Cadillac updates 2018 midsize crossover by adding features
Published 1:30 am Monday, January 29, 2018
The XT5 was new to the Cadillac lineup for model year 2017, and this luxury midsize crossover is largely unchanged for 2018 except for the addition of some extra features. Those features include a rear camera mirror, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, an auto-heated steering wheel, front and rear seat USB ports, and the latest version of Cadillac’s infotainment system.
There is seating for five people, and there are four trim levels: the XT5 base model, Luxury, Luxury Premium, and Platinum. The first three models are available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Platinum model doesn’t offer a front-drive version, it comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Exterior styling of the 2018 XT5 reflects Cadillac’s current themes but it tones down the dramatic angularity seen in some other recent models. The XT5 meets the standard for beauty by most any measure.
My tester was the Platinum model, teeming with desirable standard features and equipped with an optional Driver Assist Package ($1,595) incorporating adaptive cruise control, auto safety seatbelt tightening, forward and reverse automatic braking, and automatic parking assist. That’s a nice package to have but I’d rather omit the seatbelt tightening, which would come in handy in a crash but can otherwise be a bother, like when the belt tightens needlessly every once in a while.
Power is provided by a 3.6-liter V6 engine generating 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration transcends mere adequacy but doesn’t approach rip-roaring status. The fuel economy rating for the XT5 Platinum AWD is 18/25/21 mpg (city/highway/combined), and regular gas is fine. Front-drive versions are rated a mile more for both city and highway.
The XT5 has a good comfortable ride on the highway and also takes twisty turns with composure.
Interior styling is masterful in the way it mimics the car’s exterior design. There’s a lot of room in the cabin, not just for passengers but also cargo. Front passengers predictably have plenty of space, but even rear seat passengers are blessed with 39.5 inches of legroom and 36 inches of headroom. Cargo volume is 30 cubic feet with the second row seats upright, and 63 cubic feet with them folded.
I had a couple of little issues with the infotainment system. Volume adjustment is done via an area on the touchscreen, or by using arrow up and down buttons on the steering wheel. Both modes are inferior to a good old dial because they take too long. I don’t know about you, but most of my volume adjustments are cranking it way up for a favorite song and scaling it way down afterward. The other issue is that fingerprints on the touchscreen are more noticeable than on other touchscreens. However, Cadillac provides a high quality microfiber cloth embossed with the Cadillac logo and it does an easy, thorough job of making the screen look untouched by human hands.
A final note: My tester’s interior color was Maple Sugar with Jet Black accents. The top of the dash is in the Maple Sugar color, and it causes a considerable reflection on the windshield. If the dash top were black, that wouldn’t happen.
2018 CADILLAC XT5 PLATINUM AWD
Base price, including destination charge: $63,990
Price as driven: $66,510
Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild, and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.
