Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2023 Acura RDX

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

Safety

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The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 RDX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 RDX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the RDX 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, 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, 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 Acura RDX:

	XT5	RDX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	147	300
Neck Injury Risk	24%	26%
Neck Stress	188 lbs.	262 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	23 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	213/542 lbs.	328/464 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	287	353
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	84 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	22/17 lbs.	362/441 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 XT5 is safer than the Acura RDX:

	XT5	RDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	184 lbs.	217 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	399	486

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

Warranty

The XT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the RDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 third among midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The RDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

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 Acura 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, Acura is rated below average.

Engine

The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 38 more horsepower (310 vs. 272) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the Acura RDX:

	XT5	RDX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.4 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
XT5
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
RDX
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
	AWD	A-Spec 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy

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

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (19.4 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (21.7 vs. 17.1 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XT5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

	XT5	RDX
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	12.2 inches

The XT5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the RDX are solid, not vented.

The XT5 stops much shorter than the RDX:

	XT5	RDX
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the RDX (112.5 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The XT5 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RDX AWD (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

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 RDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The XT5 has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 4.9 inches more rear hip room than the RDX.

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

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is limited to 1500 pounds. The XT5 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the XT5 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 RDX 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 Acura. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 9% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

Ergonomics

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 RDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XT5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the XT5 with a number “8” insurance rate while the RDX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT5 is less expensive to operate than the RDX because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the RDX, including $209 less for front brake pads, $139 less for a starter, $175 less for a fuel pump, $101 less for front struts and $416 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 second among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The RDX isn’t in the top three.

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Acura RDX by 10% during 2022.

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