2021 Cadillac XT5 a solid effort, but outclassed by luxury brand competitors



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 25, 2020) In recent years, luxury crossovers have gotten wildly popular, with the segment featuring excellent vehicles like the Mercedes GLE, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and others. As the luxury marquee for General Motors, Cadillac is aiming for a large slice of the pie with its two-row, five-passenger XT5 that slots above the subcompact XT4 and below the larger three-row XT6 and Escalade.

First introduced for the 2017 model year, the XT5 received a mid-cycle refresh for the 2020 model year, but otherwise has seen only very minor changes. It remains largely a carryover for 2021.

The XT5 was Cadillac’s best-selling model last year and received several new standard features for 2021, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, Amazon Alexa integration, an upgraded digital display and gauge cluster, and a new infotainment rotary controller. Cadillac also offers a handful of more advanced driver-assistance features, including night vision, rear pedestrian alert, and improved automatic parking assist.

For 2021, the XT5 is offered in three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. For this review we spent a week behind the wheel of the top-level Premium Luxury with the upgraded 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine, which is $1,000 more than the base 2.0-liter 235-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. The engine is linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission; add $2,000 for all-wheel drive.

Our Premium Luxury XT5 came equipped with the $4,850 optional Platinum Package that included semi aniline leather seating, leather wrapped instrument panel, door trim and center console, microfiber sueded headliner, premium carpeted floor mats, real-time damping performance suspension and illuminated door sills. It also came equipped with seemingly every available extra-cost option, including the enhanced visibility and technology package, night vision, larger wheels and tires, driver assist package, comfort and air quality package, embedded navigation with Bose performance series audio system and extra cost Dark Moon blue metallic paint finish. Our XT5’s base price was $50,795 and jumped to $67,765 with options.

The XT5 has a roomy and comfortable cabin that’s quiet and comfortable and delivers a refined, luxury ride and handling along with a powerful engine and transmission combination. On the road, acceleration is brisk and comes on instantly, and the optional adaptive suspension supremely controlled body roll and instilled a sense of competent and confident handling even on twisty mountain roads.



The overall style and feel of the cabin are upscale with a good layout, premium materials and a contemporary look. Noticeably absent are operational buttons in favor of haptic touch sensitive icons that surround the touchscreen. There is an operational knob on the center console, and redundant steering wheel mounted buttons for the infotainment system. Toggles below the center screen operate the climate control system. We liked the new digital gauge cluster, including an 8.0-inch touchscreen that was new for the 2020 model and carried over for 2021. It’s sharp, clear and easy to read and use. There are four USB ports located throughout the cabin for charging mobile devices, and a wireless phone-charging pad between the two front seats.

Cargo space is above average with ample room for luggage and gear, cubby holes for stashing smaller items, and easy-to-fold rear seats that both recline and slide fore and aft for rear passenger comfort.

Other niceties included in our Premium Luxury XT5 included a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, hands-free power liftgate, blind spot monitoring, lane change alert, and rear cross traffic alert.

Standard advanced safety features are plentiful with rearview camera, Teen Driver (lets you set limits on things like audio volume and speed limits), safety alert seat, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist. Available advanced safety features include head-up display, night vision assist, reverse automatic emergency braking, surround-view camera system and parallel and perpendicular park assist.

There were areas where we felt the XT5 fell short of excellent competitors. In most areas the XT5 is okay or above average, but several competitors are more powerful, feel posher and more luxurious inside and deliver a better value for the buck in the top trim. A suggested MSRP of almost $68,000 puts our test XT5 is in the same price arena as a Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, Mercedes GLE and Audi Q8. While yes, the Cadillac XT5 is a good midsize luxury SUV, the top trim price is hard to justify and it’s outclassed by these competitors.

Vital Stats
Base Price: $50,795
Price as Tested: $67,765
Engine/Transmission: 3.6-Liter, 310 horsepower V6 linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission
Fuel Economy: 18/26/21 MPG – City/Highway/Combined
Seats: 5

Where Built: Spring Hill, Tennessee

Crash Test Results: Overall “Good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and highest possible five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Competes With:
Audi Q7, Q8
BMW X5, X6
Cadillac XT6
Genesis GV80
Lexus GX
Lincoln Aviator
Mercedes GLE
Porsche Cayenne
Range Rover Sport
Range Rover Velar

Fab Features
Night Vision Package
Attractive exterior styling
Comfortable highway cruiser