2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured a design that balanced between the futuristic angularity of the Lexus NX and the more traditional aesthetics of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It incorporated Cadillac’s signature design elements, such as a bold grille, distinctive daytime running lights, and vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. However, this combination resulted in an awkward mix with the XT5’s compact size and tall profile, making it unmistakably a Cadillac, but not a particularly graceful one.

The Premium Luxury and Sport models of the XT5 had distinct exterior styling cues to differentiate them. The Premium Luxury trim was adorned with bright chrome, giving it a more traditional Cadillac appearance, while the Sport trim featured darker accents and a mesh grille, signaling performance. Standard 18-inch alloy wheels were fitted on the Luxury and Premium Luxury models, with the Sport models boasting 20-inch wheels. Optional Onyx and Radiant styling packages offered additional customization with dark and bright chrome finishes, respectively, along with 20-inch wheels.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design aimed at improving aerodynamics. All wheel designs and colors were new for 2023, and the rear VW logo now illuminated. Despite being easily distinguishable as an EV compared to VW’s gasoline models, the ID.4 did not have a traditional SUV look, lacking the upright profile and ground clearance that typically attract SUV buyers. This was a common trait among many current electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, which also blurred the lines between hatchback and SUV.

The ID.4 was built on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs with modularity to support various models. This platform was the EV counterpart to the MQB platform used in a range of VW vehicles, from the Atlas to the Jetta. The interior of the ID.4 carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and a high-quality feel. Even the base ID.4 Standard model, with its manual driver’s seat, did not feel like a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S, thanks to standard leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on the XT5 Sport and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The V6-equipped Premium Luxury test car felt adequately quick, with smooth and linear power delivery. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided quick and smooth shifts, avoiding the common issue of high-gear selection and delayed downshifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, which excelled in providing a comfortable ride while maintaining excellent body control. The steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, offering a quick ratio for nimbleness without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the overall luxury experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 introduced a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with rear-wheel drive (RWD). The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models retained the 82-kWh battery pack, available with either RWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models increased output to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, potentially improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt lively during a short drive, though more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery RWD version. The AWD ID.4 offered acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks like the VW Golf GTI and Golf R, but its handling was less engaging due to noticeable body roll. The ID.4 excelled in comfort and refinement, making it suitable for long drives, though it wasn’t as fun on twisty roads.

The ID.4’s regenerative braking system allowed for energy recovery while decelerating, but VW did not pursue one-pedal driving. The default regen setting allowed the ID.4 to coast, and even the more aggressive “B” setting stopped short of one-pedal driving. This approach provided a more familiar experience for new EV drivers, though it might disappoint some EV enthusiasts.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered competitive interior space compared to German luxury crossovers. It provided more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, though less than the BMW X3. Rear headroom was less than all three German rivals, but the XT5 had more legroom in both rows, except for front legroom compared to the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. The XT5’s seats were above average for mainstream SUVs but fell short of luxury standards.

Cadillac quoted 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC, but not the Infiniti QX50. A hands-free power liftgate was available. Up front, a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen provided convenient storage, compensating for the limited space on the center console, which housed the infotainment system’s rotary controller and the shifter.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with greater front and rear legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, making it more practical than most entry-level EVs. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the most practical SUV among affordable EVs.

The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with a quoted capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. This provided some usable capability, though not enough for towing large boats. VW made small interior changes for 2023, including a conventional lid for the center console, a better phone spot, and available three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot as standard. An 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display were available with the optional Technology Package. While usability was improved over previous Cadillac systems, the tech was still merely adequate compared to other luxury brands offering larger screens, slicker graphics, or more advanced voice recognition.

The touchscreen was easy to navigate, but the secondary controls were less user-friendly. The rotary controller and haphazardly placed buttons on the center console were difficult to use while driving. Capacitive touchpads lacked physical feedback, making it hard to know if they had been pressed. The standard eight-speaker Bose audio system was good, but the optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5’s quiet interior.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 made the previously optional 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard, along with the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster.

Despite the updates, the user experience remained largely unchanged, with sharp graphics and a choice of smartphone-like icons or a traditional split-screen view. Natural-language voice recognition could handle most simple commands. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, which replaced conventional buttons, were still a downside. They lacked physical feedback, making them distracting to use, though voice recognition often made them redundant. The ID.Light system, part ambient lighting and part AI assistant, provided visual cues for navigation and drive modes, but was easily overlooked during normal driving.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came standard with 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 Safety Alert Seat vibrated when a warning system was triggered. An optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. The Technology Package included rear pedestrian alert, a surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. Blind-spot monitoring was also available, but the XT5 did not offer the advanced Super Cruise driver-assist system.

The XT5 received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech with the optional enhanced automatic emergency braking. However, it only received a “Marginal” headlight rating and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded the XT5 a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash testing.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. While IIHS ratings for the 2023 model were not yet published, the similar 2022 model received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests, a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, and an “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prevention in daylight. The standard headlights received an “Average” score, while the Pro S model’s headlights were rated “Good.”

The ID.4 came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering. Emergency Assist 3.0, which automatically pulled the vehicle over if the driver was incapacitated, was also standard. For 2023, the ID.4 added standard Park Assist Plus automated parking, an automated lane-change feature for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.