More than two decades ago Cadillac executives recognized their owner base was aging and younger buyers were going to foreign luxury sedans. So the company got on with designing and building some very good automobiles and a full-size SUV, the Escalade.
The SUV and Crossover craze has pushed luxury carmakers into a model segment they were none too quick to embrace, including Cadillac. However, in recent years, Cadillac has done well in this segment. The latest offering from GM’s premium brand is the 2019 XT-5. A mid-size CUV that offers the right size, economy and luxury you would expect of a Cadillac.
The first impression comes from the powertrain. The XT5 comes with a 310 horsepower, 3.6 litre V-6 which isn’t performance oriented but impressively quiet and well isolated from the interior cabin. There is adequate power for passing on the highway and zipping through city traffic. The 8-speed automatic shifts through its gears so smoothly you hardly notice it going from one gear to the next. The XT5’s standard stop/start fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation functions also work seamlessly. Fuel consumption is impressive; even cruising at 120 km/h the onboard computer calculated 8.2L/100 km. With a combination of some city driving and mostly highway the cruising range was just over 720 km.
Ride and handling impressed me with the XT5 taking a twisty road with confidence. Body roll is well controlled and the XT5 feels substantial and planted. Steering response is accurate if lacking a little feel. You hustle through curves with confidence as there is a somewhat sporty nature even in the base model I drove.
I put over six hours of highway driving in the driver’s seat getting my wife to Calgary, then zipping back so she could help out a daughter with a new grandchild. The wide front seats at first appearance don’t look like they have the support for long-distance driving, but they do. Rear seats are just as accommodating with plenty of legroom. Overall the passenger cabin is a pleasant place to be, well trimmed in good quality materials with the right mix of chrome trim and faux wood pieces for an upscale look. A two-tone black and beige leather trim finishes it all off nicely. The steering wheel provides the driver with controls for common functions without having to reach for the instrument panel.
This brings me to the subject of connectivity. All XT5 models come with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an onboard 4GLTE Wi-Fi hotspot are all standard fare. Four USB ports are located conveniently throughout the cabin so that everyone can have a place to charge their mobile device. You are even provided with a phone-charging pad between the two front seats.
The XT5 isn’t all glitz, it is practical with above average cargo space, plenty of bins for stashing smaller items and an easy to fold 40/20/40 split rear seat. In short, ideal for a family of four or a couple who might take luggage and the dog for a trip.
And the XT5 really shines on the open road providing an extremely quiet ride devoid of wind noise with minimal road noise into the passenger cabin depending on the pavement surface.
The price of entry for a front-wheel-drive XT5 starts at $41,795. My AWD tester begins at $44,795 and there are four other models to choose; Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. The top of the line Platinum starts at over $69,000. For more information on the XT5 contact Wolfe Cadillac in Edmonton, they can help you price out the model that best suits your taste in a luxury Crossover.
Read more of Garry Melnyk’s Auto Talk at stalberttoday.ca/auto-talk
