Cadillac’s compact five-passenger XT5 crossover utility vehicle returns for 2023 with no major changes and comes in three trim levels, with a starting price of $44,195 (plus $1,395 freight).
The XT5 base Luxury ($44,195) and midlevel Premium Luxury ($49,945) models still come with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which was introduced three years ago, while the top-of-the-range Sport ($57,095) comes with the 3.6-liter V-6. That engine is available on the Premium Luxury model for an additional $1,000.
Luxe and Premium Luxe come with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available for $2,000 more. The Sport model only comes with all-wheel drive.
For 2023, there are three new exterior colors: Radiant Red Tintcoat and Opulent Blue Metallic, both for an additional $625, and Argent Silver Metallic.
There is also a super-premium Crystal White Tricoat exterior for an additional $1,225, which was included with our 2023 XT5 Sport test vehicle.
Also new for 2023, the Cadillac User Experience with Navigation is now standard on Premium Luxury and Sport, and a compact spare tire is now standard across the line.
A year ago there were some changes, mainly to the Sport model. It was upgraded to Brembo front brakes, along with red front and rear calipers; and 20-inch, 12-spoke wheels with Pearl Nickel finish.
Other premium colors for the $625 price include Latte Metallic, Rosewood Metallic, Stellar Black Metallic, and Wilder Metallic (forest green). Last year, color-coded floor mats were added for both rows of seats.
The turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 237 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque. EPA ratings are 21 mpg city/28 highway/24 combined with front-wheel drive, or 21/26/23 with all-wheel drive.
Sport models have the naturally aspirated V-6, with 310 horsepower and 271 foot-pounds of torque.
A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models. It comes with Cadillac’s Electronic Precision Shift.
With the updates three years ago, all three trim levels received a new grille design, available in two textures. Cadillac says the Premium Luxury model emphasizes “bright finishes and contemporary decor,” while the Sport has a darker, more aggressive look.
Joining Cadillac’s lineup in place of the SRX in 2017, the XT5 is a stylish, car-like premium sport utility intended for a range of consumers from young families to empty nesters and retired baby boomers.
It seats up to five passengers, just like the SRX model it replaced. Early on, however, the SRX was offered with a third-row seat and room for up to seven people. But Cadillac now offers the larger XT6 with three rows of seats. There is also a smaller crossover than the XT5 called the XT4 that seats five passengers.
The XT5 comes on the same chassis as the latest generation of the GMC Acadia, although the Acadia is slightly longer and offers a third-row seat and can seat up to seven people. It is also the basis for the XT6.
XT5 was the first in Cadillac’s line of three new luxury crossovers. Next up was the XT4, followed for 2020 by the XT6. Cadillac also continues to offer the luxury full-size Escalade truck-based sport utility, which has a third-row seat option.
The V-6 engine features variable valve timing and active fuel management – a cylinder deactivation technology that automatically switches from six to four cylinders while driving to save gas.
EPA fuel economy estimates for the XT5 Sport are 18 mpg city/25 highway/20 combined. (For the front-wheel drive V-6, they are 18/26/21.)
On our test vehicle, the V-6 produced enough power for highway and city driving. We rode mostly with two adults on board, on a mix of interstates, local streets, and some hilly country roads.
The XT5 Sport can tow trailers weighing up to 3,500 pounds with the optional tow package, but we didn’t tow during our test.
Automatic engine stop/start is standard, stopping the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop in traffic and restarting it immediately when the driver releases the brake pedal. This is designed to conserve gasoline that would otherwise be wasted idling in traffic.
The four-wheel drive system has a dual clutch that helps to automatically send power to the correct wheels to prevent skidding. The system can transfer all available torque to the front or rear axle.
On the rear axle, the electronically controlled rear differential can send up to 100 percent of available torque to each wheel. A driver-selectable four-wheel drive declutch function directs all power to the front wheels to improve fuel economy.
While not designed for serious off-road use, the XT5’s four-wheel drive works well on fairly well-maintained gravel and dirt roads. However, the system does not have a low range for serious mountain climbing and descending.
The front bucket seats and outboard rear seats are quite comfortable, even for long road trips. But as usual in this class, the rear center position is best left for shorter adults or children.
In addition to the premium exterior color, our tester came with upgraded 20-inch, 12-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels with dark android satin pockets ($600).
We also had the Platinum package ($3,650), which brought Jet Black semi-aniline leather seats to both rows, along with a leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and door trim, premium front and rear floor mats, and illuminated front door sill plates.
The technology package ($2,275) added HD Surround Vision, the rear pedestrian warning system, an eight-inch color gauge cluster, a head-up display, automatic parking assist with brakes, and the rear-view camera-mirror system. It uses a camera to project an unobstructed view to the rear in the mirror at the top of the windshield, rather than the standard rear-view mirror image. It eliminates blind spots caused by headrests and body panels.
With this system, the driver always sees everything behind the car in the rearview mirror, rather than having that unobstructed view that a rearview camera system only provides when the vehicle is reversing. The driver can switch back to the standard mirror by flipping the lever under the mirror.
Other extras included Night Vision ($2,000); the Driver Assist Package ($1,300), with adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, and automatic seatbelts; and the Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control Package ($1,200), which includes ventilated front seats, heated outer rear seats, and air ionizer.
Standard this year is the Cadillac User Experience infotainment system with navigation, which featured an 8-inch color display and a 14-speaker Bose surround sound system.
Other standard features on the XT5 Sport include MacPherson strut front suspension and five-link rear suspension; electric power steering; four-wheel disc brakes with GM’s Duralife rotors; and an electronic parking brake.
Also included are heated front seats with 8-way power adjustment on the driver’s side and 6-way power adjustment on the passenger side, with 2-way power lumbar support on both sides; Apple CarPlay; an ultra-wide sunroof with electric sunshade; IntelliBeam LED headlamps (standard on all models); cornering lights; charging system for cordless telephones; keyless entry and push button start; and power tilt/telescopic heated steering wheel.
Wireless phone charging is located in a vertical slot in front of the center console, behind the gear lever. Just drop the phone into the slot and it will start charging. There is also a handy shelf/slot in the center lower dash where two smartphones can be stacked on top of each other.
The cargo area has 30 cubic feet of space with the rear seatbacks in place, or 63 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The tailgate is electrically operated and can be operated hands-free.
Standard safety features include the rear view camera system displayed on the dashboard; blind zone warning for both sides, with lane change warning (beeps if you start to change lanes with traffic in the adjacent lane); rear cross traffic alert; forward collision warning, with front pedestrian detection; lane keep assist with lane departure warning; for slow automatic braking and following distance indicator; and parking aid front and rear.
Other standard features include 4G LTE connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi; OnStar and satellite radio (subscription required for each); a memory system on the driver’s side; windshield wipers with rain sensor; two-zone automatic climate control; and an auto-dimming conventional rear-view mirror.
The total sticker price on our 2023 XT5 Sport was $70,740, including freight and options.
G. Chambers Williams III’s automotive columns have appeared regularly in the Express-News since 2000. Contact him at chambers@auto-writer.com or on Twitter @gchambers3. His driving partner Emma Jayne Williams contributed to this report.
2023 Cadillac XT5
The package: Compact, five-door, front or four-wheel drive, turbo four-cylinder or V-6 powered crossover utility vehicle.
Highlights: Cadillac’s compact crossover arrived for 2017 and replaced the SRX. It has bold styling along with many standard and optional features. All-wheel drive is available on all models (standard on Sport).
Negatives: No third row seat offered.
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine (Luxury, Premium Luxury models); 3.6-liter V-6 (Sport model; optional on Premium Luxury for $1,000).
Transmission: nine-speed automatic.
Power/torque: 237 hp/258 foot-pounds (2.0); 310 hp./271 foot-pounds (V-6).
Brakes, front/rear: disc/disc, anti-lock braking system.
Length: 189.5 inches.
Base Curb Weight: 3,915 lb (2WD); 4,257 pounds (AWD).
Cargo volume: 30.2 cubic feet (behind the rear seats); 63 cubic feet (rear seats folded).
Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs (V-6 only, with trailer package).
EPA fuel economy: 18 mpg city/26 highway/21 combined (V-6, 2WD); 25-18-20 (V-6, AWD); 21/28/24 (2.0-litre, 2WD); 21/26/23 (2.0, all-wheel drive).
Fuel Tank/Type: 19.4 Gallon (2WD) / 21.7 Gallon (AWD), Regular Unleaded.
Base price range: $44,195 – $57,095, plus $1,395 freight.
Price as tested: $70,740, including freight and options (2023 Sport model).
Major competitors: Lincoln Nautilus, Lexus NX, BMW X3, Infiniti QX50, Volvo XC60, Acura RDX.
Road rating: 8.7 (out of a possible 10).
The prices shown are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices; actual sales price may vary.