2025 Porsche Cayenne vs 2023 Cadillac XT5

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 aimed to deliver affordable luxury, but its interior fell short of expectations for a high-end brand. The cabin, while spacious and intuitively laid out, featured materials that seemed more fitting for a Buick or a top-trim Chevy. Despite this, the XT5 offered above-average cargo space with 30 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, which helped compensate for its shortcomings. Cadillac retained many physical controls, providing an intuitive feel, though this choice made the cabin appear somewhat dated. The XT5's interior offered good headroom and legroom, with options for synthetic or genuine leather upholstery, heated seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

In contrast, the 2025 Porsche Cayenne, particularly in the GTS trim, showcased a more refined and customizable interior. The GTS featured high gloss black trim, bronze exhaust tips, and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes. Inside, Porsche allowed for extensive customization, from color choices to trim and seat belts. The Cayenne's cabin was well-organized, with mechanical controls for essential features like HVAC and volume, and a dashboard-mounted shifter toggle for added storage space. The GTS trim included a Race-Tex headliner and optional leather or Race-Tex upholstery, offering a luxurious and sporty feel.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The XT5's acceleration from 0-60 mph was in the high-seven-second range, but the engine could sound rough under heavy throttle. An available V6 engine delivered 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, providing a more suitable driving experience, though the XT5 lacked driving excitement. Handling was decent, but ride quality suffered on rough roads, with noticeable vibration and noise in the cabin. The XT5's EPA-rated fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city to 29 mpg highway with the turbo-four and FWD, while the V6 and AWD combination achieved 18/25/21 mpg.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engines, starting with a base 3.0-liter V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. The Cayenne S featured a V8 with 468 hp, while the Turbo GT boasted 650 hp, available only as a coupe. Plug-in hybrid options provided up to 729 hp. The GTS trim, with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, delivered 493 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed transmission and AWD. The GTS accelerated to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of 171 mph. The Cayenne GTS offered precise steering, a low center of gravity, and agile handling, thanks to components borrowed from the Turbo GT. The GTS also featured Pirelli P Zero tires, stiffer roll bars, and an active suspension for a sporty yet comfortable ride.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5's interior featured more hard plastics and cheaper materials than expected, but it offered ample storage spaces, including a deep center console storage bin. Front-seat ergonomics were good, with easy access to controls, while rear passengers had access to large seatback pockets and cupholders. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 63 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This generous cargo capacity was complemented by a wide liftgate opening and low load floor, making it easy to load and unload items.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne, known for its a la carte approach, offered limited standard features, with eight-way power-adjustable seats and two-zone climate control. The GTS trim included a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather upholstery. The Cayenne's options list was extensive, allowing for customization of interior materials and features. The Cayenne accommodated five passengers, with a comfortable second row and ample headroom. The standard Cayenne offered 27.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to over 60 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The coupe version provided 20.9 and 53 cubic feet, respectively, while plug-in hybrid models had slightly reduced cargo capacity.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 featured the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system, which offered an intuitive interface with crisp graphics and smooth navigation. The system ran on an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and dual-zone climate controls. Cadillac retained physical buttons for climate and steering wheel controls, providing a user-friendly experience. The XT5 also offered a Bose premium audio system, wireless charging, and navigation.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display running the Porsche Communication Management system. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control. The Cayenne's screens were well-organized and responsive, with voice control options. A head-up display provided pertinent information, though it appeared dim with polarized sunglasses. The Cayenne also featured four high-speed USB-C charging ports and a cooled wireless charging area.

The 2023 Cadillac XT5, last tested in 2021, earned top "Good" scores in crash tests but missed a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS due to a "Marginal" headlight score. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention and a "Superior" score for the optional crash prevention system. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, parking sensors, lane-keep assist, and more. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear pedestrian braking.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. Porsche's InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system, which looked ahead nearly two miles, was not tested. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety.