An open road, your family in the new SUV, your favorite tunes playing on the radio, and a full tank of gas: it is your first road trip in your new SUV. What features are the most important to you when considering a new small to midsize SUV? While there is much to ponder when choosing a new vehicle, some features will be more important to you than others. The 2023 Cadillac XT5 has a wide variety of great features that make it a great choice for many buyers.
The XT5 is a midsize luxury SUV. This crossover gives you the flexibility in parking and driving you’re hoping for while still providing a surprising amount of room inside. The five seats allow you to bring the whole family on the trip. Also, the cargo space can hold an impressive amount of camping gear, luggage, or whatever you like.
Standard Features
If Cadillac is known primarily for one thing, that would be luxury. The three trim options are Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. Unsurprisingly, all models have an amazing amount of high-end features and materials. Enjoying a long road trip will be no problem with the many creature comforts in this amazing SUV. The XT5 has plenty of legroom, even the rear passenger seats have 39 inches of space available to stretch out in. Plus, pack up everyone’s suitcases in the 30 cu.ft. of trunk space.
Driving is a breeze with the cruise control, great safety features, and Driver Information Center. The comfortable suspension, quiet ride, and available active noise cancellation provide one of the most enjoyable rides in an SUV. The XT5 comes with a ton of great standard comfort features. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, allowing quick adjustment according to each zone’s preference. The front bucket seats are some of the most comfortable of all SUVs. Though not everywhere has a need for heated seats, even warm climates often have chilly mornings and days on occasion. The XT5 comes standard with heated driver and front passenger seats.
There are some great tech features as well. Every XT5 also comes with a keyless open, meaning you can easily unlock your car without needing to put your key in the door. The USB ports allow for easy charging of all your USB-capable devices. The XT5 also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to connect your phone to the car for music, maps, and so much more. This SUV is even Wi-Fi hotspot capable.
Luxurious Upgrades
Now that we’re done with the standard feature set on these amazing SUVs let’s take a look at some of the luxury upgrades available on the XT5. Starting with the driving experience upgrades, the Adaptive Cruise Control keeps the distance between you and the car in front of you consistent, even if they change speed. The added lumbar settings for the driver and front passenger seats allow your back to be perfectly supported even on long trips. The Cadillac User Experience system can be upgraded to include navigation, and the Driver Information Center size is eight inches. The Bose Performance Series 14-speaker audio system can give your XT5 legendarily good audio quality with deep bass, clear treble, and everything in between.
The XT5 also has a wide variety of great functionality upgrades available. A first aid kit can be added, as well as a cargo area organizer, cargo flex divider, or cargo tie-downs. The Head-Up Display allows the driver to see selected vehicle information on the windshield. The lighting accents allow gentle light to illuminate parts of the car without interfering with visibility. You can upgrade to a tri-zone climate control system to allow more precise comfort. The XT5 can even include an in-vehicle Air Ionizer to purify the air in your car on the go.
The Many Safety Features of the XT5
Cadillac loves keeping its drivers and passengers safe in its vehicles, and the XT5 is no exception. The HD Rear Vision Camera allows the driver to easily see if there is any obstacle or pedestrian behind the SUV when backing up. One upgrade to the safety alerts is a Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which tells the driver when something is about to cross or is crossing behind the vehicle. Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning nudges the steering wheel to keep the XT5 centered in the lane when enabled. An available upgrade also adds Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, which warns the driver of another car in the blind spot when attempting to change lanes.
Front Pedestrian Braking, Forward Collision Alert, and the Safety Alert Seat are all features designed to help avoid collisions. While the driver is always responsible for how the vehicle is driven, these safety features can help avoid collisions in previously unavoidable situations. In the past, a momentary distraction could cause you not to see a pedestrian, but the pedestrian detection system can brake for you. Technology can be so helpful when properly utilized. The following distance indicator lets the driver know when the vehicle in front of the XT5 gets too close to help prevent you from tailgating and ending up in a fender bender. The Front and Rear Park Assist, OnStar and Cadillac Connected Services, Passenger Sensing System, Rear child security door locks, and Teen Driver are just a few more of the standard Cadillac XT5 features, with even more available for upgrades.
The Powertrain of the XT5
One of the most important considerations in choosing the right SUV for a road trip is the engine and transmission choices. The XT5 Luxury and Premium Luxury come standard with a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Sport comes standard with a 3.6L V6, also with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and this engine is available as an upgrade for the Premium Luxury trim.
The 2.0L turbo four-cylinder gets 22 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG combined with front-wheel drive. The 3.6L V6 gets 19 MPG in the city, 26 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG combined with the front-wheel drivetrain. Cadillac has done a quality job finding the balance between power and fuel efficiency. Make an SUV that is super efficient, and likely it won’t have a ton of power. Make a really powerful V8 SUV, and you’ll feel the pain at the pump. The XT5 will give you the power you need without breaking the bank at the gas station, which is the perfect combination for any long journey.
2023 Cadillac XT5, an SUV to Consider
Whether you are interested in a new SUV for a short daily commute, or long road trips with the family, the Cadillac XT5 is well worth looking into. The comfort is unparalleled in this price range, with tons of legroom, cargo space, and creature comforts. The wide array of safety features will help keep you and your family safe. Throw it in cruise, head down the highway, sink into your perfectly optimized seats, turn on the A/C, and enjoy the quiet, smooth ride for which Cadillac is so well known.
Whether you choose the Luxury, Premium Luxury, or Sport trim, you’ll be surprised at the quality of SUV you can get for the price. Each trim option offers something unique which you can also tailor to your exact needs. Choose the right wheel size, design elements, paint color, and interior trim options, and walk off the lot with your dream SUV.
