Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2023 Porsche Macan

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 Macan 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 Macan 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 Macan 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 Macan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Macan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the XT5 and the Macan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XT5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 233 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Macan has not been tested, yet.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the Macan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Macan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 third among midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Macan 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 Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

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

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The Macan requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Macan (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 Macan (21.7 vs. 17.1 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 Macan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT5 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Porsche Macan (5). This means the XT5 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Macan every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Macan.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Macan (112.5 inches vs. 110.5 inches).

For better maneuverability, the XT5’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Macan’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.2 feet). The XT5 w/20” wheels’ turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Macan’s (39 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Porsche Macan.

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

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Macan with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 17.2 cubic feet). The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Macan with its rear seat folded (63 vs. 52.9 cubic feet).

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Macan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Porsche. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 1% lower rating, Porsche is ranked third.

The XT5 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Macan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Macan has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Macan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

On a hot day the XT5’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Macan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The XT5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Macan’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XT5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Macan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the XT5 has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 Macan’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The XT5 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Macan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $3260 to $7205 less than the Macan over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT5 is less expensive to operate than the Macan because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the Macan, including $292 less for a muffler, $201 less for front brake pads, $146 less for a starter, $166 less for a fuel pump, $412 less for front struts, $99 less for a timing belt/chain and $57 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac XT5 will be $7726 to $17857 less than for the Porsche Macan.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac XT5 and the Porsche Macan, 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 Macan was rated third in its category.

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Porsche Macan by 71% during 2022.