The 2020 Cadillac XT5 comes well appointed with many standard features, a spacious cabin, optimal driving dynamics and advanced safety features all wrapped up in a compact and classy package. This compact SUV is the younger brother of the slightly larger 2020 Cadillac XT6 and shares many features, design components and interior styling.
SHARP EXTERIOR
The sharp, clear-cut lines of the 2020 XT5 create a handsome yet aggressive exterior appearance, which is very different from the XT6. A large distinctive grille, that comes in a few variations depending on the model, chrome highlights, accent lines and unique LED headlights all come together to create a bold and modern look. The front end clearly screams Cadillac and luxury.
The LED jewel-like headlight design stays in keeping with the Cadillac design theory of thin vertical headlights. These headlights auto adjust high and low beams depending on oncoming traffic, while also optionally providing cornering lighting to light up the sides when going through turns.
The overall shape of the XT5 is pleasing and resembles the shape of the Ford Edge from the side profile. The rear end showcases the Cadillac style of tail lights, while combining this design with dual chrome exhausts a three quarter wide chrome splitter and a nice layering of sharp lines.
PLUSH INTERIOR
Stepping inside the bright interior of the 2020 Cadillac XT5, you are surrounded by soft touch, high quality materials that are all put together in a minimalistic design. You may also notice that the interior design is very similar, if not identical, to the interior of the larger 2020 Cadillac XT6. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing since the interior is quite pleasant, ergonomic and elegant. The two-tone white leather with black interior really helps to bring the interior up to a whole new level of luxury.
The 2020 XT5 is equipped with a high tech, user-friendly infotainment system which presents itself as a user-friendly tablet design. Touch screen controls, steering wheel mounted controls or an easy-to-reach rotary knob controller on center console reach can all be used to navigate the various features. With the infotainment controlled by the touchscreen and the minimalistic climate controls below, the dash can keep a clean and uncluttered look while also containing some interesting design cues to perk up the appearance.
An electronic shifter saves space on the center console while making the shifting and drive mode selection more efficient. However, storage for small items could be better, especially since the electronic shifter should create some space below the center console for larger item storage as well. Overall, the 2020 XT5 is spacious and has some of the best cargo capacity and passenger head and leg room in its class.
PERFORMANCE AND DRIVE
The 2020 XT5 drives as you would expect any Cadillac would – in a smooth, quiet and reassured way. Equipped with a 2.0L turbo charged 4-cylinder engine outputting 237hp, the base model of the XT5 is not short on power or torque. Upgrade to the optional 3.6L V6 turbo charged engine generating 310hp and you can have the full Cadillac driving experience complete with refined and controlled power, in addition to the quiet and smooth accelerations. These engines are paired with a silky smooth 9 speed automatic transmission that knows how to find just the right gear depending on the requirements.
Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive configurations are available and allow for a customized version of the XT5 to suit the environment of the driver, who may never require AWD and would rather opt for the cost savings. The whole drivetrain and powerplant combine to achieve an impressive 8.9 L/100km on the highway and 11.2 L/100km in the city for the FWD version.
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 also excels in the safety department with some innovative technology including a unique night vision safety feature, which improves nighttime driving confidence by warning of potential hazards ahead, using infrared sensors.
You can expect a smooth ride on all kinds of bumpy roads thanks to the 2020 XT5’s real-time damping, which adjusts suspension to road and driving conditions to provide the optimal comfort level inside. Overall, the ride experience is top notch with an elegant and quiet cabin, powerful yet smooth accelerations and an overall smooth and confident driving feel.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With a starting price of $43,998, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 has a range of features and options to suit most buyer’s tastes. The XT5’s comfortable and spacious interior is elegant and outfitted with top notch soft touch materials and is comparable to other luxury crossovers in the space. While the high-end pricing of the fully loaded XT5 may start encroaching on other luxury vehicle territory, you can rest assured that the XT5 will deliver superb quality on all fronts from the well appointed interior, the sharp exterior design and the powerful yet smooth performance.
