Compare the2024 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain WagonVS 2024 Cadillac XT5

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. But it costs extra on the XT5.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The XT5 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the XT5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Cadillac.

Engine

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 140 more horsepower (375 vs. 235) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 65 more horsepower (375 vs. 310) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
E-Class All-Terrain Wagon
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/31 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT5. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon higher (7 out of 10) than the Cadillac XT5 (6 to 7). This means the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XT5 every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT5:

	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon	XT5
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.4 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (F:255/40R20 & R:285/35R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s standard 65 series tires. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional 255/40R20 front and 285/35R20 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT5.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The XT5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XT5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XT5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XT5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the XT5 (116.6 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

Chassis

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is 7.2 inches shorter in height than the XT5, making the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has .3 inches more front legroom, 5 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.

Cargo Capacity

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT5 with its rear seat up (33.1 vs. 30.2 cubic feet). The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (64.6 vs. 63 cubic feet).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s cargo area is larger than the XT5’s in every dimension:

	E-Class All-Terrain Wagon	XT5
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	46.3”/78.9”	41.5”/75”
Min Width	43.3”	41.6”
Height	32.2”	30”

Servicing Ease

The engine in the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT5’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the XT5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The XT5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The XT5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The XT5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes E-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Model Availability

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Cadillac XT5 isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or sedan.