Price and Trims
Cadillac has not released exact pricing ahead of the XT5’s arrival, which is scheduled for late this summer. The current 2019 XT5 has a starting price of roughly $42,000, though this easily crests $65,000 for a fully-loaded model with the optional V6 engine, all-wheel drive, and Platinum package. Expect the 2020 model model year XT5 to stay close to this price structure, if not a bit more exepensive.
In terms of trims, Cadillac has refined the choices to mirror the available trims used in the smaller XT4 and larger XT6. Moving up from the base Luxury model, a Cadillac customer can veer towards the Premium Luxury or Sport trims. Either of these can also be fitted with the Platinum package.
Exterior Styling
At a glance, even we’d be hard pressed to quickly differentiate a 2020 XT5 from the outgoing 2019 model year. Exterior changes include revised front and rear bumpers, a new front grille design that mimics the style and pattern found on the XT4 and XT6, and updated wheel choices extending from 18- to 20-inches in diameter. All trim levels now receive LED headlights as standard equipment. Sport models have black exterior trim on the front grille, side window surrounds, and lower trim pieces.
Interior Design
The big changes in the cabin center around the updated infotainment system, but we’ll get to that in a moment. There is seating for up to five people onboard, and the XT5 now includes heated front seats as standard equipment. Cadillac says the three main trim levels now have more differentiation between what materials were used in each one. One new styling flourish is an available Jet Black and Kona Brown premium leather interior that extends to the seats, armrests, and through to the door panels.
Infotainment System
This is where the XT5 needed some help. Early versions of Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system were notoriously finicky and the touch screen-intensive controls were hard to use while driving. With this in mind, Cadillac fitted the 2020 XT5 with a control knob on the center console. This allows the infotainment system to be controlled directly via the 8-inch touch screen or via the new controller. It’s an added degree of flexibility that should prove more intuitive to use. A dedicated knob for volume control is also located on the center console and features a side-to-side toggle function to quickly change songs.
Tech Features
All trim levels come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There are USB and fast-charging USB-C outlets. Available features include wireless device charging, one touch phone pairing, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot, and Bose Performance Series audio system.
Front Seats
The seats remain mostly the same for the XT5, which is good since the 2019 XT5’s seats were noted for their space and comfort. One big change is that Cadillac made heated front seats standard on the 2020 XT5. Leatherette seating surfaces are standard, though you can outfit the cabin entirely in leather. If you’d rather cool down than heat up, Cadillac offers ventilated seats as an option.
Rear Seats
There is ample space in the second row of the XT5 for adults. The 60/40 split seats slide and recline to create even more room and comfort options. Buyers can also choose to order heated outboard rear seats in their XT5.
Cargo Space
There is a total of 30.2 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second-row and 64 cubic feet when those seats are folded. This is about average for a midsize luxury SUV, though the sliding rear seat does help to quickly add extra cargo room when you need it. A power liftgate is standard and a hands-free liftgate is available.
Powertrain
The base engine for the 2020 XT5 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 237 horsepower. This is the same engine that sees duty in the smaller XT4. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. The only exception to that is the Sport trim, which is automatically fitted with all-wheel drive and the available 3.6-liter V6.
The 310-horsepower V6 engine used to be the only motor you could get in the XT5. and has plenty of power when you need it. No matter which engine or drive format you choose, all XT5s are fitted with a nine-speed automatic transmission that replaces the outgoing model’s eight-speed unit.
Fuel Economy
At the moment, there are no EPA-certified mileage figures for the 2020 Cadillac XT5. However, the previous XT5, fitted with the same 3.6-liter V6 that’s available in the new model, returned 19 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive dropped both numbers by exactly 1 mpg. In the smaller front-wheel-drive XT4, the turbo-four now used in the XT5 delivers 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Keep in mind that the XT4 is considerably smaller and lighter than the XT5, so expect the XT5’s numbers to be slightly lower.
Ride and Handling
Cadillac says the engine and ride quality of the XT5 have been improved to provide a quieter and more isolated feel in the Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels. Things get a little spicier with the Sport model thanks to a quicker steering ratio and more aggressive programming of the throttle and transmission shift points. Still, the emphasis here is on comfort and not corner-carving driving thrills.
Safety Features
For the 2020 model year, the Cadillac XT5 comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, rear seat reminder, and rearview camera.
Available safety features include blind spot monitors, night vision, a surround-view camera, parking assist, rear pedestrian detection, and a head-up instrument display. At the moment, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 has not been crash tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Towing
When fitted with the optional 310-horsepower V6 and trailering package, the 2020 XT5 can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds.
Competition
Rivals to the Cadillac XT5 include premium SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Lexus RX, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln Nautilus, and Land Rover Discovery. There is a lot of competition out there, so it was imperative for Cadillac to keep the XT5 fresh and modern.
Availability and Production
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 arrives late this summer. Production takes place at GM’s factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
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Cadillac Sharpens and Refines Their Midsize Luxury SUV
The Cadillac XT5 is a luxury midsize SUV that, until the introduction of the smaller XT4 and three-row XT6, was Cadillac’s only car-based SUV – the Escalade is based on a full-size truck platform. This meant the XT5 had to be lots of things to the widest audience possible, particularly as more and more shoppers flock to SUVs.
The XT5, Cadillac’s most popular global model, gets a modest exterior makeover and much more substantial changes beneath the sheet-metal for its 2020 redesign. This includes a new base engine, more safety and tech features, an improved infotainment system, and additional color and trim choices. The question now is whether these modifications are enough to keep the XT5 at the top of many shopping lists, while also reducing the sales pressure it had before being book-ended by two new Cadillac-badged luxury SUVs.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about the refreshed Cadillac XT5.