Used 2017 Cadillac XT5 Luxury SUV Review
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Read what other owners think about the 2017 Cadillac XT5 Luxury SUV.
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Edmunds Summary Review of the 2017 Cadillac XT5 Luxury SUV
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Pleasing ride and handling
- Pro:Generous interior space
- Pro:Excellent forward visibility
- Con:Only one engine choice
- Con:Tech interface can frustrate
- Con:All-wheel drive not available in base trim
Full Edmunds Review: 2017 Cadillac XT5 SUV
Driving
While 18-inch wheels are standard, many XT5 models come with 20-inch wheels that include an upgrade to continually adjusting shocks. Despite the size of the wheels, the ride remains compliant -- you don't feel bumps more than once. Around turns, the XT5 feels sharp and conveys a sense of poise.
The 2017 XT5 is quiet and comfortable on the highway.
The XT5 employs a few tricks to boost fuel economy: The engine turns off when you come to a stop and restarts when you're ready to move, and the V6 will occasionally run on four cylinders alone. You might notice the stop-start system at work, but the cylinder deactivation is near invisible. The biggest tell is a page in the digital gauge cluster that shows "V4" when the system is activated.
The 3.6-liter V6 easily motivates the XT5, and it does so with impressive quietness. You only hear the engine after standing on the gas pedal for extended periods, but even then it's still subdued. We're still curious to find how the engine deals with a full load of people and cargo. We're also curious to see if Cadillac will offer more engine choices, like most of the competition.
Interior
The 2017 Cadillac XT5's interior presents a renewed focus on design and quality of materials. While base models come with leatherette surfaces, most models will have a choice of four leather seating surfaces. The higher-end leather options in the Platinum trim look and feel special. Unfortunately, Cadillac continues to use piano-black trim around the infotainment displays, a choice that highlights fingerprints.
Thanks to real wood and stitched leather, the XT5's interior looks great.
Every XT5 comes with an infotainment system called Cadillac User Interface (CUE). Though we've voiced distaste for this system in previous Cadillacs, a quicker processor and small design tweaks reduce the headache. CUE now responds quickly to inputs, but the display can appear cluttered at times, especially when using the optional navigation. Fortunately, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard across all models and provide a friendlier user experience.
Where previous Cadillacs used touch-sensitive panels to adjust things like climate settings, every switch in the XT5 is a physical button. We welcome this change, as the tactile sensations of real buttons take the needless guesswork out of setting the temperature or the level of desired seat heating. Unfortunately, there's still no volume dial. Instead you swipe your finger across a horizontal bar below the infotainment screen. As it doesn't have the accuracy or response of a dial, we were content using the physical steering wheel controls.
We do like the XT5's spacious interior. The second row will feel roomy to normal-sized adults, with plenty of knee- and legroom -- enough to cross your legs. Even though the size of the XT5 is roughly the same as the SRX it replaces, Cadillac added 3.2 inches of rear legroom by moving the front and rear wheels closer to the corners. Rear headroom is a little tight, but you can recline the rear seatbacks to give yourself some extra space. The second row also slides forward and back, either benefiting legroom or storage space. Backseat passengers will also appreciate the two USB ports for charging devices.
At 30 cubic feet behind the second row, cargo capacity compares favorably to the Audi Q5 and Lexus RX 350. The second row folds flat and extends storage space to 63 cubic feet. Elsewhere in storage, front passengers will find a clever pass-through cubby underneath the center console. It's sized to fit a handbag or purse.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2017 Cadillac XT5 in Ohio is:
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