2020 Cadillac XT5

Cadillac is up with its new generation of crossover, replacing the long-running SRX, which begins with XT5. Debuted in November 2015 at Dubai Motor Show and LA Auto Show, The new Cadillac XT5 seems like a promising new Crossover Utility Vehicle.

With a starting price of $44095, it manages to provide the best value for money SUV which delivers as it advertises. With better mileage figures and updated styling, Cadillac is making a confident comeback in every segment. 

The SUV is being offered in three trim levels. There are both Front-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive options available. Both of them are being offered in three trim levels: Base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum. Among these, the Base trim is available only in FWD and the Platinum trim is offered only in the AWD drivetrain option.

With plenty of features being offered in all the trims, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto being offered as standard in all the trims with 8-inch LCD touchscreen. The Climate control buttons have new tactile feedback. Rearview camera is also the standard option in all the trims.

Trims	Luxury(FWD)	Premium Luxury	Sport(AWD)
MSRP(Front Wheel Drive)	$45,090	$49,790	--
MSRP(All Wheel Drive)	$47,190	$51,790	$56,090
Engine	2.0L Turbo I4 engine	2.0L Turbo I4 Engine	3.6L V6 Engine
Features	Forward Collision Alert	All the features in Luxury added or replaced and :	All the features in Premium Luxury added or replaced and:
	Rotary Controller with jog functionality	Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert	Sport Control AWD
	18-inch Multispoke wheels	18-inch Split spoke wheels	20-inch 12 spoke wheels
	LED Headlamps with IntelliBeam	Hands-Free Liftgate	Wireless Charging
	Bose 8-Speaker Premium Audio System	Bose-14 speaker Studio Surround System
	Heated Driver And Front Passenger Seats	Heated Steering Wheel
	60/40 sliding and reclining seats
	Driver Information Center display

Additionally from this year onwards Cadillac has provided a lot of add-on packages for all kinds of upgrades related to aesthetics, performance, and usability. With the option to choose as per your need, you can easily customise your Cadillac with your kind of taste. This is a part of Cadillac’s new Y-strategy to focus more towards customers request and demand.

Package	Platinum Package	Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package	Driver Assist Package	Cargo Convenience Package	Illumination Package	Premium Carpet Package	Floor Liner Package	Interior Protection Package
MSRP	$4850	$2275	$1300	$995	$750	$430	$350	$280
Features	Premium Carpeted Floormats	Rear Camera Mirror with washer	Automatic seat belt-tightening	Roof Rack Cross rails	Illuminated cargo sill plate	Premium Carpeted Floormats	All-weather cargo area tray	All-weather cargo area
	Tri-zone Automatic Climate Control	8-inch diagonal Driver Information Center	Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control	Assist steps	Illuminated front-door sill plates	PremiumCarpeted cargo mat	All-weather floor liners	All-weather floor mats
	Rear Camera Mirror Washer	Automatic Parking Assist with braking	Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
	20-inch alloy wheels	Heads-up display	Reverse Automatic Braking
	Semi-Aniline leather seating
	Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and door trims
	Chassis Damping Control

We recommend

While base XT5 is decently equipped, the XT5 Luxury brings amenities like real leather upholstery and sunroof befitting the premium badge and this is the trim we recommend. While higher trims pack more equipment, their asking price creeps closer to better products including some German rivals.

Under the hood of this new Cadillac SUV lies two engine options: a 310 hp 3.6L Naturally Aspirated V6 mated exclusively with an 8-Speed Automatic and a 2.0L turbocharged inline four pot which pumps out 237 horses. The engine delivers abundant and effortless performance for any driving situation. However, if the 2.0L engine doesn't feel as exciting as some of the rivals. The 3.6L will surely fulfill the go-faster need for the 2020 Cadillac XT5. This powerful motor has been shifted to the highest trim which makes the XT5 accessible to a wider audience. Kudos to Cadillac to listening to its audience.

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (AWD)
MSRP	$49,790	$43,600	$44,100	$42,450
Engine	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD	FWD	AWD
Transmission	9-Speed Shiftable Automatic	9-Speed Shiftable Automatic	CVT	8-Speed Shiftable Automatic
Power	237hp@5,000rpm	252hp@5,500rpm	268hp@5,600rpm	250hp@5,500rpm
Torque	258lb-ft@1,500rpm	295lb-ft@3,000rpm	280lb-ft@4,400rpm	258lb-ft@1,500rpm

In terms of sheer power INFINITI QX50 Essential tops the list with the Buick Envision following closely behind. The Volvo and Cadillac come in at last with XT5 trailing the pack. All the four are priced very competitively as well.

Acceleration

The Cadillac XT5 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. That may not translate to a neck-snapping acceleration but this Cadillac Crossover is engineered to munch miles in a fast and relaxed manner. If you desire a more fun-to-drive luxury SUV, checkout the BMW X5.

As you might have expected by now, the XT5 might offer slower acceleration than the competition, because of the less powerful engine. Cadillac does a 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, compared to sub-6 second timings achieved by other cars. The engine provides enough power to the crossover making it sweep across the tight corners and highways. 

With the help of new 9-speed transmission, it provides better efficiency than the outgoing one. Due to this, we get quicker and linear  acceleration as the gear ratios are closely coupled which results in quicker shifts. Although the acceleration is not aggressive but it is enough to keep you vigilant. The AWD variant is capable of clocking less quarter mile time.

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (AWD)
0-60 MPH	6.6 sec	6.4 sec	6.4 sec	6.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.3 sec	14.9 sec	15.0 sec
Top Speed	125 MPH	130 MPH	132 MPH	137 MPH
Engine	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4	2.0L Turbo Inline-4

Infiniti QX50 does 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds and surprisingly all other put up same timings including Buick and Volvo. 

The Buick Envision and Infiniti Essential would have an edge over the others with its superior performance. The Cadillac with Front wheel drive and least power would most probably clock in the slowest!Guess we would have to patiently wait till the numbers are out. 

Ride and Handling

The Cadillac XT5 steering and suspension is tuned to give a firm but pliant ride and confident inspiring handling. The XT5 maintains rock solid composure at high speeds and the supple suspension keeps the harshness and noise at bay. The precise steering means you can actually have fun with this caddy. However, steering lacks any feel and if you are looking for engagement, this caddy isn't one of the ones to look upto.

Around the turns, the XT5 feels sharp and in proper control. The crossover has got a few tricks up its sleeve to save some fuel. The V6 engine shuts down its two cylinders when extra power is not needed.The engine is quiet and you don’t hear the growling unless you push hard on that pedal. It stays calm on the busy roads but might scare the crap out of your cat if you put paddle to the metal.

Braking

The Cadillac XT5 gets 13.4-inch brake rotors up front and 12.4-inch rotors at the back. Despite weighing the least among cars compared here, The XT5 takes 111 feet to stop from 60 mph to a standstill. To consider, that's the smallest distance against the competition. 

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (AWD)
Brake Rotors Front	13.6"	12.6"	13"	13.6"
Brake Rotors Rear	12.4"	12.4"	12.13"	12.6"
Curb Weight	3915.4 lbs	4083 lbs	3896 lbs	4105 lbs
60-0 MPH	111 ft	127 ft	114 ft	116 ft

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 with FWD drivetrain delivers 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. That’s impressive considering the power this Cadillac small SUV has in reserve. Optioning the AWD only has a marginal 1 mpg impact on city mpg figure. Also, the XT5 uses cheaper regular fuel instead of the premium fuel that’s recommended for the rivals.

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (AWD)
MPG (City)	18	20	23	20
MPG (Highway)	26	25	29	27
MPG (Combined)	21	22	26	23
Fuel Capacity	19.4 gallons	17.3 gallons	16.0 gallons	18.8 gallons
Range (City/Hwy/Combined)	407/543/415 miles	346/433/380 miles	368/464/416 miles	376/508/432 miles
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	8.0	8.0	6.6	7.7

This is one place where the Cadillac loses big time against the rivals. With a combined fuel economy of 21mpg, which is the lowest of the lot. Infiniti manages to put the best fuel efficiency numbers of 26mpg combined followed by Volvo with 23mpg combined.

The cabin is really spacious because of the longer wheelbase. The floor is flat for the rear middle seat so that’s something good. The legroom for both the front and rear seats is good enough for you to relax. It comes with reclining rear seats in an optional interior package. While the front seats are 8-way power adjustable bucket seats. The middle seat in the rear also houses the two cup holders for the rare passengers along with the armrest.

The spacious front power adjustable seats provide excellent support and this combined with the superb sound deadening to make this a capable long-distance liner. However, while the rear seats provide excellent legroom and headroom, they are narrow. Other than that, the cabin is well appointed and fits the luxury badge.

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (AWD)
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.7/58.3/41.2	40.0/57.0/40.9	40.0/57.9/39.6	38.0/58.2/41.5
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.7/56.3/39.0	38.5/55.8/37.5	38.4/57.1/38.7	38.0/56.3/38.0

As the Cadillac features the longer wheelbase, it comes out to be a spacious car. With more than average space in both seating rows, it even overshadows the Volvo in terms of more spacious experience. Although it does lags behind the Buick and Infiniti as both these cars provide the best cabin space of the lot.

Infotainment

All XT5's get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration as Standard. Audiophiles will be happy to know that an 8-speaker Bose Audio system is standard. To satisfy the Technocrat inside of you, Cadillac is offering the XT5 with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot as Standard as well to keep you connected  with the Internet world on the move as well.

Infotainment Features

• 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen
• Rotary controller with jog functionality
• Bose 8-speaker system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• NFC compatible
• Bluetooth phone connectivity
• Cadillac 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
• Sirius XM Radio

Interior Features

• 60/40 Rear foldable seats
• 8-way power driver seat
• 6-way power front passenger seat
• Heated steering wheel
• Aluminium Brushed Decor trim
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Heated Driver and passenger seats

Cargo

Cargo volume in the Cadillac XT5 is better than the predecessor and most of the current rivals. With all seats up, the XT5 offers 30.2 cubic feet of luggage capacity. While that’s at par with the size offered by the rivals. However, the XT5 does have a trick hidden storage space beneath the false floor. Folding the 40/20/40 split seats reveal 63 cubic feet of luggage space.

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum (AWD)
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	30.2	26.9	31.1	29.7

Talking about the weight of the Cadillac XT5, it comes with a curb weight of 3915 lbs. and gross weight of 6001 lbs. Length of the car is the longest of the rival cars. With a few inches more than the QX50 and XC60 at 189.6 inches. The width of the car is similar to Infinity at 74.4 inches. Cadillac used a lot of chrome to style the XT5. With a huge front grill filled with chrome surely shines from a long distance to make its presence felt. This style has been adapted from the XT4 and XT6 to bring in a unified design structure.

Models	Cadillac XT5 Luxury	Buick Envision Premium 2(AWD)	INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL	Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum  (AWD)
Curb Weight	3915.4 lbs	4083 lbs	3896 lbs	4105 lbs
Length	189.6"	183.7"	184.7"	184.6"
Width	74.9"	72.4"	74.9"	78.7"
Height	66.1"	66.8"	66.0"	65.3"
Ground Clearance	7.8"	7.7"	8.6"	8.5"
Wheelbase	112.5"	108.3"	110.2"	112.8"

The XT5 features the longest wheelbase of 112.5 inches. While Volvo comes out to be the heaviest of the lot with a whooping 4105 pounds. Followed by Buick with marginal difference. Having a shorter wheelbase, the Buick tends to be nimble and easy to use around corners.

Exterior features

• 18-inch multi spoke alloy wheels
• LED Headlamps with front park and cornering lamps
• Aluminium roof rails
• Hands-free power tailgate with programmable height
• Capless fueling system
• Distinctive Cadillac specific grille
• Floating Headlamps

The Cadillac XT5 gets advanced active safety features and driver assistance system bundled in packages. It is said to offer the best in class safety features and adhering to this are the safety ratings by top testing agencies. Although, the ratings for this year are not available yet. But taking in consideration from last year where It was awarded an overall 5-star rating by NHTSA, it is supposed to keep holding onto the record. 

Safety Features

• Rear camera
• 7 Airbags
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Following Distance Indicator
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Alert
• Safety Alert Seat

Buick Envision Premium 2

 Although Buick offers a more powerful machine with 252 horsepower on tap and a tempting price of $ 43600. Still it loses out on providing a premium feature list and also the comfort levels are not upto the mark which is abundant in the Cadillac. Driving dynamics and efficiency also gets affected due to weight being heavier than the Cadillac. On the other hand, Cadillac does offer a much better package by improving according to customer feedback. 

INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL

Biggest plus point of Infiniti is the more powerful engine. It also holds many features as standard which makes it a worthy contender. Driving dynamics does get affected due to the sluggish CVT transmission compared to the 9-speed automatic of the Cadillac which is way more smooth. But the transmission on the QX50 does make up for much better gas mileage. It does lose onto the interior space compared to the XT5. while both crossovers feature their own plus and negatives. Infiniti does make up for a cheap and reliable option with ample power available to push you into the seat everytime you floor the accelerator pedal. On the other hand, Cadillac would only win over your mind if you want a piece of american fanboy style.

 Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum

The XC60 is both cheap and more powerful than the Cadillac’s eco loving offering. It also features a beautifully laid out interior. Being a heavy vehicle it does require the All wheel drive transmission setup to perform up to its competitors. On the other hand, the weight also helps in the handling department. Main USP of Volvos is their utterly reliable which Cadillac does lack a lot. 

The new Cadillac XT5 is a genuine alternative to some of the more expensive German and Japanese rivals with its upscale and luxuriously appointed interior and abundant power in reserve. It will also stand out in the parking lot with its crisply designed exterior drawing plenty of inspiration from the Cadillacs of the 60s. 

However, it’s not without caveats. The engine lacks outright performance to match the rivals, while the interior is full of interesting details, some may find it cluttered. There is no hybrid powertrain on offer too. Still, if you want a luxurious vehicle with a luxury brand at a relatively affordable price, the Cadillac XT5 will impress.