Among luxury crossovers, the 2018 Cadillac XT5 is a solid choice for those who want to get around in style and for a good value, provided you stick to the lower trims and limit options. You will find high-end styling, a long list of standard and available features, and a high-quality feel along with a strong engine.
Making an Impression
When you pull up in the 2018 XT5, you will make a positive first impression. However, some consider the exterior to be just above average. There is minimal detailing on this crossover, a unique choice for the luxury segment but one that works very well in the case of this Cadillac. To make up for the minimal details in certain areas of the exterior, the Cadillac XT5 has aggressively swept-back headlights with LED running strips. The interior delivers exactly what you’d expect from a luxury crossover, including an 8-inch touchscreen with redundant buttons and climate controls. The use of faux and real aluminum, real wood, and a suede-like material further elevate the interior.
Performance
2018 Cadillac XT5 Platinum
When you drive the 2018 Cadillac XT5, you will be treated to a slightly athletic feel thanks to the V6 engine. This 3.6-liter V6 delivers 271 pound-feet of torque plus 310 horsepower and is the sole engine offering. It works with an 8-speed automatic transmission. You can opt for all-wheel drive on any of the XT5 models, although it comes standard on the top trim level. Front-wheel drive is standard. Given the power, the XT5 is relatively efficient, getting up to 26 mpg on the highway.
Comfort and Interior Space
As a crossover, the XT5 has a useful amount of interior space. You can take advantage of 30 cubic feet for cargo with all seats occupied. Even if the second row has passengers, you can slide the rear bench seat fore and aft to increase cargo space slightly by reducing legroom. You can also split the rear seat 40/20/40 before folding it down to get up to 63 cubic feet. The synthetic leather upholstery on the base trim of the XT5 has better durability than the real leather on higher trims, although it is not as upscale. You can also get semi-aniline leather on the top trim. Expect good support from the front bucket seats with full lumbar adjustment on multiple trims. You can comfortably fit four adults in the XT5. However, five would be a squeeze and make the rear-seat passengers a bit unhappy.
Features
The base version of the Cadillac XT5 comes well-loaded with features, such as keyless ignition and a power liftgate. It also includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, OnStar concierge and safety, wireless charge, power front seats, and Bose audio. Other standard features include the 4G LTE antenna and the Cadillac User Interface infotainment system. Moving up a trim level adds in heated front seats and leather upholstery. You also get parking sensors, auto-dimming mirrors, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitors, and a panoramic moonroof. The 2018 XT5 can also include lane-departure warning, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, full-speed automatic braking, heated rear seats, and a head-up display.
