2022 Cadillac XT5 vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a striking vehicle, exuding a sporty and svelte design reminiscent of the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It appeared lower and wider, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the furthest corners, giving the car a hip-like appearance, similar to the wide fenders of a Porsche 911. The headlights squinted in a V-shaped pattern, mirroring the black trim below the bumper, which mimicked air intakes. The EV6's profile was sharp and smooth, especially in matte silver paint, and it featured recessed lights below the rear spoiler, chrome trim, and a unique reverse light design. The flush door handles retracted when unlocking, and the rear charge port was hidden beneath the right brake light.

Inside, the EV6 boasted dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and black and white seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and rear passengers, who faced sci-fi-like front seat backrests. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls added to the futuristic feel. Despite its wild design, the EV6 prioritized driving enjoyment, making it a standout in its class.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 had a design that fell between the angularity of the Lexus NX and the traditional styling of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It featured Cadillac’s trademark design cues, including a bold grille, daytime running lights, and vertical taillights. However, its compact footprint and tall profile made for an ungainly mix. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had distinct exterior styling cues, with the former featuring bright chrome and the latter darker trim and a mesh grille. The XT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury models came with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Sport models had 20-inch wheels.

The interior of the XT5 felt luxurious, especially with the optional Platinum Package, which included semi-aniline leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped instrument panel and door trim, a microfiber sueded headliner, and a heated steering wheel. However, without this package, it was unclear if the XT5 met luxury-car standards. The interior design lacked a strong theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive compared to competitors like the Volvo XC60, Lincoln Corsair, and Genesis GV70.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, with its two electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, was a powerhouse. It had a 77-kilowatt-hour battery and could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The top-power GT trim, arriving in fall 2022, promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of less than 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller battery and a 167 hp motor, which was not recommended. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models offered a more acceptable 225 hp. The dual-motor GT-Line provided a thrilling driving experience with quick torque delivery and excellent handling. The regenerative braking system had over eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting.

However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather. In below-freezing temperatures, the EV6's range fell short of its 274-mile EPA estimate, delivering only 65 percent of the expected range. Charging performance was better, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging speeds were lower than Kia's claims. Despite these issues, the EV6's performance and driving excitement were impressive.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6, available on the XT5 Sport and optional on the Premium Luxury, provided ample power for everyday driving and smooth, quick shifts. The performance suspension with adaptive dampers, part of the optional Platinum Package, offered a comfortable ride with excellent body control.

The XT5's steering was well-suited to a luxury vehicle, providing a nimble feel without being overly sensitive. The cabin was impressively quiet, enhancing the luxury experience. Overall, the XT5's performance was adequate for a luxury crossover, but it did not stand out in terms of power or driving excitement.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured innovative design elements, such as pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom in all seating positions, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The towing capacity was 2,300 pounds, and the onboard power generator could run 120-volt equipment or charge another EV.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 compared favorably to German luxury crossovers in terms of interior space. It offered more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but less than the BMW X3. The XT5 had more legroom in both rows, although less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were fairly comfortable but could have used more padding. The XT5 offered 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 63 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC. A hands-free power liftgate was available. The center console housed a rotary controller for the infotainment system and the shifter, but lacked space for other items.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens, but lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel displayed vehicles in surrounding lanes and a 3D bar graph of power and speed. The EV6 featured blind-spot monitoring, 360-degree surround-view cameras, customizable "engine" sounds, and an augmented reality head-up display. Higher trims included a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

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 display and a head-up display. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not user-friendly. The optional Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5's quiet interior.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies but came equipped with impressive safety tech, including lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added front parking sensors, automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise control with machine learning.

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 optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. The Technology Package included rear pedestrian alert, surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.