Compare the2023 Cadillac XT6VS 2023 BMW X5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac XT6 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 XT6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT6 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 X5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT6 and the X5 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, 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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the BMW X5:

	XT6	X5
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	167	209
Neck Injury Risk	25%	34%
Neck Stress	187 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	161/358 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	305	342
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	71 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	9/6 lbs.	527/418 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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the BMW X5:

	XT6	X5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	117 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	255 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	249 lbs.	584 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	292	308
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	666 lbs.	796 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 “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XT6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X5 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT6 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 60 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT6’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The X5 was rated third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

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 BMW 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, BMW is rated lower.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT6 gets better mileage than the X5:

			MPG
XT6
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
X5
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
		4.4 turbo V8	16 city/22 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT6’s fuel efficiency. The X5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the XT6 and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All XT6s 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 for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT6 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X5 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT6 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT6 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X5 (3). This means the XT6 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X5 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT6, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X5.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT6 stops shorter than the X5:

	XT6	X5
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Cadillac XT6’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT6 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 X5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The XT6 Sport AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the X5 xDrive pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the XT6’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the X5’s (39.1 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Cadillac XT6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The XT6 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The XT6 has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the X5.

Cargo Capacity

The XT6’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5.

	XT6	X5
Third Seat Folded	43.1 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	33.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	78.7 cubic feet	72.3 cubic feet

The XT6’s cargo area is larger than the X5’s in almost every dimension:

	XT6	X5
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	15.5”/48”/80.2”	n.a./40.7”/70”
Max Width	50”	49”
Min Width	43”	44”
Height	32.5”	31.5”

The XT6’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Towing

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the XT6 uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XT6 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT6 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT6 will cost $415 to $2845 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT6 is less expensive to operate than the X5 because typical repairs cost much less on the XT6 than the X5, including $245 less for a water pump, $1189 less for a muffler, $118 less for front brake pads, $301 less for a starter, $111 less for fuel injection, $273 less for a fuel pump, $404 less for front struts, $786 less for a timing belt/chain and $1315 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac XT6 will be $9040 to $21514 less than for the BMW X5.