Compare the2025 Buick EnvisionVS 2025 Cadillac XT5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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

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

The Envision 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 Envision has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking 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.

Both the Envision and the XT5 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, 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 front parking sensors.

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

	Envision	XT5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21.3%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	153/386 lbs.	213/542 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	223	287
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	23.1%	37%
Neck Stress	111 lbs.	155 lbs.

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 Buick Envision is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	Envision	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	139 lbs.	151 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	572 lbs.	825 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	249	399
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	313 lbs.	799 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 87 percent more Buick dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Envision’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 4 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Envision
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Envision uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended for maximum performance). The XT5 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 35.1 cents more per gallon.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Envision Sport Touring/Avenir’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (245/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The Envision Preferred’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 Envision Sport Touring/Avenir’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Envision’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 better maneuverability, the Envision’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the XT5’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Envision’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the XT5 w/20” wheels’ (38 feet vs. 39 feet).

Chassis

The Envision is 6.9 inches shorter than the XT5, making the Envision easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Envision uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XT5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Envision has .5 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear legroom than the XT5.

Towing

The Envision’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Cadillac. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in service department satisfaction. With a 4% lower rating, Cadillac is ranked fifth.

Ergonomics

The XT5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Envision’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 Envision Avenir has standard 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 Buick Envision has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

The Envision Avenir 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.

Economic Advantages

The Envision will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Envision will retain 52.65% to 53.82% of its original price after five years, while the XT5 only retains 46.63% to 47.63%.

Recommendations

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

The Buick Envision outsold the Cadillac XT5 by 65% during 2023.