2020 Cadillac XT5 Review

　　

2020 Cadillac XT5 Review

byWill KaufmanSenior Editor and Content Strategist, CarMax

　　Will Kaufman has worked in the automotive industry since 2017. He has written hundreds of car-related articles and reviews over the course of his career. Will is a senior editor and content strategist for CarMax at zzdcar. Will has been featured in the Associated Press and a number of major outlets on the topics of infotainment and vehicle data, vehicle subscription services and autonomous vehicles. Will started his career in online publishing by writing and editing standardized test guides, but he has a lot more fun writing about cars.

　　You have plenty of options when it comes to shopping for a midsize luxury SUV. Cadillac, for its part, hopes that you pick its 2020 XT5, a five-passenger model that's one of its best-selling models. To that end, Cadillac has made a variety of updates to make it even more appealing.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Cadillac XT5 Luxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$196/mo  for XT5 Luxury

　　XT5 Luxury

　　Luxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $44,095 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $46,195 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $48,795 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $50,795 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A) - $55,095 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　On the inside, new color choices are available for the cabin, but the big change is the infotainment system, which is now Cadillac's latest. The touchscreen interface is still on the small side for the luxury class, but it features crisp graphics and a simple interface. Unlike some of the XT5's closest competitors, Cadillac's system has a very friendly learning curve.

　　Under the hood, there's a new 237-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that serves as the XT5's new base engine. It's down on power compared to the previously standard 310-hp V6, but it makes similar torque (258 lb-ft vs. 271 lb-ft). We've seen this engine in the XT4, so we know that peak torque comes on much sooner than with the V6. It should feel strong in everyday driving and provide a bit of a fuel-efficiency advantage.

　　Notable safety and convenience add-ons such as front parking sensors and LED headlights are now standard. There are some all-new optional features such as a night-vision system that's capable of highlighting pedestrians and large animals at night.

　　These improvements will help make the XT5 a better version of itself, and it remains a comfortable alternative to European offerings in the segment. Still, competition remains stiff, with crossover offerings from the highly luxurious Mercedes-Benz GLC to the sporty and smartly designed Acura RDX. Lincoln's new Nautilus is another intriguing choice. Ultimately, other offerings make a stronger impression in terms of dynamics and luxury, but Cadillac's XT5 could still be worth a look.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the XT5 drive? The Cadillac XT5 has usable performance for everyday driving. Our test vehicle had the V6 and all-wheel drive. The V6 engine is strong, but you'll need to firmly press on the gas pedal to get it going. In zzdcar testing, our test XT5 did 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is an average time for a midsize luxury SUV. The transmission is smooth and downshifts appropriately when needed.

　　Around turns, the XT5 is coordinated and compliant. As an SUV, it doesn't exactly encourage you to seek out winding roads, but it's competent enough once you're there.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the XT5? The XT5 is comfortable, but so are the others in this competitive luxury class. Seat comfort and a smooth ride are the highlights. The front seats have decent bolstering and offer plenty of adjustments, while the ride feels planted and is smooth during daily commutes.

　　The tri-zone climate control is nice to have, but it takes a little while to get going. It's the same for the heated and ventilated seats. Oddly, the XT5 isn't as quiet as it ought to be, particularly at low speeds. Around town, you'll hear engine accessory drive noises, creaking interior panels and slight wind noise.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The interior looks nice, and the controls are easy to understand. Cadillac uses an 8-inch touchscreen, which is now on the small size for a luxury vehicle. Having knobs for volume and menu selection helps with ease of use, but some buttons aren't always responsive.

　　The design of the XT5 compromises some visibility, primarily the rear three-quarter view and the narrow rear window. The XT5's driving aids such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are very helpful. And while the XT5 offers generous head- and legroom up front, it does not feel that spacious across the width of the cabin, particularly at the elbows.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The infotainment and technology included in the XT5 are competitive in its class. For example, the optional 14-speaker Bose audio system sounds crisp and powerful, and Bluetooth pairing is easy and straightforward. The XT5 also provides a useful number of charging ports for your devices.

　　The standard voice controls aren't the best, so we recommend using CarPlay or Android Auto. As for advanced safety systems, Cadillac gives you a few as standard, but you'll have to pay extra to access others, such as adaptive cruise control.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The XT5's fold-flat main cargo hold is well shaped and accommodating for a majority of items. It's definitely one of the better spaces in its class with 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats or 63 cubes with the seats folded. But the cargo floor's liftover height is a bit on the high side. The power liftgate allows you to program the height of the opening.

　　Sadly, small-item storage is lacking, particularly in the front of the cabin. The center console is not nearly as big inside as it appears, and door pockets are a bit on the small side. Front and rear cupholders are just big enough to fit a soda can. Car seat access is decent even though the anchors are tucked pretty tight in the crack of the seats. Towing capacity maxes out at 3,500 pounds even with the optional tow package, which is below average.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Cadillac XT5 AWD with the V6 has an EPA rating of 20 mpg combined (18 city/25 highway), which is on the lower end of fuel economy for the small and midsize crossover SUV classes. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, our test XT5 averaged 20.2 mpg. That's about where we'd expect it to be, so the EPA's estimates should be achievable.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the XT5 a good value? Adding options can significantly boost the XT5's price, but that's par for the course in the luxury SUV class. Considering what you're getting, there's some value in the XT5. The exterior looks decently upscale, and the interior materials feel better than in previous models but they're still below what most European rivals offer. The warranty stacks up with the rest of the competition.

　　

Wildcard

8.0/10

　　The XT5 is a nice-looking SUV that wears Cadillac's older styling theme. The newer XT6 makes the design look a lot fresher, but it's not a far removal from the XT5's design. It evokes the upscale personality that Cadillac's after. This SUV is well behaved day to day and enjoyable when you want to pick up the pace.

　　

Which XT5 does zzdcar recommend?

The Premium Luxury model adds safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, along with conveniences and luxuries such as a hands-free liftgate, wireless phone charging and power lumbar adjustment. It also has access to far more optional features, including driver aids, navigation and the V6 engine. If you're planning on adding all the powertrain options, though, it might be worth just skipping to the Sport model.

　　

2020 Cadillac XT5 models

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 comes in three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport.

　　The XT5 Luxury comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque), a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an optional upgrade.

　　Standard equipment includes an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Bose stereo system, power-adjustable front seats, simulated-leather upholstery, and more. Lane departure warning and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking are standard, but you'll need to move beyond the Luxury trim to get access to additional advanced driver aids.

　　Upgrading to the Premium Luxury gets you a few more extras such as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, leather upholstery, a hands-free liftgate, and automatic wipers. It also opens up access to a lot of options that aren't available on the Luxury, including the Sport trim's V6 engine and adaptive suspension dampers.

　　The Sport gets some exterior visual cues to make it look more aggressive than its luxury twin. And it comes standard with a V6 engine (310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque) with upgraded engine cooling, all-wheel drive and a sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers.

　　Optional features for the Premium Luxury and Sport models include a 14-speaker Bose stereo, navigation, ventilated front seats, and more. Adaptive cruise control and reverse automatic braking are available, along with a surround-view camera system, a rearview camera mirror, and even a night-vision camera. There's also the Platinum package that upgrades the XT5's upholstery and interior materials.

　　

2020 XT5 Highlights

Trim: LuxuryPremium LuxurySportLuxury

　　

Base MSRP	$44,095
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$196/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	30.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles