CAR WARS! WHO Did It Better? Interior Showdown — Cadillac XT5 vs. Lexus RX

The 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show was the first place where we got to see the all-new Cadillac XT5. As the latest General Motors luxury product, it is following in the footsteps of Cadillac's other products like the ATS, CTS and CT6 sedan.

Its interior has a rather straightforward look to it and simple lines. BUT, is this what YOU want from a luxury sport-utility vehicle?

2015 Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS) Photo Gallery

Keep in mind that Lexus' all-new RX SUV came about at the 2015 New York Auto Show. We're expecting both of these vehicles to go head-to-head.

Agent 001 and I have been talking since the XT5 came out in the flesh this week and we're taking sides. Personally, I feel the XT5 has a better interior and 001 who has seen both in the flesh thinks the RX wins this showdown.

Having said that, I wanted to put it up for discussion: WHO did it better, Spies? The Cadillac XT5 or Lexus RX?


The 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show photo galleries are sponsored by Lexus.

2015 Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS) Photo Gallery
































New York Auto Show

Agent00R - 11/21/2015 10:45:44 AM

+7 Boost

This is your warning.

Please stop being a troll or you're getting banned.

Thank you.

Dexter1 - 11/21/2015 12:07:11 PM

+4 Boost

Please do all of us a favor and kick AnimeJapan off this site. He makes reading Auto Spies a truly unpleasant experience because he has to interject a Lexus or Japan comment on every fu*king post.

TomM - 11/21/2015 3:26:37 PM

+4 Boost

The Rx looks like a Toyota interior = while the Cadillac is more upscale.
THe question is whether Cadillac - with DeNysschen in charge -is willing to do the marketing needed to take the top seller. In the past - that is how GM would have done it - but DeNysschen indicates that he wants to keep prices up - which will hurt volume.

I believe that being the largest selling Cadillac model - Cadillac should do everything it can to sell as many as possible - so they have lots of new customers.

FormerBenz - 11/22/2015 3:13:08 PM

0 Boost

Ban the toad and Terry898. I would be nice if one could say something without the following: W124E320 - You're just another piece of dog shit to wipe of my shoes. Matt continually makes angry racist, sexist homophobic remarks, despises anyone successful yet claims to be a born again Catholic. Don't blame the messenger for calling a dick a dick. Funny, Matt is concerned about Mayweather's parenting skills yet he has 4 kids that he avoids by posting his ignorant rhetoric on line all night long. His kids have to grow up in a hate filled, racist environment while dealing with defective drug altered genes. He would be better off time with them now rather than trying to arrange visiting rights to see them in juvy when they grow up. Lube Matt up if you want, it's is your business what you two do with each other in the closet.

pmrmd - 11/21/2015 7:39:41 AM

+2 Boost

Hard to tell. Caddy looks good but the screen is a little small by current standards

valhallakey - 11/21/2015 8:10:48 AM

+4 Boost

Steering wheel - Lexus wins, the Cadillac wheel looks goofy as do most of GM steering wheels / Center console - Lexus very nice detailing / Overall dash are - Cadillac, Lexus looks overly busy and cluttered, although I still like buttons over a screen because you don't necessarily have to look to push a button / Seats - Tie / Door trim - Cadillac, the non plasticy looking wood is nice.

atc98092 - 11/21/2015 8:35:23 PM

+1 Boost

I had the same thought. Something about the Lexus dash looks off, and cluttered seems to fit. I also much prefer the screen within the dash, not something sticking on top.

I'd still have to see them both in person to tell.

Vette71 - 11/21/2015 9:57:59 AM

+1 Boost

Interior overall... XT5. More "elegance = simplicity". XT5 appears less cluttered than the RX with built in screen, and simpler controls. XT5 has a warmer more inviting interior with the wood and again less "clutter" in the contrast between the light and dark elements of the seats and doors and dash. XT5 has the sense inside and out of "old money" ala Bentley, et.al., while the RX screams "nouveau riche".

mre30 - 11/21/2015 10:22:29 AM

+5 Boost

Cadillac interior is better, IMO.

Unrelated question - is Cadillac changing the name of the XTS full size sedan? Major marketing confusion predicted, between the XT5 SUV and the XTS sedan if that doesn't happen.

I heard that Cadillac is keeping the XTS sedan around with the launch of the new CT5 sedan, since its a cash cow - Impala platform is cheap to make - for the livery and "seniors" market. Any news on Cadillac's plans for the existing XTS sedan?

Agent00R - 11/21/2015 10:48:35 AM

+3 Boost

Given that the XTS is being snapped up by livery drivers I wouldn't be surprised if they keep it in production. I assume the company will be changing its nomenclature to make every model in the portfolio "fall in line."

MDarringer - 11/21/2015 10:50:16 AM

+2 Boost

The CT6 effectively replaces the XTS. The CT6 is NOT--as has been reported--their S Class challenger.

I predict the XTS will disappear shortly after the CT6 arrives.

The strategy at Cadillac seems to be to go against the E Class and 5 Series with a slightly larger vehicle: the CT6. The pricing info puts it squarely in the E Class 5 Series segment.

I predict that the CTS and ATS will be replaced by a CT4 built off the ATS platform and that it will be slightly larger than the C Class and 3 Series.

That will then allow the FWD/AWD CT2 to be placed against the CLA and 1 Series.

MDarringer - 11/21/2015 10:45:12 AM

+3 Boost

Both are strange and discordant, but overall I prefer the Cadillac.

The center stack of the Lexus seems to be sagging to the left as if something is structurally wrong with it.

In the Cadillac, the cap on top of the dashboard is awkward and strange. It looks like an afterthought, but then it ends before creating symmetry with the infotainment screen.

My problem with both of them is that they are busy looking as if 50 designers each designed a few square inches of the the dashboard and all of those parts were smashed together so no one's feelings would be hurt.

Agent00R - 11/21/2015 10:49:52 AM

+6 Boost

I like the XT5's interior much better than the Lexus'.

If I wanted a BMW-inspired interior, I'd just go buy a BMW and be done with it.

800over - 11/21/2015 10:54:00 AM

-1 Boost

Everything you need to know is in the last shot of the Cadillac's hatch. Ill fitting plastic parts.

Agent00R - 11/21/2015 5:50:54 PM

+3 Boost

Perhaps I need new glasses but the plastics are flush from what I am seeing.

MrEE - 11/21/2015 3:28:10 PM

0 Boost

XT5 dash instrumental looks like belongs in a Chevy but may be fine with their target demographic. Shifter may confound owners and lower steering wheel controls are badly positioned. RX clearly more ergonomic and functional.

FormerBenz - 11/22/2015 3:16:14 PM

+1 Boost

The Lexus interior mirrors its exterior, fussy, complex and ugly.

wileyz - 11/21/2015 4:00:19 PM

+1 Boost

Caddy, but they should have put in a larger nav screen and I hope those lower steering wheel buttons aren't heavily needed.

nguyenvuminh - 11/21/2015 4:41:29 PM

+2 Boost

00R - stop threatening and just ban AnimeJapan and GMCadillac.

Agent00R - 11/21/2015 5:51:18 PM

+2 Boost

GMCadillac was taken care of.

Runamukk - 11/21/2015 11:34:35 PM

+3 Boost

JDMuscle=GMCaddillac=AnimeJapan

Agent00R - 11/22/2015 5:54:08 PM

+1 Boost

No kidding ;)

cidflekken - 11/22/2015 3:21:15 AM

+3 Boost

Cadillac XT5. Modern. Sleek. Attractive. Nothing more needs to be said about it.

The Lexus is stuck in the 90's. It didn't just take one step backwards, it took about 3. The outgoing model's dashboard was actually very attractive and modern.

david999 - 11/23/2015 11:07:42 AM

0 Boost

Caddy interior with it's minimalist styling misses the mark, especially with the small screen. Overall I prefer the look of the Lexus interior.