2017 Cadillac XT5 Road Test and Review

2017 Cadillac XT5 Side Profile 09 ・ Photo by Cadillac

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 jumps into the five-passenger luxury crossover fray with vigor. Charged with replacing the strong-selling, yet past its prime Cadillac SRX, the XT5 boasts a brand-new platform, next-generation driving technologies, and classic styling that elevates it amidst a range of premium designs that too often either blend into the background or scream for your attention. I headed down to Laguna Beach, California, to drive the 2017 Cadillac XT5 through the hills that surround the nearby town of Julian. By the end of the day, I'd become convinced that Cadillac had at long last built a family-oriented crossover that could compete at the highest levels of the mid-size luxury game - and maybe bloody a few noses in the process.

Powerful, Gimmick-Free Design

Cadillac has always known how to make a statement with the exterior design of its crossovers and SUVs - witness the bully pulpit that is the Escalade - but fortunately its team of stylists also understands that not all families are seeking to draw attention when picking up the kids at school. The 2017 Cadillac XT5 neatly walks the line between flaunting its muscular good looks and the quiet confidence that one expects from a premium people mover. The crossover's clean cut lines and broad, flat panels are matched by a prominent grille, but the design doesn't expand the XT5's dimensions so much as showcase its well-proportioned sheet metal and glass. It's a startling contrast when compared against the in-your-face visage of the class-leading Lexus RX 350, and a welcome break from the anonymous curves that have defined European entries in the segment for the past several years.

Bigger, Better Cabin

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 rides on an all-new platform that is not only lighter than that offered by the SRX (to the tune of nearly 300 lbs), but also longer where it counts. Specifically, there are now 3.2 inches of extra legroom available to those riding in the second row thanks to a two-inch boost in wheelbase length, and while total cargo space holds steady at 63 cubic feet (within two cubes of the SRX) the cabin itself feels more spacious front and rear. The Cadillac XT5's passenger compartment also makes simplicity a virtue when it comes to trim and control surfaces. Rather than adopt the busy, button-filled center consoles and stacks that are common amongst luxury crossovers, the XT5 relies on its CUE infotainment touchscreen to do most of the heavy lifting. This is both good and bad, for while it centralizes vehicle functions (which can also be accessed using the steering wheel controls via one of two different gauge cluster designs), the CUE interface itself can occasionally be frustrating to work. The dashboard houses CUE in a slick-looking inset V-shape that subtly mimics the Cadillac crest, and it's wrapped in genuine stitched leather and framed by a mixture of wood and metal trim. This theme continues throughout the interior, giving the XT5 an understated appeal that feels warmer and less clinical than several of its rivals. In fact, I'd say the only real misstep to be found inside the Cadillac is its new electronic gear selector, which clunks from Drive to Reverse and feels more flimsy than a traditional mechanical unit.

Improved V-6 Efficiency

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 features a 3.6-liter V-6 under its hood, and while the displacement of this unit might match the motor found in the SRX, the details are quite different. Output remains similar - there's 321 horsepower and 271 lb-ft available from the engine, which is roughly a five percent improvement versus 2015 - but the real bonus comes at the fuel pump. Rated at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, the new crossover is about 10 percent less thirsty than the model it replaces, with an automatic engine start/stop system in place and cylinder deactivation allowing you to cruise along on four cylinders whenever possible. Also putting in an appearance is GM's latest eight-speed automatic transmission, which adds two additional forward ratios over the six-speed gearbox that was found in the SRX.

Next-Generation All-Wheel Drive System

Few, if any Cadillac owners will venture off-road in the 2017 XT5, which is why the automaker has elected to install an optional "on-demand" type all-wheel drive system in the new crossover. During normal driving, the rear axle is actually decoupled from the engine, which allows for greater efficiency out on the road, but should wheel-spin be detected, the system can send torque to whichever corner of the vehicle has the most traction. If you want to lock the all-wheel drive system into action while traversing particularly slippery pavement or when heading across a field or down a gravel road, you can select All-wheel Drive mode using a button on the center console, which offers a more constant torque split front and rear. Similarly, Sport mode achieves the same effect, and also allows for the Cadillac XT5's all-wheel drive system to move torque from one side of the vehicle to the other in order to enhance cornering.

Smooth and Competent Road Manners

Despite Sport mode's availability, the 2017 Cadillac XT5 is a hauler that's best enjoyed for its calm and collected ride rather than any performance pretensions. Cadillac has include an adaptive dampening system in the crossover that does an excellent job of smoothing out bumps in the road while at the same time keeping each of the vehicle's four wheels glued to the pavement. At no point during my rollercoaster ride through California's coastal country did the XT5 feel anything other than well-controlled, a testament to its lighter design and the inherent stability of its new platform. Still, if you're looking for driver engagement, the Cadillac XT5 isn't going to provide you with very many thrills. Acceleration from the V-6 is perfectly satisfying for its class, especially compared against the Lexus RX 350, but the extra 100 lb-ft of torque offered by the Lincoln MKX in EcoBoost trim cements the XT5 firmly mid-pack. I honestly don't think it matters - no one is buying a family-oriented crossover to run through a slalom, or drag race from one stoplight to the next - but if you're bench racing, Cadillac won't be your pick.

Ultra-Quiet Interior

Smooth handling, upscale cabin appointments, and an insulated on-road experience are the must-have triumvirate when building a luxury crossover, and the 2017 Cadillac XT5 hits for the cycle by way of its very quiet interior. Notice that I said "insulated" and not "isolated" - the XT5 isn't some over-sprung yacht from days gone by, but rather a model whose noise profile has been carefully pruned by Cadillac's engineering team until very little of the outside world interferes with conversation between passengers or the enjoyment of the vehicle's stereo system. It also contributes to the solid feel of the XT5's construction, which even in pre-production form didn't rattle or buzz over rough sections of road.

Technology for the Sake of Technology

Cadillac has a reputation for pushing the envelope of advanced safety technology, what with features such as adaptive cruise control, the vibrating Safety Alert Seat, and, of course, lane keeping assistance and blind spot monitoring available with the XT5. It's that same spirit that has led to the development of the brand's new rear camera mirror, a feature first seen on the Cadillac CT6 sedan. The mirror expands the view of the area vehicle by 300 percent by transforming the traditional mirror into a high definition video screen, fed by cams mounted at the back of the crossover. In theory, this is a good thing. In practice, it's unusual, to say the least. The low angle of the camera system requires a perceptual twist when trying to process the data that's displayed on the mirror, and the HD video's refresh rate can be jarring when switching your eyes back and forth between the mirror and the road ahead. Then there's the winter factor, as in, what happens to those cameras once they've been obscured by snow and salt? Luckily, at the push of a button the fancy mirror goes back to being just a simple reflective piece of glass once again, a piece of technology that's worked well for, oh, about a hundred years or so.

The New Class Leader?

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 starts at an MSRP of $38,995, and if you want to go whole-hog and scoop up a Platinum edition of the crossover (including all-wheel drive), you'll be asked to shell out $62,500. That's a fairly wide price range for a mid-size family vehicle, but its one that allows it to stay competitive with options like the Lincoln MKZ and Lexus RX 350 at the low end and still entice prospective BMW buyers by tapping into the X5's well-heeled customer base. More than being well-priced, however, the Cadillac XT5 manages to look and feel far more mature than the current mid-size luxury crossover king built by Lexus. The XT5 end-runs around the RX 350's "look at me" styling, and the much higher standard of interior trim that it offers will no doubt prove to be a compelling clarion call to those who would typically re-up with the Japanese brand. It might take a few years for families to make the mental leap from Lexus to Cadillac in the droves required to drive the RX 350 out of the top sales spot, but with a firm SRX base ready to be mobilized - and a package that's superior to its prime antagonist - the XT5 seems poised for success.

2017 Cadillac XT5 Pros/Cons

Pros: •    Attractive, yet not over-the-top styling •    Comfortable ride and quiet cabin •    Efficient V-6 engine •    Available all-wheel drive •    Affordably priced at the entry level •    Practical Cons: •    Rear camera mirror feels like a gimmick •    On-demand all-wheel drive might be confusing to some customers •    Power is mid-pack •    Not sporty to drive compared to European rivals