At the heart of the Cadillac XT5 is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 237 horsepower and a robust 258 lb-ft of torque. Owners wanting a little more power can opt for a 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 engine, the same unit that powers Cadillac's ATS sedan. In the XT5, the engine is rated at 310 horsepower. Even with the V6, the XT5 is plenty fuel efficient, thanks to modern advances in technology. Start/stop tech allows the engine to shut off in traffic, while cylinder deactivation allows two of the cylinders to shut down when the engine is only at part throttle. Power is sent to either the front wheels or to all four wheels via a refined 8-speed automatic, the only transmission option.
The XT5 comes in three different trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. All but Premium Luxury are driven by the front wheels as standard, but all-wheel drive is available on those trims. The base model comes equipped with most of the features one would expect on a $45,000 vehicle. Standard items include an 8-speaker Bose stereo, Cadillac's CUE infotainment system, an 8-inch color touchscreen, an 8-way power adjustable front driver's seat, SiriusXM satellite radio, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start and a 5.7-inch color driver information center in the instrument panel. Exterior features include 18-inch wheels, roof rails, heated mirrors, and a power rear liftgate.
Premium Luxury adds vented front seats, a 14-speaker Bose sound system, computer-controlled performance suspension, 20-inch aluminum wheels, LED headlamps, illuminated exterior door handles, a navigation system and additional interior lighting.
The top-of-the-line Sport trim comes standard with the bigger V6 engine and all-wheel drive. As the name would suggest the Sport model is tuned for a more performance-oriented driving style with quicker steering and a slightly stiffer suspension setup for a bit less roll in the corners. Thankfully, the comfortable ride is maintained in the Sport as it makes use of active dampeners to provide the best of both worlds when it comes to the ride/handling tradeoff. The Sport trim also looks the part with darker exterior trim pieces to help the vehicle look a bit more menacing, aided by the standard 20-inch wheels.
Attractive Styling
Luxurious Ride
Powerful V6 Engine, Refined Driving Experience
Innovative Technology
The Cadillac XT5 gets a substantial refresh for the 2020 model year. The biggest change is a new base engine, turbocharged 4-cylinder unit that joins the V6 in the XT5 lineup. The new engine gets slightly better fuel economy, but if owners still want the power of the old V6, it's still available. The other big change for 2020 is to the car's infotainment system which gets the latest generation of software running on a system with an improved rotary controller, better phone pairing, a wireless charger and improved resolution for the gauge cluster. The changes were big enough that the entire center console was redesigned for this year. In addition, a new safety feature labeled Rear Pedestrian Alert has been added as standard, as have heated front seats.
The XT5 is a mid-sized crossover vehicle starting at just under $39,000. At this price point it competes with other luxury crossovers such as the BMW X5 and Audi Q5, both of which it handily undercuts in price. The Cadillac XT5 creates a refined driving atmosphere with its swanky interior and smooth-revving V6 engine. Looking as expensive as cars costing far more, the XT5 is a fantastic value for those needing both space and luxury with a little more ground clearance than what a traditional luxury car can provide.
