The Cadillac XT5 midsize crossover arrived for the 2020 model year with a fresh mid-cycle update that included several changes and improvements, including a new gauge cluster design. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the new gauges in the 2020 Cadillac XT5.
Buyers have access to two instrument clusters for the XT5, including a base/standard cluster, and an up-level cluster.
The base instrumentation on the 2020 Cadillac XT5 includes a revised tachometer and speedometer design with new gauge faces and new fonts. By comparison, the 2017 through 2019 model years had a “half moon” design theme, with a half-circle tachometer on the left, a half-circle speedometer in the center, and fuel levels and engine temps on the right forming a third half-circle. A 5.7-inch display was placed in the center of the cluster, underneath the speedometer. This particular design was standard on base, Luxury, and Premium Luxury models, while the Platinum models got their own cluster.
Base gauge cluster on 2017-2019 Cadillac XT5
Base gauge cluster on 2020 Cadillac XT5
Meanwhile, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 is updated with a set of round dials for the tach and speedo, with two screens between them in a stacked, vertical layout. This design is standard across the 2020 XT5 trim level cadence, which includes the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport.
| Base | Luxury | Premium Luxury | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDD | UDD | UDD | UHS |
- UDD – Gauge cluster with 5.7-inch color Driver Information Center display, driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
- UHS – Gauge cluster with 8-inch color Driver Information Center display, driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
With regard to the up-level instrumentation, the previous 2017 through 2019 model year XT5 Platinum came with an 8-inch color Driver Information Center (DIC).
Up-level gauge cluster on 2017-2019 Cadillac XT5 (standard and available on on XT5 Platinum model)
Up-level gauge cluster on 2020 Cadillac XT5 (optional and available only on Premium Luxury and Sport models)
For the 2020 Cadillac XT5, the up-level instrumentation is now offered via the optional Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package, and is available on all trims with the exception of the base-level Luxury. What’s more, 2020 model year vehicles with this screen and package also get new speedometer and tachometer designs, as outlined above.
| Luxury | Premium Luxury | Sport | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | UDD | UDD | UDD |
| Uplevel | - | UHS | UHS |
- UDD – Gauge cluster with dual Driver Information Center display, driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
- UHS – Gauge cluster with 8-inch color Driver Information Center display with driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
Cadillac’s instrument design has been a point of contention for the last several years, with some critics claiming Cadillac’s gauge clusters to be less attractive compared to rivals, while also adding that rivals offer either a more attractive analog cluster, or an all-digital cluster.
Former Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen said the automaker would refocus on design and details with regard to instrumentation, and the updated gauge cluster in the 2020 Cadillac XT5 would appear to deliver (or at least aims to deliver) just that.
Which gauge cluster do you prefer? Vote in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac XT5 news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
This post was created in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
I don’t know about these. The uplevel seems worse.
I just noticed that both the lower and upper level 2020 clusters are displaying the exact same info in the exact same places. What then is the benefit of one screen vs two?!?
In 2020 no full digital clusters in luxury class!
GM legit makes the absolutely worse and outdated Gauge Clusters in the Industry for the most part. This is a Huge weakness.
Make all the excuses you want to for Caddy having these dated analog gauges you want but its no wonder no one AT ALL takes them serious as a TRUE luxury brand.
What would you suggest i their place? The analog gauges convey information in a straightforward manner, with quick understanding. Time and again, whiz-bang designs have come and gone, and the analog system has returned. Number displays, climbing slanted bars for RPM in the Mitsubishi Cordia/Tredia, the “twirling worm” speedo in old Volvos and late 50s Dodges… all were interesting curiosities, but long abandoned.
All this and the XT5 still doesn’t have air conditioned front seats? WTH?
Even the Nissan Murano has air conditioned front seats. C’mon GM.
My 2019 XT-5 Premium Luxury has cooled front seats.
The XT5 has ventilated seats. Not cooled seats.
When i met my wife in 2012, she has this little 2009 or so Lexus is250 with AC seats. Those babies got cold. There is a big difference between ac and ventilated seats from both an experience and creating them. One just has a fan blowing air through holes, one has to route a vent/air passage from the AC unit in front through the floor to the seat to get cold air. That’s true luxury. Now I can never complain about this oversight by GM in person because it is such a 1% of 1% problem.
GM should take some lessons from Mercedes. They have an incredible digital cluster for a much lesser price.
That is correct. The A-Class that starts at $32,000 has better tech. It is embarrassing to be honest.
I’m never embarrassed being honest!
/sorry. I had to….
Had the 2020 cluster in a loaner XT5 and XT6 – the gas gauge is near worthless, speedometer not super useful with the most visible portion being the 80-160 mph region, tach so far away from the middle. Looks are fine enough, but it’s visual ergonomics are garbage so you’ll mostly just look at the DIC.
I have a 2017 platinum. It’s a nice car but the ride is stiff (especially the back seat), the engine is blah, and the center console screen is a tad small. Hvae had no issues with it, has 45k miles. My wife drives it with the kids and she likes it. My uncle borrowed it and then bought a 2018 model. The 2017 was the new model year so i bet this car has two more years in it before it’s updated. I wonder if this lyriq is it’s replacement?
Why does GM keep creating hard-to-read speedometers that have numbers far in excess of what the vehicle will go? That’s just wasted range. It should go to the top speed of the vehicle (125) which would make it more readable. Most people will never use more than half the current scale. Marketing over usability should not happen for important gauges like this.
I’ll assume you are American, as am I, where we use Customary Measure, that is, miles per hour. Press a button and the gauges switch to Metric. What is 62 for us is 100 for metric. On an analog speedo, you need higher numeric values to accommodate the world (metric), so for us, the MPH IS a bit close together.
I have a rental and I cannot figure out how to read the gas gauge? I see the gauge, but not a needle or any way to read it???? What is the trick?
The. 2021 cadililac gas. Cluster. STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN👎🏿👎🏿🖕
Can I replace my 2018 gauges to the new ones?
XT5 Premium Luxury