2017 Cadillac XT5 Review

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 is a new luxury SUV that replaces what would have been the 2017 Cadillac SRX. The luxury crossover features optional AWD, a powerful V-6 engine, good handling and plenty of space for passengers and cargo.

In the decked out XT5 Platinum trim level, you’ll enjoy a very luxurious interior and upgraded safety and convenience features that take the driving experience to a level matching the premium interior.

Cadillac includes an updated Cue infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay & Android Auto as well as a 4G LTE hotspot. We spent the week in the new Platinum trim level that includes interior and exterior design only available with the Platinum package, an option that wasn’t available on the SRX.

2017 Cadillac XT5 Review Summary

Luxury SUVs are certainly a more common sight and competition is fierce, but there is definitely a place for the 2017 Cadillac XT5 Platinum on your list.

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The base Cadillac XT5 starts at $38,995 and if you jump all the way up to the Platinum the sticker rockets up to just under $70,000 — which includes AWD and more standard features than lower trim levels. We highly recommend the Driver Awareness package that includes:

• Safety Alert Seat
• Forward Collision Alert
• Following Distance Indicator
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Front Pedestrian Detection
• IntelliBeam headlamps
• Front Automatic Braking

These offer a safer and more convenient driving experience, especially at night or in inclement weather. This is standard on the Premium Luxury and Platinum and an option on the Luxury trim level.

2017 Cadillac XT5 Performance & Handling

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 isn’t going to steal your heart for speedy acceleration, but it handles very well in part thanks to a lighter body.

We drove the Cadillac XT5 through the worst of Ohio weather and definitely appreciated the all wheel drive while traversing poorly plowed and salted roads. Even with ice patches popping up in random areas the XT5 kept us on the road and got us to a concert despite weather that kept a third of the theater at home.

There is only one engine option; a 3.L V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers over 300 horsepower. Although the car handles well the acceleration is lacking, and you will need to adjust to an automatic start/stop feature that turns the engine off when you stop the car at a light or in traffic.

Even though you’ll often find yourself pushing the pedal to the floor to get a quick takeoff, the XT5 is fun to drive with an enjoyable ride that conquered windy roads during our test’s single day of warm weather. Drivers can choose between AWD, Touring and Sport driving modes. Road noise is practically non-existent.

The 2017 XT5 is rated for 26 mpg highway and 18 mpg city with a mixed fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon. This matches well with our experience driving the XT5 Platinum.

2017 Cadillac XT5 Design, Interior and Luxury

There is a definite price increase to go from the base XT5 to the XT5 Platinum, but you’ll definitely see and feel the upgrades outside and inside the XT5.

The exterior style is bold with a dominating grill and aggressive lines, but it never crosses the line into an outright attitude. We particularly love the way the headlights and tail lights bring the design together with a bold accent on each corner.

Step inside and you’ll enter a cabin that is an upscale sanctuary that delivers a soft touch and refined look on every surface. You can see the interior of the Cadillac XT5 below.

The Ultraview sunroof includes a cloth cover that retracts to let everyone enjoy the sun and helps the cabin feel even larger. There is a lot of room for the driver and for all the passengers thanks to deeper openings under the dash. Legroom for passengers in the rear is good and, with the Platinum option, the rear seats are heated and include their own climate control zone. The rear seat slides to adjust legroom based on cargo you are hauling.

Depending on the interior color option you will see beautiful carbon fiber accents or wood grain accents on the steering wheel, doors and dash. This is eye-catching without being ostentatious.

Cadillac places storage throughout the cabin with a pass through space below the shifter, a roomy center console and pockets throughout.

The back of the XT5 includes a track and a sliding brace that can keep your cargo from sliding around. The seats fold down to let you haul bigger items with a 40/20/40 split so you can still bring a passenger or two.

2017 Cadillac XT5 Technology & Safety

The Cadillac Cue system is better than in previous generations, but still behind the Chevy MyLink System. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support help deliver a more cohesive system that is easier to use and more closely matches the apps and services your phone offers.

You can see Apple CarPlay above and Android Auto below for a look at what this system is capable of delivering to your dash.

This does go a long way towards helping users adjust to the Cue system. Cadillac also includes a wireless charging system for supported phones, a built-in 4G LTE hotspot that lets your devices connect directly to the internet through the car for business and entertainment while on road trips.

We love the headlights on the Cadillac XT5. The low beams are intensely bright and reach far out into the night to make driving much easier and safer. The brights practically light up the road like daytime and when you turn there are side spotlights that light up the edge of the road so you can easily see where you are turning to. This feature is simply stunning and should be on your wishlist if night-driving is currently a challenge.

That’s just the start of the safety options on the XT5 Platinum edition. The heads-up display allows you to keep your eyes on the road while still seeing important information. The blind zone alert system makes switching lanes on the highway a simple and worry-free process.

Lane Keep Assist will help you stay in your lane and adaptive cruise control means you won’t need to keep adjusting your speed to match the car in front of you. Combine this with the Pedestrian detection, that alerts you to pedestrians and can even activate breaking, and the entire driving experience is safer for you and others.

You can easily parallel park with automatic parking and when you need to manually back out the backup camera shows you where you are backing up and also offer a bird’s eye view of your car. If you are close to backing into something a vibration in your seat alerts you. There is an option to turn the rear view mirror into a display so you see directly behind you if the interior is blocked with cargo or passengers.

All of this safety comes together to deliver a more enjoyable driving experience as Cadillac is able to remove many of the hassles and worries of driving at night or in crowded cities and traffic. This car won’t drive itself, but it will help keep you and others on the road safe.