THE CADILLAC XT5 VS LEXUS RX 350

For the past five years, the crossover car class skyrocketed in terms of units sold and number of models available. With so much competition and large profits to be made, the prospective crossover buyer became America's most spoiled car owner, as companies try to outdo each other by giving more and charging less for it.

Two of the best crossovers on the market today come from Cadillac and Lexus in the shape of the XT5 and RX 350 respectively. Both classified as luxury crossover SUVs they offer some of the best price Vs. value ratios available today - great looks, plenty of tech and comfort, plus superb ride quality, all in luxury-class vehicles.

Let's start with the XT5, Cadillac's front runner for the crossover segment, and one of the best vehicles of its class. The XT5 sports a solid, robust exterior look that's been designed to cause no controversy and appeal to a wide range of prospective buyers. As soon as you step inside, the wide, appealing dash and infotainment system make it obvious that you're in a luxury vehicle, as do the faux or genuine wood and aluminum trims.

The luxurious interior doesn't come with the price you'd expect though, and for those who can stomach knowing the wood and aluminum is faux, the car can be considered quite the bargain, considering the imitation is so good that it's likely only the owners will know about it.

Under the hood, the Cadillac comes with a single engine option, but one that will probably satisfy any need. A 3.6-liter V-6 capable of producing an impressive 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an 8-speed automatic give the XT5 enough power to be a joy to ride in and out of town. Great suspension make it also a very comfortable ride, as it does the ample room available for both front and back passengers.

The front seats have an upscale feel and are significantly more comfortable to be in than the industry's average. The XT5 is a little narrower on the outside than most of its competitors, making the car nimbler and easier to drive inside the city, but that doesn't come at the cost of interior comfort, as the car is perfectly capable of transporting four adults in complete comfort. When it comes to trunk capacity, the Cadillac has 30 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row of seats and 63 cubic feet behind the first row, with the back seats folded.
We saved the best, and what we think is the real tiebreaker between the two models, for last, the list of standard features and available trim levels. Future Cadillac owners will get tons of features, with even the base model. Things like an 8-inch touchscreen fitted with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for complete smartphone connectivity, a power liftgate, power adjustable front seats, leatherette upholstery, and GM's OnStar concierge and safety connectivity can be found on every XT5 model.

Only $7000 added to the price tag will get you a trim level that includes real leather, heated seats, parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, and a panoramic moonroof. Luxury features almost no other model in its class can match for the money.

Looking at the Lexus 350, it's almost a shame how great the car compares with the XT5 only to drop the ball when it comes to standard features.

In terms of their exterior look, inside comfort and craftsmanship, the two cars are almost an exact match. Same goes for the engines, although the Lexus has a partially electric powertrain the Cadillac is missing. I'm talking about the 3.6-liter that will produce 259 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. Not bad for an electric motor, but it does make the Lexus seem sportier than it actually is.

Where Cadillac takes the lead, and by quite a margin, is when it comes down to standard features. It's almost unexplainable how on a 2019 luxury crossover SUV both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, features you'll find on basic, entry-level sedans are missing from the starting model. You're forced to pay more for the "luxury" of being able to connect your smartphone to your infotainment system.

The standard pack does, however, contain synthetic leather, upholstery 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, power front seats, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment, but that's less than impressive for a luxury crossover SUV. Even higher trims offer far less than you'd expect of this class, so we have a match between an over- and an under-achiever in the clash between the Cadillac and the Lexus when it comes to price Vs. delivered quality.