Cadillac XT5 2022 Review

Cadillac's midsize crossover SUV, the XT5, already feels a little washed-over. While it debuted just five years ago, that's a lifetime in the small- and medium-size SUV world. Most of the XT5's rivals, including the Lincoln Aviator and Mercedes GLE, benefit from fresher designs. That will change with next year's model, which is expected to mark an all-new generation. In the meantime, the 2022 XT5 carries on with only the slightest of changes.

The XT5 could be a good pick if you want an American-built midsize SUV that represents a luxury step up from a GMC or Buick model, for example. It's also pleasingly roomy for both passengers and cargo. But when sized up against its European and Japanese contemporaries, the XT5 falls to the middle of the pack. Read our Expert Rating below for details on all of the XT5's hits and misses.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 is a two-row midsize SUV sold in Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. Luxury and Premium Luxury models come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (235 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque). The Sport comes with a 3.6-liter V6 (310 hp, 271 lb-ft). This engine is also optional for the Premium Luxury. Both engines pair with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Luxury and Premium Luxury models are front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. The Sport comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Luxury Feature highlights for the base XT5 include:

• 18-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Power liftgate
• Remote engine start
• Proximity keyless entry and push-button start
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable, heated front seats
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Eight-speaker Bose audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (including wireless connectivity)

Standard driving aids include:

• Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

Premium Luxury Adds many more luxury-oriented features such as:

• Automatic wipers
• Power-folding and auto-dimming side mirrors
• Panoramic sunroof
• Hands-free liftgate
• Driver's seat memory settings
• Power-adjustable, heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Interior ambient lighting
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)

Sport The Sport includes all of the Premium Luxury trim's standard features and V6 engine. Specific enhancements include:

• 20-inch wheels
• Sport-tuned all-wheel-drive system
• Sport suspension with adaptive dampers      
• Upgraded Brembo brake system
• Heavy-duty cooling system

The XT5 offers several option packages for the Premium Luxury and Sport trims. They include:

• Technology package
• Digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area)
• Digital instrument panel
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the XT5 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with no driver intervention)

•  Platinum package
• Contents of the Technology package
• 20-inch wheels
• Sport suspension with adaptive dampers
• Tri-zone climate control (paired with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats)
• Upgraded leather upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Navigation system
• 14-speaker Bose audio system

• Driver Assist package
• All features from the Enhanced Visibility and Technology package
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Cadillac and the car in front)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)

• Smart Towing package (Premium Luxury)
• V6 engine
• Seven-pin wiring harness for trailer connection
• Heavy-duty cooling system
• Hitch guidance camera system