The compact luxury SUV segment is rife with competition with some very good offerings in the segment. That includes many European or Asian carmakers, competing against the big players from North America.
The 2023 Cadillac XT5 – the middle child between the XT4 and XT6, is one of those vehicles and I recently got behind the wheel of a XT5 Sport AWD. I enjoyed my time behind the wheel of this Cadillac, which is very comfortable and enjoyable to drive, but it does have its work cut out for it against the competition.
The base price for my ride is $59,098, but with some options added on, the final cost is $67,588.
The additions include $1,395 for the Crystal White Tricoat paint, Brown Sauvage leather seats with mini-perforated inserts ($1,145), 20-inch 12-spoke Diamond Cut alloy wheels for $690, monochrome Cadillac emblems ($240) and the Technology Package, which costs $2,620.
The tech package adds features such as an 8-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster, heads-up display, HD surround vision, rear camera mirror with washer, rear pedestrian alert and automatic parking assist with braking.
Powertrain: There is no lack of power for the XT5 Sport, thanks to a 3.6-litre V6 under the hood, paired to a nine-speed automatic.
It produces 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, and the engine itself is quite smooth, with excellent acceleration.
The XT5 also offers a 2.0L turbo on some trims.
The V6 has an estimated combined fuel consumption of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres, while I averaged 13.1 L/100 km for my week with the SUV.
Exterior: The XT5 is a very stylish vehicle, with an attention-grabbing front end featuring a large black centre grille and headlight assemblies.
Those optional 20-inch wheels add a touch of elegance to the exterior.
A rising belt line draws the eye to the rear of the vehicle, where you will find equally large taillights that blend into the haunches above the rear wheels.
And while white might seem like a safe, boring choice for colour, it works well on the XT5 Sport.
Interior: While the name Brown Sauvage for the interior colour scheme might not sound appealing, I can assure you there is nothing savage about it.
From the seats to accent pieces in the dash and steering wheel, it adds an air of elegance to what is already a nicely designed cabin.
While the overall layout of the centre stack is clean, it can feel a bit dated when compared to some of the other offerings on the market – but that is not to say it does not work well.
The XT5 can sit 5 passengers comfortably, with rear occupants enjoying a generous amount of legroom, and the cargo area is also quite spacious as well.
Infotainment: Powered by an 8-inch screen, the infotainment system is easy to navigate through and operate. That screen may be small compared to some other offerings on the market, but it gets the job done.
The system comes with navigation, satellite radio, voice recognition and wireless device charging.
And if you like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in your Cadillac, well, get em while you can. The automaker revealed it plans to ditch these options in its vehicles.
Drive: I found the XT5 to be an enjoyable ride, even if there was a bit more noise in the cabin than I would have liked, or expected, for a luxury SUV.
That said, the engine power is more than enough to handle all your driving needs, and the steering feel is nice. It also handles reasonably well, and while not the most agile, can handle some twisty roads with little fuss.
Conclusion: The XT5 Sport is a stylish SUV that has some good qualities, but has been around a few years while some other competitors have taken things up a notch. It may be time for Cadillac to give the middle child some upgrades before it falls too far behind the pack.
2023 Cadillac XT5 Sport AWD
2023 Cadillac XT5 Sport AWD
2023 Cadillac XT5 Sport AWD
2023 Cadillac XT5 Sport
Price as tested: $67,588.00
Freight: $2,300.00
Configuration: Front engine/All-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 3.6-litre V6/ 9-speed automatic
Power/torque: 310 horsepower/ 271 lb-ft of torque
Fuel (capacity): Regular (83 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 11.3 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 13.1 L/100 km
Warranties: 4-years/80,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes-Benz GLC Class, Volvo XC60
Website: Cadillac Canada