate than the V60 because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the V60, including $17 less for front brake pads, $52 less for a starter, $496 less for a fuel pump and $58 less for front struts.

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

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over two to one during the 2021 model year.