2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Instead, it adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a cabin defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac XT5's styling was a mix of Cadillac’s trademark design cues and a compact footprint, resulting in an ungainly appearance. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had different exterior styling cues, with the former featuring bright chrome and the latter darker trim and a mesh grille. Inside, the XT5 felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, but lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Touring trims featured a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator provided robust acceleration and a smooth power delivery, though it struggled with body roll in corners and tight maneuvering.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.6-liter V6 making 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided linear power delivery and smooth shifts, while the adaptive dampers in the Platinum Package offered excellent body control and a comfortable ride. The steering was well-suited for luxury driving, and the cabin was impressively quiet.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially with captain's chairs, offered ample space and comfort. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery died.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but less than the BMW X3. It had more legroom in both rows compared to its German rivals but less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were fairly comfortable but lacked the cushioning expected in a luxury vehicle. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them down, beating its German competitors but trailing the Infiniti QX50. The center console was cramped, but a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen was handy.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, with a landscape layout that was more natural than the Explorer's tall screen. The system was easy to use, with large icons for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Aviator also had a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added an 8-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls was cumbersome. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.