Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2023 Lexus UX

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
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 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 UX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 UX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers an optional Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the XT5 and the UX 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 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 Lexus UX:

	XT5	UX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	33%
Neck Stress	188 lbs.	371 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	17 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	213/542 lbs.	376/433 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	287	290
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	163 lbs.
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	94 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	22/17 lbs.	345/566 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 Lexus UX:

	XT5	UX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	184 lbs.	323 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	46 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	799 lbs.	919 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

Engine

The XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (235 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 129 more horsepower (310 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the Lexus UX:

	XT5	UX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.4 MPH	87.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Both the XT5 and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The XT5 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 8.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (19.4 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 11.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (21.7 vs. 10.6 gallons).

The XT5 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 UX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	XT5	UX
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.1 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 UX are solid, not vented.

The XT5 stops much shorter than the UX:

	XT5	UX
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XT5 has larger tires than the UX (235/65R18 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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

The XT5 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The XT5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The UX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the UX (112.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT5 is 3.8 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The XT5 AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XT5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 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 UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The XT5 has 14.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (104.5 vs. 90.4).

The XT5 has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 5.9 inches more rear legroom, 2.5 inches more rear hip room and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

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

Cargo Capacity

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (30.2 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the XT5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The UX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The XT5 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no 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 UX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The XT5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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 UX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the XT5 and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XT5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The XT5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the UX. The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the UX.

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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $410 less than the UX over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac XT5 and the Lexus UX, 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 UX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Lexus UX by almost three to one during 2022.