Superior handling, driving performance
Despite a few nagging flaws, Cadillac’s XT5 is a polished and competent luxury crossover
We talk about the “car” industry, yet Canadians overall prefer crossovers and SUVs. Cadillac offers a new one for 2017: the XT5.
It’s the replacement for the outgoing SRX, but the two aren’t even comparable. The XT5 uses an allnew platform and lops up to 132 kilograms off the curb weight of the outgoing model, and offers far superior handling and driving performance.
There are two trim levels for frontwheel-drive models, starting at $45,100; plus three all-wheel-drive models, which start at $52,150 and finish with my Platinum tester at $68,595. Seating is five-passenger only, although a larger three-row version, speculatively called the XT7, is expected for 2018.
The XT5’s 3.6-litre V6 engine makes 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, and includes active fuel management that seamlessly cuts down to four cylinders under light load for better fuel economy. I like its smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic, but not its electronic gearshift lever.
In addition to fuel management, the V6 includes automatic start/stop, which shuts off the engine at idle, such as when you’re at a red light. It starts up with a jolt each time, which gets tiresome. And unlike any other vehicle I’ve driven with such a system, you can’t deactivate it; there’s no button or setting to override it. As much as I like the XT5 otherwise, this would be a dealbreaker for me.
All else is fine. The stiff chassis and quick steering response provide a composed ride and settled, curve-hugging handling with no wallowing around turns. It’s not sporty, but there’s enough bite to inspire confidence and keep it interesting.
Models with AWD have three driver-selectable settings, the first of which is front-wheel drive only. Select Sport and the system sends power to the rear and side to side as needed for handling and traction, while the AWD setting maintains continuous all-wheel power for slippery roads.
The cabin is roomy, the seats are comfortable and the rear ones fold flat for extra storage space. A metal divider in the back slides and locks in place to keep cargo from sliding around, and there’s a storage bin hidden under the floor.
The cabin is handsomely appointed as well, if a little busy in my tester’s three-tone Sugar Maple colour scheme; the grey or black choices would be more to my liking. The centre dash panel is clad in suede material, a poor choice for beige in a high-traffic area, and mine was already starting to look grimy around the starter button.
The centre screen contains Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system, which encompasses climate control, stereo, connectivity and navigation. It’s getting better, but it’s still a bit bloated and the volume should be controlled by a dial rather than the tap-or-slide function on the glass. On the other hand, I give Cadillac top marks for hard buttons to control seat-heating and cooling, and the heated steering wheel, instead of burying them in computer menus as some automakers do.
The top-end Platinum naturally gets the lion’s share of features, although there are a couple I’d expect to see included on some of the lower trims. For example, every model gets a power liftgate but only the Platinum has a hands-free feature where you kick under the bumper to open and close it. This feature is offered by some manufacturers on vehicles half the price. And blind-spot monitoring doesn’t come on the base model.
I like that the Platinum comes with a head-up display and, better yet, one that uses toggle switches on the dash to simply and easily adjust the display’s height and brightness. The emergency braking system can recognize pedestrians as well as vehicles, and if someone’s close enough that they could potentially step out in front of you, a warning symbol flashes in the head-up display prior to the system figuring out if it needs to intervene.
The most impressive piece of tech is the rear camera mirror, unique to the Platinum. It works as a regular mirror until you flip a switch, turning it into a video screen. The feed is from a self-cleaning camera in the liftgate, presenting a sharp, wide-angle view without rear-seat passengers or the rear pillars in the way.
After too many models that were thinly disguised versions of Chevrolet siblings, Cadillac is coming into its own again. It may share platforms and components with others, but there’s a separation the brand needed. The XT5 has its flaws, but overall it drives well. If you’re shopping luxury crossovers, it’s worthy of a look.