The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Comfortable ride
- Good V-6 engine
- Nice in-cabin tech
- Spacious interior
Dislikes
- Can get awfully pricey
- Dull personality
- Some awkward design lines
- So-so fuel economy
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 is a competent five-seat crossover SUV that must do battle with more polished and entertaining rivals.
What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Cadillac XT5? What does it compare to?
With the XT5, Cadillac has a stylish five-seat crossover SUV that competes against the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, among others.
Is the 2023 Cadillac XT5 a good SUV?
While not as fun to drive as its European competitors, the 2023 XT5 has a pleasant personality and can be loaded up with some nice tech features. It scores a TCC Rating of 6.0 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2023 Cadillac XT5?
Aside from some new paint colors, the XT5 largely carries into 2023 with no changes. Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels return.
More hunchback than a traditional two-box SUV, the XT5 cuts a sporty profile but winds up a little too muddy in its details outside and a bit bland inside.
The standard 235-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 can be swapped out for a 310-hp 3.6-liter V-6, which we think better suits the XT5’s luxury mission. Front- and all-wheel drive options are paired with a smooth 9-speed automatic transmission.
While the XT5 rides smoothly, it’s far from sporty. It leans into corners and has a hefty overall feel. That 4,000-lb-plus curb weight dents fuel economy to the tune of 24 mpg combined in the thriftiest configuration.
On the flip side, the XT5 is spacious inside, with good room for second-row passengers and a decent cargo area even with its somewhat sloping roofline.
It also performs well in crash tests and comes with a good array of crash-avoidance tech as standard.
How much does the 2023 Cadillac XT5 cost?
The 2023 XT5 starts at around $46,000 and can climb quickly from there. That’s not bad for its 8.0-inch touchscreen and wireless Appel CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, though real leather costs extra. It takes the Premium Luxury trim to unlock the V-6 engine, though it incurs a reasonable $1,000 upcharge.
Where is the 2023 Cadillac XT5 made?
In Spring Hill, Tennessee.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Styling
With its hunchback shape, the 2023 Cadillac XT5 cuts a dashing—if not especially memorable—profile.
Is the Cadillac XT5 a good-looking car?
Drawing inspiration from its SRX predecessor, the XT5 cuts a dashing profile, though its details can be a bit muddy and its interior is dull. We score it at 6 out of 10, with a point above average for its exterior.
The long nose and raked windshield give way to a sloping roofline, which cascades downward at the tail end to a pair of lights designed to emulate tailfins from Caddy’s past. There’s a lot going on here, from the wide grille surrounded by narrow, arrow-shaped headlights that jut well into the front fenders to a busy side profile.
The XT5’s cabin is loaded with tech, but it’s ultimately bland with wide swathes of padded surfaces that look more like filler than intentional designs. Additionally, Cadillac is light on warm upholstery color offerings.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Performance
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 is more of a boulevardier than a performance SUV.
Is the Cadillac XT5 4WD?
Front-wheel drive is standard, while Cadillac offers all-wheel drive as an option.
How fast is the Cadillac XT5?
It’s peppy with the available 3.6-liter V-6, though we haven’t tested one yet with the standard turbo-4. Our 6 out of 10 rating here applies to 6-cylinder XT5s, which fulfill this model’s luxury mission well enough.
The V-6 spins 310 hp to the wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. The combination delivers good grunt and limited vibration, for a luxurious overall feel. With 235 hp, the base turbo-4 will be asked to hustle around a hefty SUV, so we’re skeptical of its real-world performance.
The extra point above average here comes courtesy of the smooth-riding suspension. With its soft tuning, the 2023 Cadillac XT5 soaks up big bumps. Even with their adaptive dampers, however, XT5 Sport models don’t quite live up to their nameplate. No version of the XT5 delivers the kind of corner-carving sharpness we’ve come to appreciate from the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Comfort & Quality
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 is comfortable and spacious inside.
For a five-seat crossover SUV, the 2023 Cadillac XT5 serves up good interior room and it can feel properly luxurious with a few costly option packages selected.
We rate it at 7 out of 10 thanks to its good passenger space and a decent cargo area.
The base Luxury trim lines the cabin with synthetic leather, while real leather is included on other versions. Add the Platinum package and Cadillac tosses in even nicer leather.
Rear-seat riders have decent leg room and a supportive bench accessed via wide-opening doors.
The XT5 maxes out at 63.0 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is a bit less than some rivals but still plenty spacious.
Materials-wise, the XT5 has plenty of soft-touch trim, but it doesn’t look especially upscale compared to rivals with sharper lines and more contemporary designs.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Safety
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 comes equipped with decent tech and boasts good crash-test scores.
How safe is the Cadillac XT5?
It should be a safe enough choice, though there’s some room for improvement here.
We land on a 7 out of 10 thanks to standard automatic emergency braking and a five-star crash rating from the NHTSA.
The IIHS gives the XT5 mostly “Good” ratings, but “Marginal” headlights hold it back from a coveted Top Safety Pick award.
Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection is standard across the line, as are automatic high-beam headlights and active lane control. Adaptive cruise control and a few other crash-avoidance features are available, though the XT5 doesn’t yet offer Cadillac’s trick Super Cruise driver-assistance tech.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Features
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 hits the luxury must-haves, but it can get pricey with options.
Starting at about $45,600, the base XT5 Luxury comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 18-inch alloy wheels, a power tailgate, synthetic leather trim, and heated front seats.
That’s good enough for an 8 out of 10 on our scale thanks to the big screen, good array of standard features, and abundant but expensive option packages. A 4-year/50,000-mile warranty misses a point for only including the first scheduled maintenance visit.
Which Cadillac XT5 should I buy?
The XT5 Premium Luxury ups the ante to around $51,400 with its sunroof, navigation system, blind-spot monitors, and a few other niceties. The V-6 engine is a reasonable $1,000 extra. AWD adds another $2,000.
That’s about where we’d stop.
How much is a fully loaded Cadillac XT5?
At upward of $60,000 once you add all-wheel drive, the XT5 Sport comes across as a costly option against rivals with more polish.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Fuel Economy
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 would do better with a hybrid option.
Is the Cadillac XT5 good on gas?
It’s not great, mostly because it isn’t offered in a hybrid configuration unlike rivals.
With the base 4-cylinder, the XT5 is rated by the EPA at 22 mpg city, 29 highway, 24 combined. All-wheel drive notches those figures downward to 21/27/23 mpg. Either way, it’s just a 2.
With the V-6, the XT5 checks in at 19/26/21 mpg regardless of drive wheels.
Some competitors can top 30 mpg on the highway with similar power, and hybrid versions do way better.
