The Cadillac XT5 is a solid offering in the luxury midsize SUV class. It costs less than most competitors, has an upscale and roomy interior, and comes well equipped. But it doesn’t stand out in this segment because most rivals offer more luxury and better performance.
Base Price: $55,895
As Tested: $69,765
Horsepower: 310
Mileage: 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway/21 mpg combined
Cadillac introduced the XT5 for the 2017 model year and it’s been the best-selling Caddy since then. For 2022, the XT5 gets only minor changes.
It comes in Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport trims. Starting prices range from $43,995 to $55,895, which is low for the class. But the price can climb quickly with options. Front-wheel-drive is standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims. All-wheel-drive is standard on the Sport trim, and available on the other two trims for $2,000. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Sport trim gets a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 310 horses and 271 pound-feet. This engine is optional in the Premium Luxury trim. Both engines are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
My Sport tester has the V6. While the XT5 doesn’t have the sportiest handling, it does have pleasant driving dynamics and performs competently in daily driving situations. Acceleration is decent, and the XT5 can easily speed up for merging and passing at freeway speeds. However, you will have to press hard on the accelerator and there’s some noticeable engine noise. The XT5 corners well without a lot of body lean. The nine-speed shifts smoothly and quickly. The ride is smooth even over rough roads. Visibility is good to the front but hampered to the rear due to the slim rear window.
Fuel efficiency is about what you’d expect for an AWD luxury SUV. EPA ratings for my AWD tester are 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with a combined rating of 21. I got 21 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
When properly equipped, the XT5 can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
The cabin isn’t as luxurious or as quiet as some rivals but it’s attractive. Some materials have an upscale look and feel, while others look a bit bargain basement. Controls are logically laid out and easy to reach. Seats are roomy and comfortable. Front passengers enjoy good leg- and headroom. Two adults will fit comfortably in the rear seats, although taller passengers may wish for more headroom. The rear seats slide and recline so passengers can adjust the settings to their liking.
Standard features include push button start, remote start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, sliding and reclining rear seats, infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen, eight-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, rear seat reminder, safety alert seat (which pulses to identity the direction of a potential crash so the driver can take action), and Teen Driver (which lets you set speed and audio limits for your teen drivers.)
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, rear camera mirror, tri-zone automatic climate control, real leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, 14-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, wireless device charging, rear-seat entertainment system, and sunroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, front pedestrian braking, and front and rear parking sensors.
Available driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, rear pedestrian alert, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and night vision assist which uses infrared imaging to “see” humans, animals, and other moving vehicles.
The infotainment system with its Cadillac User Experience (CUE) interface is one of the most user-friendly systems that’s available these days. Menus make sense and you can use the touchscreen, a rotary controller, steering wheel controls and/or your voice for commands. However, the system’s response isn’t always snappy, and the touchscreen is only eight inches, which is on the small side for a luxury vehicle, and it can be tough to see in bright sunshine.
Cargo space is average for the class. There are 30 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 63 cubes with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate is standard, and a hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
Pleasant driving dynamics
Roomy, comfortable cabin
Costs less than many rivals
Lots of standard and available features and tech
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Not as athletic as competitors
Interior not as luxurious as many rivals
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $55,895. The Platinum Package is $3,650 and adds semi-aniline leather seating surfaces in all rows, leather-wrapped trim, premium carpeted floor mats, and illuminated front door sill plates. The Technology Package is $2,275 and adds HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, rear camera mirror with washer, eight-inch color gauge cluster with driver personalization, color head-up display and automatic parking assist with braking. Night vision is $2,000. The Driver Assist Package is $1,300 and includes adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, and auto seat belt tightening. The Comfort and Air Quality Package is $1,200 and adds tri-zone climate control, ventilated driver and front passenger seats, heated rear outboard seats, and an air ionizer. The Cadillac User Experience with embedded navigation and 14-speaker Bose audio system is $1,025. Dark Moon Blue Metallic paint is $625. 20-inch wheels with 12-spoke diamond cut alloy with dark android satin finish pockets are $600. Destination charge is $1,195 bringing the grand total to $69,765.
Bottom line:
The 2022 Cadillac XT5 is a nice ride and will appeal to those wanting a midsize luxury SUV from an American brand. It doesn’t have the performance or the sheer luxury of some rivals, but it comes well equipped and has a lower price tag than many rivals.
