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Refreshed 2020 Cadillac XT5 Debuts

We’ve shown it to you before, but now it’s officially official on the double: the refreshed 2020 Cadillac XT5 is here, and it’s offering a new base-level engine, new technology, and revised design inside and out. The latest XT5 now falls in line with Cadillac’s new Y trim level strategy, starting with the base-level Luxury and branching into either the comfort-oriented Premium Luxury, or the more aggressive Sport.

Exterior differentiation for the Premium Luxury includes bright exterior pieces, while the Sport offers darker exterior pieces. Each trim also offers unique driving dynamics, with the Luxury and Premium Luxury tuned to isolate the driver from road aberrations and create a quiet, more-refined driving experience. Meanwhile, the Sport model is tuned for performance, offering quicker steering and improved body control through unique chassis tuning.

2020 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury Exterior Press 0004

Highlights on the options list include the Platinum package, which is available on both the Premium Luxury and Sport models. The package includes:

  • Semi-Aniline leather seating and leather covers for the instrument panel, console and door trim
  • Microfiber sueded headliner
  • Illuminated front door sill plates
  • Front and rear premium carpeting
  • Real-time damping and performance suspension

In terms of styling updates, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 gets a tweaked design and new grille, with two separate grille insert designs on offer. LED headlamps with IntelliBeam are now standard across the range. For reference, the IntelliBeam feature automatically switches between high- and low-beams depending on traffic conditions, offering superior lighting without dazzling oncoming drivers or pedestrians

2020 Cadillac XT5 Sport Exterior Press 0002

The lower and rear fascias were tweaked as well. In the corners, we find new 18-inch wheels as standard on Luxury and Premium Luxury models, with optional 20-inchers offered as well. The XT5 Sport is equipped with new 20-inch wheels as standard.

As expected, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 is decked out in the latest technology, highlighted by an 8-inch color touchscreen, optional navigation, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus optional 4G LTE Wi-Fi.

2020 Cadillac XT5 Sport Interior Press 0001

The latest Cadillac User Experience interface handles infotainment, with inputs made by Caddy’s next-gen rotary controller. The rotary controller now features jog functionality for more intuitive inputs. Further tech updates include:

The cabin also comes with updated colors, materials, and trim themes, highlighted by a Jet Black / Kona Brown option with leather upholstery. An updated center console design and new storage solutions also make an appearance. Front-seat heating is standard, while a Bose Performance Series sound system is optional.

2020 Cadillac XT5 Sport Interior Press 0008

Under the hood, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 now offers the new turbocharged 2.0L I-4 LSY engine as standard for Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels. As we reported previously, output is rated at 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That model gets the 350 badge out back, as per Cadillac’s new torque-based nomenclature.

The 2019 model year’s naturally-aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX is standard on the Sport, and optional on the Premium Luxury. Output for the ’six is rated at 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The motor gets the 400 badge out back.

Both engine options mate to the GM nine-speed automatic transmission with the Electronic Precision shift gear selector as standard across the board.

2020 Cadillac XT5 Sport Exterior Press 0008

Front-wheel-drive is standard on Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels. All-wheel-drive is optional on Luxury and Premium Luxury.

The Sport also features a unique twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system with Active Yaw Control, as well as Continuous Damping Control adaptive suspension.

Sales open up late this summer. Pricing is expected to be similar to that of the 2019 model year.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Yippee !!!

    Same OLD GM 3.6 – V6.

    Yet the ” all new ” under powered 2.0T.

    Same old GM midsized fits everything vehicle.

    Reply
    1. Well, since mid 2016CY, Cadillac sold a bit over 200,00 of them worldwide.

      Reply
    2. I keep reading complaints here about the “old GM 3.6”.
      The LGX 3.6 is a clean sheet brand new design which is highly refined for Cadillac in 2016!
      It is far smoother and quieter then the LFX 3.6 used on most “other” GM models. The LGX Is not an updated LFX!!
      Yes, a new twin turbo motor would be sweet, but for most buyers the LGX is plenty strong and refined for their needs.

      Reply
      1. Clean sheet, GM hasn’t had a clean sheet since 1909.

        Also I’m not complaining, just asking for !!!!

        ONE GM MIDSIZED VEHICLE WITH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE GM 3.6 – V6 BLAH.

        JUST ONE !!

        And I prefer an inline four or inline six with one turbo, more torque at lower RPM and less moving parts !

        And NOT the lower output 2.0T ——- MORE POWER —– MORE

        Is the ” new ” one better on fuel than the ” old ” one at 3000 to 5000 rpm ?

        Otherwise basic engine fundamentals says 3600 CC with X boar and X stroke, naturally asperated has an output of around X

        Is the ” new ” one better than the old one ? We will see in a few years as they are only around three years old, so how many with 100,000 miles are out there.

        Everybody knows what the problems are with the old one at 70,000 to 120,000 miles !!

        So again the average 3.6 – V6 GM blah engine is great for the average GM blah SUV.

        But I have always thought a Cadillac was to be the better GM, a step UP !!

        Just like the GM ad ” step UP to Cadillac !!!

        With the NOT step UP ” same as the average GM blah 3.6- V6 !!

        Or even the step DOWN to the even LOWER power 2.0T !!!

        They are great for China, if that is what China wants, but is that really what the US Cadillac consumer wants ?

        Reply
        1. No argument here that Cadillac models should have a “special” engine available for just for Cadillac to make them stand out from the rest of GM.
          My point is the LGX V-6 keeps being lumped in as a corporate GM engine like the LFX is.
          The LGX was designed as a premium engine for Cadillac and is only now showing up in a couple other GM models.
          Yes it is a better engine with respect to refinement and efficiency.
          Problems with the LFX? I am in the auto parts business and have a fleet account with a bunch of Impalas some of which have over 300,000 miles, A couple water pumps, starters, alternators, and lots of brake pads are all they have gotten! 🙂

          Reply
          1. Richard,
            You have a fleet of GM 3.6 – V6 LFX engines, which have over 300,000 miles on them, and not ONE has had the timing chains replaced ?

            Yet my mother-in-laws Enclave, my brothers 3.0 in his LaCrosse, and our 2004 CTS, ALL with less than 150,000 miles have had the timing chains replaced !!

            And my brothers do X amount of these a month !! Keeps food on the table !!!

            Reply
            1. Interesting, I have never sold a set and my distributor in Tampa FL has only sold 2 sets this year, but the distributor says a boatload are being sold up North!
              The mechanic for the fleet says he has never done one but they are using Amsoil synthetic oil in their vehicles.

              Reply
              1. That’s good to know !

                As our CTS made it 140,000+ with synthetic oil, and mother-in-laws Enclave only made it 75,000 miles, with all service at the local GM dealership.

                And we are in South Dakota, so up north.

                Reply
        2. Stating the New 2.0T Engine in the XT4 is “underpowered”, you obviously have not driven one. Go to your local Cadillac dealer and drive one, you will have different thoughts on this engine. On another note, This Engine was first introduced in the Cadillac XT4 and the rest of GM is lucky to get it.

          Reply
  2. I like what I’m seeing. Those wheels (looks like two different designs shown) both look great, unlike the wheels shown on an article about the XT5 a few weeks back! Those looked terrible. Personally I feel that putting the base model with the 2.0T is a good move. I also like the fact that it sounds like the luxury packages will certainly be different from the Sport in terms of ride and wheels and sounds. Great job Cadillac. Thank you.

    Only thing I don’t like is that ugly 400 stuck on the back! But no worries, they come off easy enough and that’s exactly what I’d do if I were to get one.

    Reply
    1. C’mon man…don’t hate on the 400! That alone just DOUBLED sales! How else are we going to show other drivers how much “torque rounded up to the nearest 50 in newton meters” we have??

      Also, don’t forget that since the car has 2 engines, there will be an “XT5 400” and an “XT5 600000000000 (or whatever the number for the 3.6 is)”.

      Reply
      1. Haha. That’ true! Because we all know that everyone will know exactly what that means!!!

        That’s the nice thing about stick on badges. They come off!

        Reply
  3. In theory Cadillac is finally doing everything right. They have a few exclusive engines, they seriously stepped up their advertising game, they are no longer overpricing their models, the cars are built to be comfortable AND sporty, and they are finally, finally making things like LED headlights and heated seats standard along with offering more than one engine. The designs are also pretty decent on most models.

    So what gives? Sure sales are increasing, but I feel like the brand is still so overlooked. Some people still think of it as the “poor man’s luxury brand” (yes I actually had a guy tell me that when I said I wanted an XTS).

    I think part of the problem could be the management/press. When GM said that they were discontinuing the CT6, the news was everywhere, however when Cadillac announced that it WOULD keep the CT6 alive, nobody but us “car people” had a clue about it. That, and MAYBE material quality in some models are the only 2 things I could think of.

    I’m excited to see these “new storage solutions”. One of the few gripes I have about our 17 XT5 is the lack of small item storage up front. Also….can we get that passenger side wiper to sit down a bit further? I’ve noticed that it does sit up a bit high on the windshield in person, and I’m still seeing it in the pictures above. It’s very visible from the passenger seat. It is a $40k Cadillac after all.

    Reply
    1. Henry,

      Well said. About that passenger wiper: you may be able to do this. If not, ask a reliable tech (mechanic) to do this. From what I know, you can still “adjust” the wipers on cars. You may have a small black cap or cover over the attachment stud where the wiper arm connects and remove the nut. Last I knew, these still have grooves and you can pull the wiper arm up off the stud with the grooves. Adjust the wiper arm down just one groove and push back down onto the stud. The wiper should sit lower and out of site better, but you want to be sure it doesn’t hit the hood or other plastic parts. Also be sure it will wipe without interfering with the other wiper arm. If all sits well and clears the rest, then you are set. Tighten the nut onto the stud and replace the cap.

      Reply
    2. Henry,
      Most the people I know think of Cadillac the same, its a joke of a luxury vehicle.

      I agree, up to date, have you driven the competition up to date ?

      We drive a 2014 ATS and it is a joke of a vehicle and junk to boot !!

      Lately we have driven the competition.

      We LOVE the looks of the ATS, inside and out, but there have been so , so , so many problems, with GM nowhere to be found, so what do you get ” poor mans luxury ” if that, expensive junk !!!!!!!!

      Sure the new ones mite be better and break this thought process, but we will see !

      If we know nothing else, we know GM sure as h3ll can’t be trusted, but have to be proven, and that takes time !!

      And WHAT ” more than one engine choice “, on the CT6 ?

      Because the:
      XT4 — only — 2.0T, NO CHOICE !!!!
      XT5 — only —- 3.6, NO CHOICE yet, on 2020 they say you can get the less powerful 2.0T !!!!
      XT6 — only — BRAND NEW — 3.6, NO CHOICE !!!!, in the US, China you can get the less powerful 2.0T !!!
      CT5 — only — BRAND NEW —- under powered 2.0T — to start with, until when ? NO CHOICE YET !!!!
      CT6 — so the only Cadillac WITH A CHOICE — 3.6 — or Blackwing !!
      Escalade — only — 6.2, NO CHOICE !!!

      Is the Cadillac lineup looking better ?

      I think so !!

      Is the Cadillac lineup better ?

      NOT YET !!!

      Reply
      1. You may have just “gotten a bad one” in term of your ATS. We’ve had over 5 GM SUVS (Tahoe, Yukons, Suburbans) and have had zero problems. But our latest (a 2016 Tahoe LTZ) has been nothing but trouble.

        The AC compressor went bad at 16k miles (6 months into the warranty), our mechanic claimed we needed new tires after 28k miles, the front passenger strut started leaking (the vehicle had to go in twice for the same issue because the first visit “there was nothing wrong” even though the truck rode like crap), the sunroof would not open and they charged us for a motor which of course went bad after 2 weeks due to a short, the backup camera screen turns blue sometimes….and a few more I’m forgetting.

        Dan, thank you very much for the tip…but it doesn’t bother me that much xD. Also, if I’m paying $51k for a car, I really do not want to be taking the front wiper apart.

        Reply
        1. Yep, a bad one, but you see, the first two years or so , of the ATS junk, was it for the ATS.

          Done, no more ATS, and you look at the overwhelming negative customer reviews of the ATS !!

          Its just like the Cadillac CUE, its JUNK, when it works its GREAT, but most of the time, its JUNK !!

          And GM just sits there, knows the troubles, but does NOTHING,

          Then GM cant figure out WHY Cadillac is overlooked !!!

          GM you screwed how many 2013 to 2016 Cadillac owners ??

          If GM would have stood behind their KNOWN FAULTY parts, instead of pushing them out beyond warranty and screwing the average Cadillac owner, Cadillac would NOT be overlooked !

          Just look at myself, never once have I said a negative word About GM and for sure not Cadillac !!!

          I have driven GM for 39 years and have owned five Cadillacs !!!

          The last three GM vehicles have been crap and GM has treated me like sh1t !!

          I would no longer recommend a GM vehicle to anyone, buy what you like because the new GM could care less about their product or their customer !!

          Reply
  4. They added a defeat switch for Start/Stop!

    Now I can appreciate the car for it’s comfortable ride and excellent interior.

    Reply
  5. Would have been nice for Cadillac to borrow the LGW Twin Turbo 3.0L DOHC-4V V6 making 375 hp from the Cadillac CT5 or the turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel Duramax LM2 inline-six engine from the 2020 Chevrelet Silverado Diesel.

    Reply
  6. Meh! Lincoln Nautilus looks better especially the Black Label trim even though some of its parts are plastic. The GM lifers won’t like what I have said but they can bite me.

    Reply
    1. The XT5 has a much better interior than the Nautilus.

      Reply
    2. the Nautilus is a boring, soulless blob.

      Reply
  7. Refresh HAHAHAHAHA. That is so comical.
    Maybe someone should send GM the updated Audi Q7 so they can see how other Automakers treat a Refresh inside and out.
    I mean they couldn’t even swap out that steering wheel for the one in the XT6?
    What a complete joke GM is turning Cadillac into. I have never said this before but Mary Barra needs to go. If she and everyone involved consider this a refresh, they’re in the wrong Industry.

    Reply
  8. Cadillac should start putting the 2.7L Turbo in their Sport models. If it fits the new CT4,, I don’t see why they don’t keep up with the other Lux SUV’s.

    Reply
    1. Yeah how sweet that is right? They have a “Cadillac Specific” Six Cylinder but by all means lets keep using the corporate V6 and while we are at it, place a Pickup Truck 4 Cylinder in them for Performance versions LOL

      Reply
      1. There HAS to be a reason the 3.0TT is not being used in EVERY Cadillac.

        Reply
        1. Money, money, money, money, money, money, money !!

          The average mass market does not want it.

          And Cadillac, just like ALL mass market GM vehicles will get the AVERAGE GM 3.6 – V6 BLAH.

          Reply
        2. Yes there is. The GM Beancounters will not allow Cadillac to use their own Specific engine as the Corporate V6 engine is so much cheaper to Manufacture. You honestly cannot make this stuff up. I love Cadillac and wish GM either gets a new CEO or sells it off to a company that will bring it back to where it belongs. What GM is doing to Cadillac is shameful.
          They are so shortsighted. Look what VW Group is raking in with Audi. It is unbelievable.

          Reply
    2. I’m all for the FOUR ” like people say, truck engine “, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.

      ITS A GM ENGINE —— GM ——–get it YET —– GM makes this engine, and all other engines that GM makes !!

      There is no Cadillac engine.
      There is no Buick engine.
      There is no Chevrolet engine.
      There is no GMC engine.

      There IS ONLY GM ENGINES !!!

      And why not use the 2.7T in as may places as possible ?

      It will be better than a high revving V6.

      Spread out that ROI !!!!

      This 2.7T should be the base, least, engine available in a Cadillac anything !!!!

      Reply
      1. Well you can think that but it doesn’t make it correct. Cadillac requested their own Specific Six Cylinder and they got the 3.0TT.
        GM is now just too cheap to allow them to flood every Cadillac Engine Bay with it because it is much more expensive to manufacture than the Corporate V6. Why is this a difficult thing for you to understand?
        Nobody is advocating that each division needs it’s own Specific V6 but Cadillac sure as hell does and do but are not allowed to use as they see fit.

        Reply
        1. I understand it, and am all for it.

          At this point, either the 3.0TT or the 2.7T, is better than the average GM 3.6 – V6 blah.

          I just think from a quantity and ROI standpoint the 2.7 is a better choice, its my opinion, and I value your opinion.

          Reply
          1. I wasn’t trying to state your opinion is wrong or right. I am just saying that Cadillac is a so called Luxury Brand for the GM Corporation. They need to utilize the very Best Powertrains available to them. That, I am sorry, is not the 2.7 Full Size pickup engine. They have the 2.0T.
            Why dilute the Brand with the 2.7?
            I mean Mercedes is almost at 400HP with their AMG 2.0T. I just want and will always want so much more from Cadillac and parent company GM is destroying this Iconic Brand.
            Cadillac has a 2.0T that can have different Power levels. No need for the “Pickup Truck” 2.7
            Cadillac has its very own 6 Cylinder that pretty much GM will not allow them to use LOL
            And they allegedly have the 4.2 V8. Those are the ONLY THREE engines Cadillac needs. It is a Luxury Brand not Chevrolet.
            also, fingers crossed all the upcoming EV’s we have been promised that nobody has yet to see.

            Reply
  9. That same LGX engine makes 335 hp in the Camaro. Why not offer that in the CT4/XT4?

    Reply
    1. Well the answer should be because the “Cadillac Specific” 6 Cylinder has 405HP so why not use that correct?

      Reply
  10. the 4 cylinders is underpowerd for a xt5

    Reply

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