Compare the2023 Chevrolet EquinoxVS 2023 Cadillac XT5

Both the Equinox 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, daytime running lights, 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 Chevrolet Equinox 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 Chevrolet Equinox is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

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

There are over 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Equinox’s warranty.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 8th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 4 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Equinox 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 Chevrolet Equinox higher (7 out of 10) than the Cadillac XT5 (6 to 7). This means the Equinox produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XT5 every 15,000 miles.

The Equinox stops much shorter than the XT5:

The Equinox’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 Equinox 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.

The Equinox’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the XT5’s (58.2% to 41.8%). This gives the Equinox more stable handling and braking.

The Equinox Premier AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the XT5 AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Equinox’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XT5’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

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

The Chevrolet Equinox may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 850 pounds less than the Cadillac XT5.

The Equinox is 6.5 inches shorter than the XT5, making the Equinox easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Equinox 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 Equinox has .3 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the XT5.

The front step up height for the Equinox is 1.3 inches lower than the XT5 (17.2” vs. 18.5”). The Equinox’s rear step up height is 2.5 inches lower than the XT5’s (17.5” vs. 20”).

The Equinox has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (63.9 vs. 63 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Equinox easier. The Equinox’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.6 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

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

The Equinox can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Equinox can be unhitched and driven around locally. The XT5 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Equinox’s available exterior PIN entry system. The XT5 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Equinox (except LS) 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 Equinox owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Equinox will cost $270 less than the XT5 over a five-year period.

The Equinox will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Equinox will retain 44.91% to 45.97% 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 Equinox is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because typical repairs cost much less on the Equinox than the XT5, including $59 less for a water pump, $7 less for front struts, $239 less for a timing belt/chain and $168 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Equinox will be $17189 to $20741 less than for the Cadillac XT5.

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

The Chevrolet Equinox outsold the Cadillac XT5 by over six to one during the 2021 model year.