Compare the2025 Cadillac XT5VS 2024 Acura RDX

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 RDX 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 RDX 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 RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the XT5 and the RDX 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Acura RDX:

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 Acura RDX:

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

The XT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the RDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 first among midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The RDX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Acura.

The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 38 more horsepower (310 vs. 272) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the Acura RDX:

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

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

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (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 RDX (21.7 vs. 17.1 gallons).

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

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 RDX are solid, not vented.

The XT5 stops much shorter than the RDX:

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the RDX (112.5 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The XT5 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RDX (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

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 RDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT5 has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 4.9 inches more rear hip room than the RDX.

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is limited to 1500 pounds. The XT5 offers up to a 3500 lbs. 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 RDX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 13% lower rating, Acura is ranked 9th.

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 RDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The XT5’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Entry standard on the RDX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The RDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

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 RDX 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 RDX because typical repairs cost much less on the XT5 than the RDX, including $209 less for front brake pads, $139 less for a starter, $175 less for a fuel pump, $101 less for front struts and $416 less for a power steering pump.

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