Used 2020 Cadillac XT5 for sale 

Cadillac has gone forth and got rid of the overpriced Platinum trim and now has three extensive trims on offer. The base Luxury, Premium Luxury, and the interesting Sport trims. Both Luxury and Premium Luxury are powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four engine. The Sport trim, on the other hand, has a much more potent 3.6L V6.

All the trims are high on features with a worthy standard base trim filled with all the necessary safety and creature comfort features.

Cadillac has thrown in a lot of add-on packages that focus on aesthetics, performance, and usability. Creature comforts are also plentiful in these packages which gives people the liberty to choose what they need. This is a part of Cadillac’s new Y-strategy which focuses more on customer request and demand.

Which Cadillac XT5 trim should you go for?

All of the trims are filled to the brim with features but we would recommend you to go with the Premium Luxury trim which is slotted right in between. It is powered by the same 2.0L turbocharged engine and the upgraded 9-speed transmission. With a premium of $4700, you are treated with added passive safety features and various other features like a heated steering wheel, a 14 speaker Bose sound system.

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline four-pot which pumps out 237 horses. A 3.6L V6 was standard across the lineup last year. This has been shifted to the highest trim which makes the XT5 accessible to a wider audience. Kudos to Cadillac to listening to its audience.

What's under the hood of the Cadillac?

Along with a smaller base engine, Cadillac has updated transmission from the lethargic 8-speed from last year to a more smooth 9-speed automatic this year. 250 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque is transmitted to the front wheels. The power is formidable enough to keep you vigilant. The more powerful V6 has similar torque figures and so it should be a robust everyday driver. The lower power figures help in cutting down on fuel expenses as well.

In terms of sheer power, INFINITI QX50 Essential tops the list with the Buick Envision following closely behind. The Volvo and Cadillac come in at last with XT5 trailing the pack. All the four are priced very competitively as well.

How well does the XT5 pull off the line?

The new 9-speed transmission is much more efficient than the outgoing one. This gives us hope of a quicker and linear acceleration as the gear ratios are closely coupled resulting in quicker shifts. The acceleration would not be aggressive but it would surely keep you vigilant. The AWD variant would surely clock less quarter-mile time.

The linear acceleration makes the ride a lot quieter and comfortable. It would not be the fastest cross out there but surely can give a run for its money. 

The Buick Envision and Infiniti Essential would have an edge over the others with its superior performance. The Cadillac with Front-wheel drive and least power would most probably clock in the slowest! Guess we would have to patiently wait till the numbers are out.

How does the Cadillac handle?

The XT5 is firm and planted which instills confidence when driven. The precise steering gives precise feedback. The tuned suspension is neither too soft or hard which keeps it composed at high speeds without any harshness or noise. The tall body structure comes in with a bit of body roll which is felt predominantly in continuous corners.

The steering remains light at low speeds which is a boon for city rides. It makes maneuverability easy around cities and the large dimensions do not cause any hindrance. This is not an enthusiast’s car.

How well does it stop?

Cadillac has equipped the XT5 with 13.6-inch brake rotors up front and 12.4-inch ones at the rear. It is a bulky car with a curb weight of 3915 pounds and the brakes need to work it out here.

But Cadillac has taken care of this part and included an electrically assisted power braking system that features an electric motor instead of the typical vacuum-based booster. This helps in reducing the reaction time by a huge margin and stopping the XT5 much quicker. 

Cadillac has the largest rotor dimensions followed by the INFINITI and Buick closely.

The official EPA fuel economy figures are not out yet but we are sure that it will return a much better range than last year’s. The then-standard 3.6L V6 returned a mediocre combined 22 miles to the gallon. The 2.0L pot which is present now will surely return much better numbers

The linear gearbox also plays a major role in providing a better fuel economy.

Even by old standards, Cadillac would still not be far behind than its competitors. The new results would surely make it undisputed. INFINITI gives an impressive combined output of 26 miles to the gallon. Volvo and Buick follows thereafter.

Cadillac has updated the interior with new color choices. There has been a considerable amount of changes as well. A new ergonomic steering wheel design is a welcome change. The center console has been updated to have a much cleaner look. Cadillac has added a few extra storage spaces as well. There is improved acoustic treatment to improve the quietness in the cabin.

How comfortable is the XT5?

The seating in XT5 is moderate at most. Both the rows are aptly cushioned with leatherette upholstery which makes it a comfortable place to be in. All the seats have good thigh support and offer loads of room to move around. The power-adjustable front seats help in enhancing the driving experience as well. You can spend hours in it comfortably without feeling the rush of the road. The second row can comfortably seat three passengers.

With the absence of a transmission tunnel, the middle occupant will be comfortable. And if you aren’t satisfied with the quality then Cadillac has got you covered with an array of optional features that can be fine-tuned to your liking.

The longer wheelbase allows the XT5 to be a spacious car. With the above-average space in both the front and rear rows, it passes the Volvo in providing a more spacious experience. But it lags behind the Buick and INFINITI which provide the best cabin space of the lot.

Has the infotainment improved?

The infotainment has been drastically improved as compared to last year. The finicky controls have been replaced with a new rotary dial controller coupled with easy to use physical dials which complements the new UI introduced with the latest Cadillac user interface.

It has several input options including wireless, USB and even a USB-C port.

The infotainment system is much more intuitive and easy to use than before, thus bringing it back in the league.

Infotainment Features

• 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen
• Rotary controller with jog functionality
• Bose 8-speaker system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• NFC compatible
• Bluetooth phone connectivity
• Cadillac 4G LTE built-in Wi-Fi hotspot
• Sirius XM Radio

Can it handle weekend trips?

Cadillac provides a decently largo cargo space in spite of having a slanting roofline for a crossover. The extended wheelbase helps it extract a few more cubic feet of cargo space. The 60/40 split rear seats allow us to extend the cargo when needed thus giving us flexibility.

 Infiniti with its clever seating arrangement helps to give the biggest cargo space with 31.1. cubic feet. Buick and Volvo come in at last with the least space mostly due to restrictions in dimensions.

Interior Features

• 60/40 Rear foldable seats
• 8-way power driver seat
• 6-way power front passenger seat
• Heated steering wheel
• Aluminum Brushed Decor trim
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Heated Driver and passenger seats

Cadillac has revamped the exterior with new and redesigned components. The LED DRLs floating from the headlamps into the bumper remains the exclusive feature. The upswept front and rear bumpers have been redesigned. The front grille gets a new design as well.

New 18-inch alloy wheel designs add to the charisma. Cadillac has also added features for the convenience of the user along with making people look twice.

Does the Cadillac XT5 demand attention?

At 189.6 inches of length, XT5 is the longest of the lot. But Cadillac has managed to wrap a distinctively designed body that masks the dimensions well. It now joins the ranks of the all-new XT6 and the segment topping XT4 to give out Cadillac’s freshest lineup.

It is sharply styled with a lot of chrome treatment. The huge front grille with chrome inserts surely makes its presence felt. The new styling has been adapted from the XT4 and XT6 to bring in a unified design structure. With 3915 pounds of curb weight, it is not the heaviest of the lot. The design stays true to its American genes and you would instantly recognize a Cadillac when you see one.

The XT5 doesn’t shy from flaunting the longest wheelbase of 112.5 inches. Volvo is the heaviest of the lot with a whopping 4105 pounds. The Buick comes next with a very marginal difference. The shorter wheelbase of the Buick makes it very nimble and easy to use around corners.

Exterior Features

• 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels
• LED Headlamps with front park and cornering lamps
• Aluminum roof rails
• Hands-free power tailgate with programmable height
• Capless fueling system
• Distinctive Cadillac specific grille
• Floating Headlamps

Cadillac is serious about providing the best in class safety features for its lineup. This is evident from the safety ratings of the XT5. It was rewarded an overall “5-stars” by the NHTSA last year and would post similar scores in 2020 as well. The use of high-grade steel and more stress points in the chassis makes it a rigid and strong ride.

Along with the robust build, it also flaunts a plethora of safety features both active and passive which continuously works in harmony with each other to ensure occupant’s safety. Some of the features are:

Safety Features

• Rear camera
• 7 Airbags
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Following Distance Indicator
• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Alert
• Safety Alert Seat

Cadillac XT5 Vs Buick Envision Premium 2

Buick manages to provide a more powerful machine with 252 horses on tap and a tempting price of $ 43600. But it loses out on feature lists and comfort which is abundant in the Cadillac. It is heavier than the Cadillac thus affecting driving dynamics and efficiency. Cadillac offers a much better all rounded package and they interact and improve according to customer feedback. That alone makes it a better car.

Cadillac XT5 Vs Infinity QX50 Essential

The Japanese manage to take our attention with the most powerful engine of the lot. It is even high on features which makes it a worthy contender. The CVT holds it back from providing a good driving experience as it is not as smooth as the 9-speed automatic of the Cadillac. But the same transmission helps it in extracting the maximum MPG of the lot. The interior is spacious but not as much as the XT5. Both have their perks and downsides. If you want a cheap and reliable machine that can push you back in the seat at will then INFINITI will make you smile. Cadillac would only win you over if you are a serious American fanboy!

Cadillac XT5 Vs Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum

The peace-loving eco-friendly Swedish Manufacturer has a cheap and more powerful SUV pitched against the Cadillac. It has an underrated interior which is beautifully laid out. The sheer weight of the vehicle makes it needy of the All-wheel drive transmission setup to perform up to its competitors. But this also helps it handle like a charm which makes it our choice. Volvos are known to be utterly reliable as well and so we don't see as to why anyone would want to look elsewhere. 

Then Cadillac XT5 stands out from the crowd with its straightforward and subtle outlook. There are no unscale or extravagantly laid out features like in their American and Japanese rivals. It even lacks a mighty powerhouse. But it is laid out very well in a more practical sense with a looker of a design. It stays true to its heritage by incorporating classic elements into it. It is comfortable on the inside which makes it a good choice for weekend getaways. The Volvo XC 60 is a better performer in all terms.

The shortcomings in 2019 have been taken care of and Cadillac has delivered a chiseled product. Considering all the factors in hand, if you want a classy American brat that can perform without putting a hole in your pockets, Cadillac is the one for you. But if practicality and ease of usage with chunks of power is your go-to, then Volvo XC60 it is. It provides more power and value for less price and even has AWD!