Compare the2025 Volvo XC60VS 2025 Cadillac XT5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC60 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.

Both the XC60 and XT5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 Plus/Ultra/Polestar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XT5’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo XC60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Cadillac doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the XT5. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC60 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC60’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The XT5’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC60 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The XT5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XC60 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply 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 XC60. But it costs extra on the XT5.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the XC60’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The XC60 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 XC60 has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Braking Intervention 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 XC60’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 XC60 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, 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 and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volvo XC60 is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	XC60	XT5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	147
Neck Injury Risk	22%	24%
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	178	287
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28%	37%

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 Volvo XC60 is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	XC60	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	112
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	151 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
HIC	237	399
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	410 lbs.	799 lbs.

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

Warranty

The XC60’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the XT5’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC60 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT5.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the XC60 has a standard 800-amp battery (850 T8). The XT5’s 730-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the XC60 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the XC60’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The XT5’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (247 vs. 235) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The XC60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 145 more horsepower (455 vs. 310) and 252 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT5 V6:

	XC60	XT5
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.1 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPGe
XC60
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	66 city/60 hwy
XT5
			MPG
	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

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
XC60
	AWD	2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/28 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 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

The XC60 T8 Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The XT5 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the XC60’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT5 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The XC60 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT5:

	XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered	XT5
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.4 inches

The XC60 stops shorter than the XT5:

	XC60	XT5
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC60’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (265/35R22 vs. 235/65R18).

The XC60’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s standard 65 series tires. The XC60’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC60 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The XT5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The XC60 Ultimate has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC60’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 XC60 handles at .88 G’s, while the XT5 AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XC60 B5 Core executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT5 AWD (26.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XT5’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The XC60’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the XT5 w/20” wheels’ (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC60 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT5 (8.5 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the XC60 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The XC60 is 4.2 inches shorter than the XT5, making the XC60 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The XC60 has .3 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more rear hip room than the XT5.

Cargo Capacity

The XC60 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (63.3 vs. 63 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the XC60 easier. The XC60’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

Towing

The XC60’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (3500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport, the XC60 Ultra/Polestar has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The XC60’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 XC60 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 XC60’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 XC60 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The XC60’s headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XT5’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XT5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XT5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The XC60’s standard 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.

The Volvo XC60 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport.

The XC60 Ultra offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT5.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XC60 is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because it costs $346 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the XC60 than the XT5, including $30 less for a water pump, $462 less for a muffler, $714 less for a timing belt/chain and $333 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC60 as the 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XT5 has never been chosen.

The Volvo XC60 outsold the Cadillac XT5 by 48% during 2023.

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