RDX vs. XT5
09-16-2018, 06:17 PM
#1
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
RDX vs. XT5
Ok this is not a cross shopping conversation, but I recently went on a short trip and rented a XT5 for 3 days. I drove the wife's 19 RDX Advance AWD to/ from airport and then the XT5 while we were in NJ. I will not do a deep comparison, but will point out a few casual observations.
The XT5 was a 3.6 V6 AWD and the engine and tranny were buttery smooth. I was extremely impressed with how frugal with fuel the XT5 was. From Newark airport to NW NJ up in elevation and on highway for about 60+ miles for almost 75 minutes the XT5 got 32MPG, that was very impressive and better than anything we are seeing in the RDX. The XT5 was quieter inside and while there was some engine noise under hard acceleration it was stil, quieter than the RDX.
The RDX ride is noticeably better and more refined. The XT5 felt more grandpa luxury tuned, more floaty and boaty compared to RDX, but on its own was decent. The seats in the XT5 are awful, they felt like flat boards on the seat and back with no lateral support. The XT5 feels far larger inside.
For all the early complaints about CUE in this implementation it was very responsive. I was actually pleasantly pleased with CUE as when your hand approaches the touch screen the menu bar pops up.
The I4 Turbo in the RDX and 10AT really accelerates better and smoother, it does sound like a 4 banger while the XT5 was slower off the line it was quieter and smooth.
After 3 days even the wife was mildly impresssed with many aspects of the XT5, but I the end the RDX just feels better built and more refined.
The XT5 was a 3.6 V6 AWD and the engine and tranny were buttery smooth. I was extremely impressed with how frugal with fuel the XT5 was. From Newark airport to NW NJ up in elevation and on highway for about 60+ miles for almost 75 minutes the XT5 got 32MPG, that was very impressive and better than anything we are seeing in the RDX. The XT5 was quieter inside and while there was some engine noise under hard acceleration it was stil, quieter than the RDX.
The RDX ride is noticeably better and more refined. The XT5 felt more grandpa luxury tuned, more floaty and boaty compared to RDX, but on its own was decent. The seats in the XT5 are awful, they felt like flat boards on the seat and back with no lateral support. The XT5 feels far larger inside.
For all the early complaints about CUE in this implementation it was very responsive. I was actually pleasantly pleased with CUE as when your hand approaches the touch screen the menu bar pops up.
The I4 Turbo in the RDX and 10AT really accelerates better and smoother, it does sound like a 4 banger while the XT5 was slower off the line it was quieter and smooth.
After 3 days even the wife was mildly impresssed with many aspects of the XT5, but I the end the RDX just feels better built and more refined.
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Tony Pac (09-16-2018)
09-17-2018, 12:09 AM
#2
Drifting
The Cadillac XT5 is ranked #19 in Luxury Midsize SUVs by U.S. News & World Report. ( Out of 21 )
The 2019 Acura RDX is ranked #2 in Luxury Compact SUVs ( Out of 16 ).
Beginning with the size difference, these are very different vehicles.
It's always tempting to cherry pick desirable features out of the panoply of available vehicles, but when it comes time to choose it's a package deal. The package is seldom "the best" at everything.
Having said that, I can't get my head around the idea that our 5 year old 3.5L V6 6AT MDX seems to have better fuel economy than our 2019 RDX, and similar performance, and more space, and more refinement ( aside from the gawd-awful infotainment system ). But the MDX does feel like more of a whale in the twisties...
The 2019 Acura RDX is ranked #2 in Luxury Compact SUVs ( Out of 16 ).
Beginning with the size difference, these are very different vehicles.
It's always tempting to cherry pick desirable features out of the panoply of available vehicles, but when it comes time to choose it's a package deal. The package is seldom "the best" at everything.
Having said that, I can't get my head around the idea that our 5 year old 3.5L V6 6AT MDX seems to have better fuel economy than our 2019 RDX, and similar performance, and more space, and more refinement ( aside from the gawd-awful infotainment system ). But the MDX does feel like more of a whale in the twisties...
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kurtatx (09-17-2018)
09-17-2018, 01:41 PM
#3
Readdress this comparison in four years and 60K miles later.
I can't imagine the quality issues to be encountered with the Caddy.
I can't imagine the quality issues to be encountered with the Caddy.
09-17-2018, 07:07 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Age: 61
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Not a Cadillac fan at all. I know folks that have a XT5 and it has not proven to exude "quality" or reliability. Beautiful vehicles but they can't seem to get it right...shouldn't be this hard for Cadillac.
09-17-2018, 07:13 PM
#7
Azine Jabroni
Cadillac found themselves and then lost themselves again.
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09-17-2018, 07:49 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
I had a '14 Cadillac SRX AWD Performance - nice car and pretty much trouble free.
The major reason I bought it was my neighbor sells them and I got the deal of the century (after 6 months I could still sell it for more than I paid). But the reliability history wasn't all that good and the day I bought it I knew it would be gone in 48 months. Seriously considered an XT5 but GM/Cadillac made a policy decision that the SRX was 'too affordable' and had tarnished the brand image. The price for the XT5 was adjusted to be in line with 'premium' name plates so now you pay for the name and get nothing for it.
The major reason I bought it was my neighbor sells them and I got the deal of the century (after 6 months I could still sell it for more than I paid). But the reliability history wasn't all that good and the day I bought it I knew it would be gone in 48 months. Seriously considered an XT5 but GM/Cadillac made a policy decision that the SRX was 'too affordable' and had tarnished the brand image. The price for the XT5 was adjusted to be in line with 'premium' name plates so now you pay for the name and get nothing for it.
09-17-2018, 09:24 PM
#9
I had a '14 Cadillac SRX AWD Performance - nice car and pretty much trouble free.
The major reason I bought it was my neighbor sells them and I got the deal of the century (after 6 months I could still sell it for more than I paid). But the reliability history wasn't all that good and the day I bought it I knew it would be gone in 48 months. Seriously considered an XT5 but GM/Cadillac made a policy decision that the SRX was 'too affordable' and had tarnished the brand image. The price for the XT5 was adjusted to be in line with 'premium' name plates so now you pay for the name and get nothing for it.
The major reason I bought it was my neighbor sells them and I got the deal of the century (after 6 months I could still sell it for more than I paid). But the reliability history wasn't all that good and the day I bought it I knew it would be gone in 48 months. Seriously considered an XT5 but GM/Cadillac made a policy decision that the SRX was 'too affordable' and had tarnished the brand image. The price for the XT5 was adjusted to be in line with 'premium' name plates so now you pay for the name and get nothing for it.
09-20-2018, 08:51 AM
#10
I thought the only people that would get a Cadillac is because they want a Cadillac, not much of anything else.
09-20-2018, 07:28 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
For me it was a matter of I just loved the 'art and science' design direction and when my neighbor got me a great deal it was a downhill slide without brakes. IMO that was some of the sexiest sheet metal on the road. Fortunately it didn't cost me any more than the depreciation that Cadillacs always incur.
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