The Cadillac XT5 is enticing… a minimum of from this angle.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
The XT5 is Cadillac’s midsize luxurious utility car, a flexible and soft hauler that competes with rivals just like the Lexus RX 350 and Lincoln Nautilus. To hold tempo with these foes, and others, the XT5 was mildly enhanced final yr, gaining a brand new turbocharged base engine, some up to date tech and mildly tweaked styling, adjustments that proceed ahead for 2021. But whereas the XT5 is nice sufficient to drive and has a neatly trimmed cabin, the entire package deal feels a bit center of the highway in a phase the place excellence is anticipated.
LikeExcellent infotainment systemOver-the-road refinementUpscale inside
Don’t LikeReal-world gasoline economic system may very well be betterSluggish local weather controlsFrumpy proportions
This Sport-trim mannequin encompasses a fetching five-sided grille outlined in satin chrome and crammed in with a black mesh texture. This distinguished opening is flanked by LED headlamps, that are normal throughout the XT5 vary. When considered head-on, this car is elegant, although, regrettably, the remainder of its physique is much less enticing. If the XT5’s styling have been one of many seven dwarves in Snow White, it might be Dopey. The proportions appear off, which makes the entire thing look uninteresting. With an oddly elevated hood and physique that appears too tall and slender, this Cadillac is a bit ungainly, reminding me of a smaller car wearing a fats swimsuit. But there’s excellent news: None of that awkwardness carries by way of to the cabin. The XT5’s inside is superbly designed and extra snug than you may anticipate. With loads of delicate, semi-aniline leather-based together with a wrapped-and-stitched instrument panel, microfiber-suede headliner and fetching bronze-hued carbon-fiber trim, it is enticing and upscale. These upgrades are all included within the $3,650 Platinum Package. The entrance bucket seats are supportive sufficient to take care of good posture but they’re nonetheless supple, so your ass would not go to sleep on longer drives. This Caddy’s backseat is nice as nicely, with loads of room for taller adults, plus the decrease cushion is an effective top above the ground and properly angled for a pure seating place.
2021 Cadillac XT5 Sport AWD: Enjoyable if not distinctive
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Mounted up excessive the place it is simple to see and attain is the 8-inch multimedia display. Not solely does it look small on that huge ol’ dashboard, it feels a bit cramped, too. You can virtually get television-sized shows in some automobiles nowadays — together with Cadillac’s personal Escalade — which makes this display appear all of the extra insufficient. Despite that dimension deficiency, the XT5’s infotainment system is a dream, being each intuitive and extremely responsive. Embedded navigation is on the market for an additional price, although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are each supported on even probably the most primary mannequin. Both of those smartphone-mirroring applied sciences can join wirelessly for better comfort, which is very good for those who’re operating a bunch of errands, stepping into and out of the car steadily.Aside from the display itself, there is a rotary dial on the middle console proper subsequent to the quantity knob. You can use this to cycle by way of the infotainment system’s menus if you need, although I by no means actually do. For me, it is simpler to only use the touchscreen. Next to that management is the XT5’s foolish digital shifter, which may be fiddly and jogs my memory of an historic Nokia cellular phone. Pushbuttons or a rotary management can be preferable and certain release extra space for storing on the console.
Arguably, the XT5’s biggest asset is its upscale, snug inside.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
One annoying facet of this car’s inside is the bodily local weather controls. The system is tremendous sluggish to reply when adjusting the temperature. You can quickly click on the buttons and even maintain them down, however the numbers nonetheless change at an agonizingly sluggish tempo, 72… 73… 74… Luckily, there is a redundant set of local weather controls within the infotainment system, and these reply instantly.
When it involves tech, this Cadillac has loads of normal equipment. Front and rear parking sensors, distant begin and an ineffective lane-keeping system are a number of of the objects included freed from cost. You additionally get heated entrance seats for no additional outlay, ditto for a high-definition backup digicam. Along with a colour head-up show, automated parking help and a helpful rear-camera mirror, which offers a wider subject of view behind the car, the $2,275 Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package contains an HD surround-vision digicam system, which provides you a 360-degree view of the XT5, one thing that is tremendous useful when squeezing into slender parking areas. Disappointingly, adaptive cruise management, a characteristic that is normal on many much-more-affordable automobiles nowadays additionally prices additional, bundled with the $1,300 Driver Assist Package.Speaking of driving, two engines are provided within the 2021 XT5. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is normal on Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, however Sport fashions come solely with a 3.6-liter V6 that is rated at 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of twist. Smooth and unexpectedly snarly, this powerplant has no hassle motivating the XT5. A responsive and refined nine-speed automated transmission is normal tools, routing torque to both the entrance tires or all 4 for those who go for the obtainable all-wheel-drive system, which is normal on Sport fashions. As for effectivity, I averaged round 20 miles per gallon in testing, a considerably disappointing determine. It appears this Cadillac ought to do higher since it isn’t that huge or heavy, plus it is fitted with normal engine stop-start and the V6 has cylinder deactivation (fortuitously, each applied sciences are just about seamless). But hey, a minimum of that real-world fuel-economy determine is near the XT5’s mixed ranking of 21 mpg. Around city, anticipate 18 mpg, on the freeway it ought to return 26 mpg.Yep, the proportions of this car’s physique are a bit unusual.
Craig Cole/Roadshow
Separating Sport fashions from lesser XT5s, they arrive with an adaptive suspension with steady damping management, a faster steering ratio and 20-inch wheels. Despite these generously sized rollers, this Cadillac’s trip is agency and nicely managed, however by no means harsh. The steering ratio can also be fairly fast, which makes the XT5 really feel nimbler than you may anticipate, although as per standard, extra highway really feel by way of the wheel can be appreciated.Eschew all choices and you’ll drive house in a 2021 Cadillac XT5 for almost $45,000, together with $995 in supply charges. That makes it a pair grand richer than an entry-level Lincoln Nautilus, or round $1,000 lower than a base Lexus RX 350. Of course, the properly optioned Sport mannequin seen right here is an effective bit pricier than 45 grand, however its window sticker is not that loopy. Including the Platinum Package, evening imaginative and prescient, elective 12-spoke wheels and some different goodies it checks out for $68,765.The XT5 Sport is refined and comfy, nice to drive and versatile. Indeed, there’s lots to love about this car, even when some issues about it are a bit annoying and the outside styling is simply too frumpy. Hopefully Cadillac tries just a bit tougher when it redesigns this luxurious utility car sooner or later, so it might reside as much as its full potential.