2023 Cadillac XT5 is the smaller version of the distilled Escalade-level luxury, but during this process, it lost a good amount of the flagship’s prestige. The XT5’s exterior design is handsome and premium. The cabin is well-equipped and is quiet when cruising, and there’s plenty of space for four adults and their luggage. While, the red-hot compact luxury SUV segment has little room for mediocre entrants, and the XT5’s flaws only serve to highlight more impressive rivals such as the BMW X3 and the Genesis GV70. The car is powered by a standard turbocharged four-cylinder and a V6 engine is optional. But who are neither delivering impressive performance nor are they particularly refined. The XT5’s ride quality is harsh over pockmarked roads. Unfortunately, the XT5 represents a swing and a miss from General Motors’ most prestigious brand.
Contents
What’s New?
The XT5’s sport trim is now equipped with Brembo brakes with red-painted calipers for 2023, and a new 20-inch wheel design is also available. Or else, the XT5 rolls entered the new model year with no other notable changes. The Passenger space is average, and accommodations are as deluxe as expected from a modern Cadillac. The materials used throughout the XT5’s cabin look and feel premium when examined individually, but when viewed as a whole, the design appears unfocused.
Engine & Performance
The XT5’s standard turbocharged four-pot pumps out 237-hp, while the optional V6 produces 310 ponies. With either engine, it’s no match for performance-oriented competitors such as the 340-hp Porsche Macan S. However, the Caddy gives a tough competition favorably against the Lexus RX350 and the Volvo XC60. In day-to-day operation, the Cadillac’s V6 is impressively quiet and well isolated from the cabin.
Under heavy throttle, the bigger engine’s harshness makes itself known in a most unflattering way. On encountering a twisty road, the XT5 can tackle it with confidence, although it won’t give you goosebumps even when equipped with the optional adaptive suspension. Body roll is well balanced and the XT5 feels substantial and planted, which is especially comforting on long highway cruises. Over rough stretches of broken pavement, the vehicle feels jittery and allowed sharp impacts to reverberate through the cabin. Handling is accurate but lacks any visceral feedback.
Fuel Economy
| 2023 Cadillac XT5 Mileage | City | Highway |
| Four-Cylinder | 22 mpg | 29 mpg |
| V6 | 19 mpg | 26 mpg |
The FWD XT5s with the standard turbocharged four-cylinder has an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. Equipping the V6 drops mpg to 19 cities, 26 highways, and 21 combined. On both models, adding the optional AWD lowers these estimates slightly, a small concession for added confidence in inclement weather.
Dimensions & Airbags
| 2023 Cadillac XT5 Dimensions | |
| Length | 189.6 in |
| Width | 75.0 in |
| Height | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.5 in |
| Cargo volume | 30 ft3 |
| Airbags | 7 Airbags |
All XT5 models house a ton of standard niceties such as an 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system is intuitive and includes a rotary controller. An updated Bose sound system is also now available. There are four USB ports located conveniently throughout the cabin for charging mobile devices, and a wireless phone-charging pad is available too.
Pricing
| 2023 Cadillac XT5 Trims | Price (USD) |
| Luxury | $45,290 |
| Premium Luxury | $49,940 |
| Sport | $57,090 |
The mid-level Premium Luxury variant is the best value for the cash, and it adequately fulfills the brand’s luxury promises. With desirable standard features such as leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free liftgate, wireless charging, and more it makes a great choice without any second guesses. We would recommend opting for the more powerful optional V6 engine.
Specifications & Top-Speed
| 2023 Cadillac XT5 Specifications | Specs |
| Engine | turbocharged inline-4 |
| Drivetrain | FWD |
| Horsepower | 237 hp |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft |
| 0-60 MPH | 7.6 sec |
| 0-100 MPH | 23.1 sec |
| 1/4 Mile | 16.0 sec |
| Top Speed | 130 mph |