Compare the2026 Subaru OutbackVS 2026 Cadillac XT5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback 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 Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Subaru Outback’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system is only offered on some models of the Cadillac XT5.

The Outback 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. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Outback has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The Outback’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 Outback 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

There are over 13 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 21st.

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The XT5 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

The Outback 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Outback higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Cadillac XT5 (4 to 6). This means the Outback produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XT5 every 15,000 miles.

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XT5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Outback Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the XT5; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the XT5’s (36.5 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Outback’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the XT5 w/20” wheels’ (36.5 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT5 (8.7 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the XT5 (9.5 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Outback has 7.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XT5 (112.3 vs. 104.5).

The Outback has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.

The rear step up height for the Outback is 1.5 inches lower than the XT5 (18.5” vs. 20”).

The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT5 with its rear seat up (34.6 vs. 30 cubic feet). The Outback has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (80.5 vs. 63 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.3 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the XT5’s in every dimension:

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (2700 vs. 1000 pounds).

The engine in the Outback 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.

The Outback’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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s exterior PIN entry system. The XT5 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Cadillac XT5 by over six to one during 2024.