Compare the2024 Cadillac XT5VS 2023 Audi A4 Allroad

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 A4 Allroad 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the A4 Allroad 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, 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 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 Audi A4 Allroad:

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

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4 Allroad. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 Allroad ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 84 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT5’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XT5 has a standard 170-amp alternator (155-amp - XT5 V6 without Towing Package). The A4 Allroad’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the XT5 has a standard 730-amp battery. The A4 Allroad’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 third among midsize premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The A4 Allroad isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi 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 Audi 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, Audi is rated below average.

The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 49 more horsepower (310 vs. 261) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (19.4 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 6.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (21.7 vs. 15.3 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 A4 Allroad 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 Audi A4 Allroad (5). This means the XT5 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A4 Allroad 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 A4 Allroad.

For better stopping power the XT5’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A4 Allroad:

The XT5 stops shorter than the A4 Allroad:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The A4 Allroad’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 Audi A4 Allroad only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the A4 Allroad (112.5 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT5 is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than on the A4 Allroad.

The XT5 AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the A4 Allroad Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the XT5 has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A4 Allroad (7.8 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the XT5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT5 has 12.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 Allroad (104.5 vs. 92).

The XT5 has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4 Allroad.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the XT5’s rear seats recline. The A4 Allroad’s rear seats don’t recline.

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 24.2 cubic feet). The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat folded (63 vs. 58.5 cubic feet).

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer an easy entry 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 A4 Allroad does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 A4 Allroad only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 A4 Allroad Prestige’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 A4 Allroad 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 $1985 to $3460 less than the A4 Allroad over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac XT5 will be $2767 to $3388 less than for the Audi A4 Allroad.

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

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 79% during 2022.