Compare the2026 Cadillac XT5VS 2026 Subaru Outback

The XT5 (except luxury’s) optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Outback doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the XT5 and the Outback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The XT5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Outback’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Outback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Outback ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The XT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Outback’s (6 vs. 5 years).

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XT5 has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Outback’s standard 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the XT5 has a standard 730-amp battery. The Outback’s 620-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 first among midsize premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Outback isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

The XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 55 more horsepower (235 vs. 180) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 178) than the Outback 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 50 more horsepower (310 vs. 260) than the Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The Outback doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outback (19.4 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Outback (21.7 vs. 18 gallons).

The XT5 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Outback doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the XT5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Outback:

For better traction, the XT5 has larger tires than the Outback (235/65R18 vs. 225/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT5 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Outback Wilderness. The XT5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Outback XT.

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Subaru Outback only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT5 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Outback doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT5’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the Outback (112.5 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT5 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Outback.

The XT5 has 1.1 inches more front hip room and .4 inches more front shoulder room than the Outback.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Outback doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The XT5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Outback uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The XT5’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Outback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Outback doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the XT5 and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XT5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outback prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

On a hot day the XT5’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The XT5’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Outback doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The XT5 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

The Cadillac XT5 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the overhead console. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Subaru charges extra for Homelink® on the Outback.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The Outback doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The XT5 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Outback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.