Compare the2023 BMW X6VS 2023 Cadillac XT5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X6 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 X6 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 X6 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X6. But it costs extra on the XT5.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X6’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X6 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 X6 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 X6’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 X6 and the XT5 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 and available around view monitors.

The BMW X6 weighs 517 to 1200 pounds more than the Cadillac XT5. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The X6’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT5’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X6 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 X6 second among upper midsize 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 X6’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 100 more horsepower (335 vs. 235) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X6’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 25 more horsepower (335 vs. 310) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6. The X6 M50i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 213 more horsepower (523 vs. 310) and 282 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X6 is faster than the Cadillac XT5 V6:

	X6 6 cyl. hybrid gas	X6 M50i	XT5
Zero to 60 MPH	5.2 sec	3.3 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	11.6 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.9 MPH	119.5 MPH	92.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X6 gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
X6
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X6 has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The X6’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 X6 M Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT5:

	X6	X6 M Sport	XT5
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.4 inches

The X6 stops much shorter than the XT5:

	X6	XT5
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X6 has larger standard tires than the XT5 (275/45R20 vs. 235/65R18). The X6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The X6’s standard 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 X6’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X6 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT5. The X6’s optional 22-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 available on the X6 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 X6 M50i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The XT5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X6 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XT5.

The X6 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XT5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X6’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the XT5 (117.1 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X6 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XT5.

The X6’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.8% to 49.2%) than the XT5’s (58.2% to 41.8%). This gives the X6 more stable handling and braking.

The X6 M50i handles at .97 G’s, while the XT5 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X6 M50i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3 seconds quicker than the XT5 AWD (24.1 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X6 xDrive40i has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT5 (8.1 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the X6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X6 Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the XT5 (9.7 vs. 7.8 inches).

Passenger Space

The X6 has 1.7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.

Towing

The X6’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (5952 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT5 is only 3500 pounds. The X6 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X6 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 X6 M50i has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X6’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 X6 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 X6 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 X6’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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X6 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The XT5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The XT5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X6’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 X6 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X6 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT5.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X6 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X6 with a number “1” insurance rate while the XT5 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The X6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X6 will retain 48.14% of its original price after five years, while the XT5 only retains 42.02% to 43.14%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X6 is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because it costs $146 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the X6 than the XT5, including $233 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The XT5 was rated second in its category.