The first thing that catches you when you approach the XT5 is the sharp lines and sweeping curves meeting jewel-like headlamps for a styling you can’t help but notice, then smile. Stellar Black Metallic exterior encloses Maple Sugar with Jet Black accents interior, and rests on 20-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels, all together making for one incredible looking car.
Inside, Cadillac designers covered the cabin with authentic materials like cut-and-sewn leather, plus natural wood and carbon fiber trim for a beautifully rich feeling.
The 60/40-split rear seats can be folded flat to provide up to 63 cubic feet of cargo space so you don’t have to leave anything behind. The hands-free power liftgate helps you to load or unload cargo quickly and smoothly.
The Ultraview power sunroof spans both seating rows, providing every passenger with a clear view of the sky.
The base engine for the XT5 is a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine capable of producing 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, but also available on the Premium Luxury model is a 3.6L V6 which can put down 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is a 9-speed automatic for both engines. The number of gears will help optimizing the engine efficiency and gas mileage, together with Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation system.
The resulting fuel consumption for the 3.6L powertrain is rated at 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, for a combined average of 21 mpg. The 2.0L turbo engine is rated at 21/27/23.
The best feature for me was the Driver Mode Selector. With this feature you can adapt easily and quickly to any road condition.
Front-wheel drive models can choose from Snow/Ice, Touring, and Sport modes, while AWD models can select from Touring, Off-road, and Sport calibrations. Different driving dynamics can be called up with just some quick button presses.
XT5 responds well to changing driving conditions with quick adjustments to the suspension. Up to every 5 milliseconds, Chassis Damping Control adjusts the suspension damping, resulting in a more refined ride and handling.
The Cadillac User Experience (CUE) with Navigation infotainment system on the Premium Luxury model comes with an 8-inch color display, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto support, and Natural Voice Recognition. I thought the display was too small and over-taxed with choices.
Also standard on the Premium Luxury trim, Bose Performance Series 14-speaker system provided such a beautiful quality sound it was like magic, especially listening to the local symphony FM Radio Station.
There are numerous safety and security features like Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, to name just a few of what Cadillac offers.
XT5 is impressive and deserves the Cadillac brand and heritage, especially in the safety department. The 2023 AWD model was tested by NHTSA and given a 5-Star score in overall safety. It earned 5 stars in all frontal and side crash categories, only to earn 4 stars in the rollover test.
The MSRP for the XT5 starts at $44,195 for the FWD Luxury model. The Premium Luxury AWD model starts at $53,340, and adds $1,000 to pick the 3.0L engine. At the top of the ladder is the Sport AWD model listing at $58,490.
I would recommend the Technology Package for $2,275 that includes HD Surround Vision, 8″ color Driver Information Center, color Head-Up Display (HUD), Rear Pedestrian Alert, and Automatic Parking Assist with Braking.
Warranty
4 years/50,000 miles Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty
6 years/70,000 miles Powertrain Limited Warranty
6 years/unlimited miles Rust-Through Protection
6 years/70,000 miles Roadside Assistance Program
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or [email protected].
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