Compare the2024 Cadillac XT5VS 2023 GMC Acadia

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 Acadia 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 Acadia doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the Acadia 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 GMC Acadia:

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 GMC Acadia:

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

The XT5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Acadia’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than GMC covers the Acadia. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Acadia ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The XT5’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Acadia runs out after 100,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the XT5 has a standard 730-amp battery. The Acadia’s 660-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 GMC 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, GMC is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 4 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (235 vs. 228) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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

The XT5 stops much shorter than the Acadia:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4.

For greater off-road capability the XT5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (7.8 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the XT5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the GMC Acadia.

The XT5 is 3.8 inches shorter than the Acadia, making the XT5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XT5 has .2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more rear hip room than the Acadia.

The XT5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Acadia with its rear seat up (30.2 vs. 12.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the XT5 easier. The XT5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.9 inches, while the Acadia’s liftover is 32 inches.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XT5. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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 Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 27% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

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 Acadia does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The XT5’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

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

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

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 Acadia 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 Acadia because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the Acadia, including $80 less for front brake pads, $150 less for a fuel pump, $11 less for front struts, $110 less for a timing belt/chain and $333 less for a power steering pump.

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