2020 Cadillac XT5 Sport: The Brand’s Midsize Luxury Crossover

Highlight: The Sport trim is all-new for the 2020 model year.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $59,740 (Base Model: $45,090)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: air bags; a rearview camera; a tire pressure monitoring system; a tire inflator kit; a rear park assist system; an electronic stability control system; a traction control system; a teen driver safety configuration system; following distance indicator; a forward collision alert system; a lane keep assist with a lane departure warning system; and a front pedestrian braking system

Standard Equipment Base: 18-inch wheels; 9-speed automatic transmission; an adaptive remote start; a dual zone climate control system; lockable glovebox; a keyless entry system; an in-vehicle Wi-Fi system; a power front seats; pseudo leather; a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; second row slide and recline seats; a capless fuel filler door; a push-button ignition starter; a power lift gate; electric parking brakes; an automatic start/stop system; an 8-inch infotainment screen; a remote start system; and heated front seats

Standard Equipment Sport: 20-inch wheels; all-wheel drive; 3.6-liter, 310-horsepower; a cargo management system; lane change alert with side blind zone alert system; two position memory operated driver’s seat; an automatic rearview dimming mirror; a rear cross traffic alert system; a heated steering wheel; a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel; an in-vehicle wireless charging system; a hands-free programmable lift gate; a real time dampening suspension system; a heavy duty cooling system; and driver select mode                                    
Options On Test Vehicle: HD surround vision; rear pedestrian alert; rear camera with washer; 8-inch gauge cluster; a heads up display system; a navigation system; a 14-speaker BOSE audio system; a cargo net; and a tire inflator kit

Other Trim Levels:

Premium Luxury
Platinum

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: an 8-speaker Bose AM/FM/HD with SiriusXM

Apple CarPlay And Android: Yes

Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes

USB Connectivity: Yes

Android/Apple CarPlay: Yes

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 6 years or 70,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 2.0-liter turbo, 4-cylinder/310-hp

Recommended Fuel: Premium

Standard Fuel Mileage: 21-city/28-hwy

What’s New: For the 2020 model year, Cadillac has made a number of trim and content changes, which has increased the cost of the base model by a healthy $3,000. Also new this year, a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine joins the brands lineup.

Why: Cadillac’s midsize five passenger crossover is available in a front wheel drive or an all-wheel drive configuration. Two engines are available, a 4-cylinder turbo or a 6-cylinder engine.

The all-new 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine is standard in both the Luxury and Premium models. The engine inks out 237-horsepower. While we have not tested the new engine, this offering seemed to be in line with the competition.

On the other hand, the 6-cylinder turbo model, which is standard on the Sport and available on the Luxury model, produced a whopping 310-horsepower. We found this engine to be more than adequate, providing the performance one would expect from a premium crossover.

The brand’s popular XT5 crossover is available in four trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport and Platinum.

While the exterior of the XT5 is virtually the same, in order to enhance the cabin space, the interior design team recrafted the center console for the 2020, making it more functional. The storage space has increased and the console now exudes a more tailored-look with its premium stitching.

Additionally, Cadillac has added a few new richer interior colors, as well as a higher end Bose sound system, giving the vehicle a more upscale feel and sound.

Moreover, unlike previous Cadillacs, users will find that the interface of Cadillac’s infotainment system to be both intuitive and user friendly. When operating the previous CUE system, many of the brand’s customers, as well as a number of automotive critics found the system to be somewhat sketchy and non intuitive.

Lastly, just like many luxury car buyers have come to expect, Cadillac was outfitted with the latest semi-like, self-driving features, which ranged from an electronic blindspot system to a lane departure warning system.

But: We were disappointed that Cadillac has not joined the ranks of many of its competitors by including a hold feature, when stopped at traffic lights? Not only is this is a great safety feature, but is serves as convenient feature to have too. Even mainstream brands like Subaru, offers this feature on their vehicles.

Moreover, we’re not quite ready to pay $60,000 for a midsize crossover. Even with all of the bells and whistles, there are non premium brands available on the market today, offering more space and seating capacity, with a much lower price tag. Yes, we understand that this is a Cadillac, but we’re not sure if the price is justifiable, especially after reviewing the top of the line three-row Hyundai Palisade and its sibling, the Kia Telluride. Both Korean crossovers literally offer more of everything, at a price tag under $50,000. The only thing these brands lack is that they don’t wear the Cadillac badge.

Furthermore, why is the navigation system an option on the XT5, as opposed to a standard feature?

Lastly, while we haven’t tested the smaller 4-cylinder engine, which produces only 237-horsepower, is that enough power to fuel, no pun intended, this Cadillac?

Verdict: Pricing has increased by $3,000, when compared to the 2019 model. For buyers, who have been yearning for an American luxury, two-row crossover, they will find that the XT5 is a worthy contender.

It’s as an easy-to-operate, great road vehicle that is available with many of the luxury accouterments one expects from a premium brand.

Competition: Audi Q5; BMW X5; Infiniti QX80; Mercedes-Benz GLC; Lincoln Nautilus; and Volvo XC60