The Cadillac XT5 was introduced for the 2017 model year, with a mid-cycle refresh performed for the 2020 model year. The changes for the enhancement included an adoption of the brand’s latest Y trim level strategy, minor exterior restyling, a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a new nine-speed transmission, and the introduction of Active Aero Shutters technology, as well as some new in-cabin tech to boot. But one curious thing happened with the the 2020 Cadillac XT5 – and it relates to fuel economy.
As it stands, the 2020 XT5 shows a marginal loss in terms of city and combined fuel economy over the 2017-2019 models.
| 2019 | 2020 | +/- 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT5 2.0L Turbo FWD | N/A | 21/28/24 | N/A |
| XT5 2.0L Turbo AWD | N/A | 21/26/23 | N/A |
| XT5 3.6L FWD | 19/26/22 | 18/26/21 | -1 / – / -1 |
| XT5 3.6L AWD | 18/25/21 | 18/25/20 | - / – / -1 |
- Fuel economy figures listed are as follows – City/Highway/Combined
- Source: EPA
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 is offered with both the naturally aspirated 3.6L LGX V6 and the turbocharged 2.0L LSY four-cylinder, with both all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive available for the drivetrain. Meanwhile, the 2017-2019 XT5 was only offered with the 3.6 LGX V6. Output from the engine is identical for both model years, with 310 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 271 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm.
However, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 is equipped with the new GM nine-speed automatic transmission, whereas the 2017-2019 models were equipped with the GM eight-speed automatic transmission. As such, we thought that the slight decrease in fuel economy is caused by gearing of the nine-speed automatic transmission on the EPA test cycle.
However, that’s not the case. As it turns out, Cadillac made various tuning and calibration changes to all XT5 models that caused the 1 MPG difference in city and combined ratings, GM’s Katie Minter explained. In addition, the “Premium and Premium Luxury models get revised front struts and driveline enhancements designed to improve ride comfort and road isolation,” she added.
We’d take a quieter ride and a better driving experience over a single MPG difference in fuel economy any day, wouldn’t you?
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This report was created in collaboration with Cadillac Society.
Comments
Who really cares about gas mileage, simply transfer the electric motor and battery from the new GMC Hummer to the Cadillac XT5 and there may be even more buyers than before given that senior management within General Motors consider EV as being highly profitable.
Didn’t the XT5 lack start/stop disable before 2020? It’s likely the EPA docked them for adding it.
All I see is another step backwards for Cadillac, and a GM excuse for it.
So again, nothing new to see here !
My 2017 XT5 gets great milage. I travel a lot for work, and I average (city and highway) over 28 mpg. I love the car! However, that is primarily in the FWD mode.
The EPA strikes again. Continually chipping away at MPG figures making certain hand picked vehicles look far worse than they are in the real world. I’m generally not one for conspiracy theories but it almost seems like this is being done for an agenda. And we live in an agenda driven world these days so it wouldn’t surprise me whatsoever. Is it a push for more electric vehicles? Is it a push to drag down CAFE numbers for certain manufacturers to force them into paying fines for not meeting agenda driven standards? Or is there a deeper hidden thing going on?
When I was at GM, I remember they spend $35,000 and 8 months to improve crossover fuel economy by 1 MPG. This gain wasn’t even observable in the real world, so it just ended up being a waste of time.
By EPA requirements, adding auto start stop disable will dock 3 % from the combined rating by default. So the MPG actually didn’t change. GM was forced to alter it for adding auto stop disable.
we are driving a 2018 xt5 fwd ,highway mpg is 30 -33 and city around 20 to 22 , imo the 2.0t is under powered using more gas GREAT CAR
I leased a FWD XT5 from mid-2016 until turning it in for the AWD Premium Luxury 2019 model in December 2018. The biggest differences are AWD, a much better headlamp package and much nicer interior lighting. 20-inch wheels distinguish the 2019 from the 2017 model.
Interestingly, the ‘19 gets better fuel economy in AWD mode than FWD (“Touring” mode) does. I can’t explain why, but I do like the 2019 better.
A 4 cylinder engine does Not belong in a Cadillac especially a SUV or any Cadillac. GM is over-using that 2.0 4 cylinder Turbo .
Cadillac should have their own engines like they use to.
A four cylinder engine is par course for the segment, so your opinion doesn’t align with reality.
Alex,
I thought one of the new Cadillac moto’s was, we are just going to be Cadillac again, and will be no longer chasing the segment leaders ” Germans ”
Didn’t I read that here ?
You cant say we are going to be Cadillac again and not chase the Germans yet do it with 2.0T, that the Germans have !!
A Cadillac never had a 2.0T, before they started chasing.
And in every vehicle in the segment Cadillac is supposed to be competing in, can’t you option to a larger engine ?
Only the Cadillac sedan, can you option for a better engine upgrade, is that not true ?
As is almost always the case, your comment does not align with reality.
Cadillac is not chasing, copying or whatever other negative spin you can apply to what’s taking place.
What Cadillac is doing is making a product that the market has shown is desired and successful. Cadillac is simply giving the people what they want.
You want to talk about 2.0L turbocharged engines? Ok, let’s talk about that. Cadillac didn’t offer those engines in the past because fuel economy regulations were nowhere near as stringent as they are now. What Cadillac had before were sixes and eights. Guess what the Germans and Japanese luxury brands had before? SIXES AND EIGHTS. Slightly different configurations, slightly different orientations, but they were the same general concept. Was Cadillac also “chasing” then? No… it was offering a product that it could offer at a profit, and one that consumers would buy at that price point. So the fact that Cadillac uses turbo-charged 2.0L engines is simply a matter of industry consolidation, driven by consumer preference and fuel economy regs… NOT chasing. Those who buy cars with 2.0L turbo engines in the C/D/E segments do not care about the engine. They typically wouldn’t couldn’t even tell you if a car is overpowered, underpowered, or anything about the engine in their car, for that matter. Those who do care opt for a more powerful option (2.7L Turbo, 3.0L Twin Turbo, etc.). That’s why those options exist. That said, 2.0L turbo delivers a very nice sweet spot of power, fuel economy and refinement. This is why most luxury vehicles in the world today are sold with a turbo-charged 2.0L engine. And that brings me to my next point.
Another way of thinking about this is that the market wants bananas. Cadillac is giving them bananas. If we follow your point of view, then Cadillac would be selling watermelons to people who want bananas. You say it’s chasing… but a smart business person would laugh.
First, I’m not sure I should even comment to a Alex Luft post, as then real Alex Luft might just swoop in an delete only the fake Alex Luft posts and not the following replies, like the Corvette SUV story !
So lets talk the 2.0T and the Sixes and Eights ! To start with, this performance battle has went on with the foreign and Cadillac from the 50’s or so. Most of those foreign automakers used Sixes and Eights, all in the smooooth in line form ! Most still today, your upgrade engine option is still a Six inline form with a turbo. I also agree that the 2.0T is the engine of choice now, however if you would have driven a 2.0T in the foreign competitors and the Cadillacs, 3 years ago, the foreign vehicles were leaps and bounds ahead, and the sales numbers prove it !
Now to your ” that’s why options exist, where, where do options exist in the Cadillac ? The XT4 is ONLY a 2.0T, the XT6 is ONLY a 3.6 NA, There are not competitive upgrades to the competition here. And we stopped in the Cadillac dealer to see a CT5, they had 2 2.0T’s coming in and the 3.0TT wasn’t even available yet, I know it will be, yet not yet !
If you look at CTS V-Sport story, Techprodigee, would have replaced his Lexus with the CT6 Blackwing, yet it is also a dead, finally perfect Cadillac.
I realize if this was a do-over and Cadillac and the foreign competition were to start at square one today, most of this issue would not even exist. Yet with the last 7 years of Cadillac vehicles and the reputation of Cadillac and the Horrible Cadillac customer support, its not a do-over, its a catch up game for Cadillac.
I just feel that if Cadillac would have standardized on the 2.7T- 10 speed, and the 2.7T -9 speed, on these new more reliable vehicles, it would be a boost ! And the fuel mileage in reality would probably turn out to be better !
Bill , I couldn’t agree more !!
For me the GM engine is OK, its just the lack of power felt for the vehicle size !
Even when people like the 2.0T, most say, ” well its just OK on power ”
Let alone when loaded, you have a hard time even keeping up in traffic with 1000 lbs of people !
For a Cadillac !!
Not for me !!
COMPARED TO THE 2017 I HAD,THIS 2020 DOES HAVE A BETTER RIDE.