2020 Cadillac XT5 Performance

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 offers a comfortable and fairly composed ride, but its handling isn't as athletic as other SUVs in the class. Many rivals also offer stronger engines and better composure than the XT5. Fuel economy estimates are above average for the segment.

• "The Cadillac XT5 is the company's most popular model, but it can't match the driving engagement and luxury experience of similar compact crossovers. While the 2020 XT5 has the style and features to be mentioned in that conversation, its unremarkable performance and mediocre interior quality hold the Cadillac back. Still, the XT5 has redeemable qualities in terms of ride refinement, passenger comfort, and cargo space." -- Car and Driver
• "This SUV is well behaved day to day and enjoyable when you want to pick up the pace." -- Edmunds
• "For as much as we came to like about the styling of the XT5, there is a bit of a sore spot: driving it." -- Autoblog (2017)

Acceleration and Power

The base 2020 Cadillac XT5 features a new 237-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. A 310-horsepower V6, which was the sole engine in previous models, is available in upper trims. The V6 has plenty of power for your everyday driving duties, though it doesn’t stand up to some of the more powerful engines in the segment. The nine-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth, on-time shifts. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available.

The XT5 gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with the base engine, which is good for the luxury midsize SUV class. V6-powered models get slightly above-average estimates of 18/26 mpg city/highway.

• "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. … The transmission is smooth and downshifts appropriately when needed." -- Edmunds
• "In light-footed, day-to-day operation, we've found the Cadillac's V-6 to be impressively quiet and well isolated from the cabin. Under heavy throttle, however, the bigger engine's harshness makes itself known in a most unflattering way." -- Car and Driver

Handling and Braking

The 2020 XT5, like many models in the class, offers a placid ride – as long as it stays on smooth pavement. If you’re looking for a family vehicle that offers some thrills and quick steering, skip this SUV. That said, Cadillac has improved the XT5’s athleticism so it’s now competent and composed in corners. The all-new XT5 Sport trim further enhances performance, with features like standard all-wheel drive, steering assist, and an adaptive suspension.

• "The XT5's chassis, suspension and steering mate with the smooth V6 engine and smart 8-speed automatic transmission to deliver a driving experience that is much better than the old SRX." -- Autotrader
• "Encounter a twisty road and the XT5 can tackle it with confidence, although it won't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up even when equipped with the optional adaptive suspension. Body roll is well controlled and the XT5 feels substantial and planted, which is especially comforting on long highway slogs. Over rough stretches of broken pavement, however, our test vehicle felt jittery and allowed sharp impacts to reverberate through the cabin. Steering is accurate but lacks any visceral feedback—another missed opportunity to appeal to enthusiast drivers." -- Car and Driver
• "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." -- Edmunds