What car experts say about the 2017 Cadillac XT5
A maintenance professional, a safety expert, and a local Cadillac sales manager weigh in.
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2017 Cadillac XT5
This is the first year of production for the 2017 Cadillac XT5. The midsize luxury SUV replaces the Cadillac SRX and is 278 pounds lighter and two inches longer than its predecessor. It comes with a starting price of $38,995 and has been named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Cadillac is backing the XT5 with a four-year, 50,000 mile warranty.
The XT5 affords more legroom in the rear seats than the SRX and can seat up to five people. It comes standard with a V6 engine that gets 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, and it offers a fuel economy of 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway.
In the interior, it’s attractive, with a design that is meant to emphasize “space and craftsmanship.” The XT5 has already been named one of WardsAuto’s 10 best interior winners, and it provides up to 63 cubic feet of cargo space when the seats are folded down.
It also comes with several high-end tech features, including a rear camera mirror that streams video into the traditional rearview mirror to improve visibility by removing potential obstacles like rear seat passengers, rear pillars, and rooflines. Plus, it offers a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, eight-speaker audio system, and DVD players in the rear seats. The user-friendly CUE infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
What the experts say
An innovative SRX replacement that could change how cars are designed
“Maintenance-wise, it’s like most GM vehicles today, meaning there’s very little regular maintenance involved. … The problem was, when the SRX was introduced, it got long in the tooth and stayed around a few years longer than it should have. Its systems weren’t updated; it was just starting to look old and act old, and it just wasn’t as contemporary [as the competition]. … What really intrigued me is the [XT5’s] streaming rearview mirror. I haven’t seen that anywhere else, and it could be the first step to eliminating side view mirrors in cars entirely.” – John Paul, AAA’s “The Car Doctor”
Already demonstrating a strong safety performance
“This is a vehicle with a state-of-the-art safety performance right out of the box. The XT5 qualifies for the Institute’s highest safety designation of Top Safety Pick+ when it’s equipped with an optional front crash prevention system. … From a safety standpoint, not only does XT5 itself perform well in IIHS safety tests, but SUVs as a group tend to be among, or are among, the safest vehicles on the road when you look at real-world performance. … If you’re in market for a midsize luxury SUV, this one should definitely be on your list.” – Russ Rader, senior vice president of communications at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
A “versatile” choice for consumers
“This is probably one of the most versatile vehicles we sell. We sell this to people of all walks of life: families, single men, single women, young men, young women—it’s really a vehicle for everyone. … The warranty is better than any of the competitors’. It’s four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. We also offer premium care maintenance at the same time. … Right at the get-go, we sold a lot of them. It’s a big hit right off the bat. I really can’t keep them in stock. We’re all excited about this vehicle. We were excited when it came out and excited that it has exceeded expectations.” – Jon Chiavelli, general sales manager for Herb Chambers Cadillac of Lynnfield
For more information on the 2017 Cadillac XT5, visit a Cadillac dealership near you.
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