2020 Cadillac XT5 Sport Review and Test Drive

This week we are taking a look at the 2020 Cadillac XT5 luxury crossover SUV. The XT5 debuted in 2016 and was the replacement for the Cadillac SRX SUV. This is currently the best-selling Cadillac model in the U.S.

Exterior

The XT5 has the signature Cadillac look with vertical LED lights in the front, 20” wheels, and a large grill that gives the XT5 an aggressive look. A swooping roofline meets a rear spoiler just above the rear window.

Performance

Under the hood and you’ll find the very proven 3.6-liter V6 putting out 310-horses that is mated to an 9-speed automatic transmission that has very shift paddles. XT5 comes standard with front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive is optional, which is what I am reviewing this week. There is a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbo available for a little better fuel economy.

Interior

The XT5 comes in 3 trim levels, the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and the top-of-the-line Sport, which is my test model’s trim level.

Cadillac has always done a great job with their interiors and trims, and inside the XT5, you will find rich leather seating that is extremely soft and comfortable.

A bright, colorful dash greets you when you sit behind the power tilt steering wheel with controls. There is a large tachometer and speedometer, and in the middle is the driver information system that is controlled from the steering wheel and gives the driver a ton of information.

The center console has large hidden cup holders, and there is a place to charge your cellphone. You will also find the shifter, and you can change the drive modes from Touring, All-wheel drive, Sport, and Off-road. There are also shortcuts to audio and Bluetooth.

Above the shifter are the climate controls, heated front seat buttons, then just above that is the 8” color touchscreen that operates the Cadillac CUE system, which stands for Cadillac User Experience. It has been one of my favorite interface systems for years and it is even better now because you have a volume knob. You can use the system as a touch screen, or there is a round knob on the console if you prefer. CUE offers Wi-Fi and phone integration compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

From the driver’s seat, you also have a terrific head-up display, and if you hit a button on the inside rearview mirror, it becomes a rearview camera to give you a much wider view of what is behind you. It is a neat feature if people or cargo are blocking your rear view.

Utility

The back seat of the XT5 is spacious and built in a 60/40 configuration, and when folded down creates 63-cubic feet of cargo area.

Standard Features and Options

The XT5 Sport comes standard with everything you would expect from a loaded Cadillac. Most notable is the Bose stereo system with 8-speakers, heated front seats, a power moon roof, power hands-free liftgate, LED headlights and taillights, heated steering wheel, keyless entry, and remote start.

On the safety front, you get blind-spot monitoring, forward collision alert, forward automatic braking, safety alert seat, front and rear parking assist, and adaptive cruise control.

My tester has the Enhanced Visibility and Technology package which for $2275 is a surround vision camera, rear pedestrian alert, the head-up display, and a rear camera washer.

It also has two features I love…the rear seat reminder that will warn you when you get where you are going if you opened a rear door, and Teen Driver. This system lets you set parameters and even issues a report card on your teen driver.

Verdict

The XT5 handles, rides, and corners extremely well, and is incredibly quiet inside. Fuel economy is 18 in town and 25 on the highway, thanks to cylinder deactivation that cuts you down to 3 cylinders at cruising speeds.

If I have a complaint, it feels like you really have to push this SUV to get it going. I’d love to see the option of a turbocharger for the 3.6 V6.

The MSRP comes in at $59,340 which puts it in line with a lot of the luxury 5-Seat SUVs and under in many cases.