Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 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
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X3 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 X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X3’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X3 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X3 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport has a rear cross-path warning system.

The X3’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X3 and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	X3	XT5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	147
Neck Injury Risk	21%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	213/542 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	176	287
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	155 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	X3	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	112
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	183
Hip Force	794 lbs.	825 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	281	399
Hip Force	624 lbs.	799 lbs.

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

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 X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT5 last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT5’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT5.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The XT5 was rated third in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 9 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (248 vs. 235) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 72 more horsepower (382 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 X3 M40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Cadillac XT5 V6:

	X3	XT5
Zero to 30 MPH	1.4 sec	2.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	4.1 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	11.1 sec	17.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.9 sec	7 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	2.5 sec	3.4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.1 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter Mile	12.8 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	107 MPH	93 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	130 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
X3
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The X3 M40i’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

The X3 stops much shorter than the XT5:

	X3	XT5
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the XT5 (245/50R19 vs. 235/65R18). The X3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (F:245/45R20 & R:275/40R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The X3’s standard 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 standard 65 series tires. The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT5. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the XT5.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The XT5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the XT5’s (58.2% to 41.8%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the XT5 AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the XT5 AWD (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT5 (8 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The X3 is 3.7 inches shorter than the XT5, making the X3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the X3 M40i xDrive is quieter than the XT5 AWD (40 vs. 44 dB).

Passenger Space

The X3 has 1.4 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more rear headroom than the XT5.

The rear step up height for the X3 is 1.5 inches lower than the XT5 (18.5” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X3 easier. The X3’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

Towing

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (4400 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X3 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

The X3’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 X3 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 or with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the XT5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X3 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 X3’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 X3’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XT5’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The XT5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X3’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X3 with a number “5” insurance rate while the XT5 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The X3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X3 will retain 49.78% to 50.55% of its original price after five years, while the XT5 only retains 42.02% to 43.14%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X3 and the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X3 outsold the Cadillac XT5 by over two to one during the 2021 model year.