2020 Cadillac XT5 Gains Stop-Start Defeat Switch
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GM’s automatic engine stop-start feature has drawn more than its fair share of criticism, with some owners railing against it for years on end. There have even been workarounds and tricks developed to circumvent the feature, such as starting the engine with the hood up. Luckily, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 addresses these complaints and provides a switch in the cabin that the driver can use to turn the automatic engine stop-start feature off and on, much to the relief of those customers that loathe the feature.
2020 Cadillac XT5
All models of the 2020 Cadillac XT5 will offer a switch to deactivate the automatic engine stop-start feature. The switch is located to the left of the center monitor.
However, the disabled feature will reset with each ignition cycle, which means that when an owner parks and turns the engine off, the automatic engine stop-start feature will once again be active. As such, owners that dislike the feature will need to deactivate it every time the engine is started.
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 isn’t the first GM model to add a defeat switch for the automatic engine stop-start feature. Just a partial list of models would include the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer, the 2021 Chevrolet Equinox, the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze (prior to its discontinuation), and the 2020 GMC Acadia.
Automatic engine stop-start was originally implemented as a means of reducing emissions by turning off the engine while idling, such as at a stoplight. However, some owners found the feature disruptive and annoying, claiming it could cause hesitation off the line and unnecessary vibrations in the cabin.
As a reminder, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 is equipped with either the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY, or the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX. The four-cylinder produces 237 horsepower, while the V6 makes 310 horsepower.
Are you happy to see the 2020 Cadillac XT5 offer an automatic engine stop-start defeat switch? Let us know by voting 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.
Can’t imagine how people must feel about having to hit a button just to start the car every time they get into the car too. Must be the most traumatic experience for them since it includes having to push the brake pedal as well…
If that is your version of a “traumatic experience”, then what do modern hybrid car drivers feel? Heavenly! (i drive a Ford hybrid). Real drivers will accept and later admire that system. Then they want more and drive a hybrid or a plug-in. And will never go back to a plain engine vehicle!
People are babies about start stop. You get used to it in a week.
That is very true! Read my post below.
!BadBad: Not at all true. Being in the car business, I’m around this feature every day. I’ve also owned only one car with it (2014 Chevy Malibu). I loved the car and hated the start/stop so much that I traded it in early. One year was all I could handle of that junk feature. On top of that, the feature is still relatively new to know the long term negatives of that engine turning on/off so mush. Huge pass.
This feature is very annoying. The engine makes a “clunk” sound when it turns off and then hesitates when it tries to re-start. I often wonder when the battery will fail and there I will be stuck in the middle of traffic.
I have driven a rental Chevy Malibu with the system and it works very well. I drive a true Ford hybrid at home and I love it! My only complaint about the GM system is that the A/C compressor is belt driven by the gas engine, so on a hot day, the system will cycle on and off continuously at a traffic stop. If the A/C compressor was electric (which hybrid cars do have), the engine can stay off until the accelerator is stepped on. GM should have invested in reducing engine loads so the system can work better and really save money when the vehicle is stopped and the engine is not idling.
By offering a defeat switch the driver has been given a choice. What could be bad about that?
Using the switch is bad! Just accept the system and save money.
Because we don’t want to accept the system. It’s annoying.
Make it a buyers option at no additional cost. You either want and respect it or you don’t.
It is all about choice, if you like it fine, and if you don’t then turn it off. To have a car with out that choice, no thank you. We waited to buy a 2020 XT5 just for that reason, and we turn it off each time we start the car, no big deal, you push to start the car, and then push the defeat button. Drive in stop and go traffic on the interstate in the summer in Florida, the a/c gradually goes from cold to cool. All the area Cadillac dealers state that their number one complaint was that the 2017-2019 XT5 did not have the defeat button. If you want to save a thimble of gas consider a base Hyundai.
I hit good believing it was the switch instead of the stop start feature as likely many did. Hate the stop start.
Never owned a Ford….they donated over 100 million to BLM through the Ford Foundation,look it up.
Good on Ford! That’s awesome! Ford’s are still crap though! My father has had back to back to back Ford trucks as his company vehicles and they’ve all had thousands of dollars worth of warranty repairs during the first 6 months. One f150 and 2 explorers. Garbage.
CHIP: Go back to your hole.
The switch SHOULD be to turn the system ON (ONE TIME) if you want to use it. Does that not make more sense ?
About time. They should do like Volvo does now where you turn it off and it stays off till YOU decide to turn it back on.
How many brownie points did they lose with the EPA?
In my grandmother’s ’56 Roadmaster, you turned the key and then pressed the gas pedal to start the car. In our ’63 Impala, you could pull the key out and the car would keep running.
I personally don’t like the feel of auto stop/ start. I have been driving for 45 years and when this system activates I feel like the car has stalled out. Upon restart often it feels like hesitation. Maybe it’s a generational thing. It doesn’t seem to bother one of my daughters. Also consider the strain on the starter. It has to take a toll over a couple of years. I agree it’s personal choice and buyer’s should have the option. Also, I was in a BMW where you can turn it off once and it remains like that or you can switch back let’s say if you are sitting at a car wash and there is a long slow line. They say the customer is always right so if the manufacturer wants to sell the car they should accommodate everyone. I like the XT5 and only now would consider buying one because I can turn off the auto stop/ start.
Leased a 2019 XT5 and installed an aftermarket stop / start override harness that took 5 minutes to install. No modifications required and can be simply removed when the lease is up. Plugs right into the factory GM harness.
We have a 2018. Once we knew what it was we had no problem with it. It’s just normal for us now.