2017 Cadillac XT5 Platinum AWD First Test: A Worthy SRX Replacement

After seven years on sale, the second-generation Cadillac SRX is being replaced by the all-new 2017 Cadillac XT5. Along with a new name, the midsize crossover’s refined Art and Science design language rides atop a new, lighter chassis and revised powertrain. After track testing the 2017 Cadillac XT5 Platinum AWD 3.6, we spent a few days behind the wheel of the new crossover’s top-spec trim to see how it compares to the outgoing model.

The 2017 Cadillac XT5 crossover’s revised 3.6-liter, direct-injected V-6 engine is rated 310 hp at 6,700 rpm and 271 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. (Cars for the Chinese market get a turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4.) An Aisin-sourced eight-speed automatic features Cadillac’s first application of a shift-by-wire gear knob dubbed Electronic Precision Shift.

At the drag strip, the all-wheel-drive Cadillac XT5 reached 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 92.6 mph. It should be noted that the XT5’s quickest passes were made in Touring (front-drive) mode, which allowed for some front wheel spin off the line; Sport mode (all-wheel drive) hesitated before deciding where to route the power. This cost the XT5 about 0.5 second, road test editor Chis Walton said.

In comparison, a front-drive 2012 Cadillac SRX with the previous 3.6-liter (308 hp/265 lb-ft) and six-speed auto combo reached 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 15.2 seconds at 92.5 mph. Although the new car is only 0.1 second quicker in both acceleration metrics, our loaded all-wheel-drive Platinum tester weighed 4,333 pounds, just 16 pounds more than the front-drive 2012 SRX.

The new Caddy stopped from 60 mph in 111 feet, its dual-piston front calipers and single-piston rear calipers clamping down on 13.6-inch and 12.4-inch vented rotors front and rear, respectively. The 2012 SRX took 121 feet to stop from 60 mph.

Cadillac’s new Continuous Damping Control system is also standard on the Platinum model and comes with the optional 20-inch wheel upgrade on other trims. The lighter chassis, revised suspension, and upgraded brakes also help with handling.

All-wheel-drive traction helps, as well. The Platinum trim’s standard (available on other trims) advanced “twin clutch” all-wheel-drive system is said to continuously and automatically adjust traction depending on surface conditions, including in inclement weather. Cadillac says the design can route up to 100 percent of available torque to either the front or rear axles and the electronically controlled rear differential can send up to 100 percent of torque to either side.

In Sport mode (all-wheel drive), the 2017 XT5 lapped the figure eight in 27.1 seconds at 0.65 g average compared to 27.5 seconds at 0.60 g average for the front-drive SRX. Both vehicles pulled 0.82 g average around the skidpad.

“It was quicker in Sport because it could drive off the corner better—not much better, but better,” Walton said. “It really doesn’t care for the skidpad—pushes and protests.”

The second-generation SRX rode on a mishmash of GM’s Epsilon II and Theta platforms. The all-new Cadillac XT5, however, rides on the new C1XX chassis. The new chassis is derived from the automaker’s new E2XX architecture, which replaces Epsilon II. Not only does GM claim the XT5 is up to 278 pounds lighter than a comparable equipped SRX, but the new model is also said to be lighter than some of its competitors; it’s up to 100 pounds lighter than the Audi Q5, which is 7.0 inches shorter, and more than 650 pounds lighter than the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.

Although lighter than the outgoing SRX, the XT5 rides on a longer wheelbase and wider track. The XT5 features a 112.5-inch wheelbase and 64.4-inch track compared to the 110.5-inch wheelbase and 63.8-inch track of the SRX. Despite being 0.8 inch shorter (189.5 inches) and 0.2 inch narrower (75.0 inches) overall, the increased dimensions between the wheels gives the new XT5 more interior space than the SRX. Much of the stretched wheelbase increases rear legroom an additional 3.2 inches. The rear seats also slide fore and aft and recline to make it comfortable for full-size adults.

Our tester’s Stellar Black Metallic exterior paint was complemented by the optional Maple Sugar semi-aniline full leather seats with Chevron perforated inserts and Jet Black accents. Standard luxury interior features on the Platinum trim include heated and ventilated front seats, eight-way power front seats with power lumbar and driver’s seat memory, heated rear outboard seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The CUE infotainment system features an 8.0-inch color touchscreen with navigation, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, XM radio, Apple CarPlay, and OnStar with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot. Other luxury touches include a power tilting and telescoping steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, wireless device charging, a head-up display, and more.

Inside, the new transmission’s Electronic Precision Shift control frees up valuable real estate suitable for small purses and bags below the center console. There is also a 12-volt outlet on the lower level. Unfortunately, it’s hard to reach from the driver seat. It’s easier to reach over the console to the passenger side and plug a charger in and then toss the cords through toward the driver’s leg.

Standard exterior features include IntelliBeam LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, and a set of 20-inch, 12-spoke polished alloy wheels wrapped in 235/55 touring tires.

Platinum models come with a full suite of active safety tech, including forward collision alert, front pedestrian detection, following distance indicator, low-speed front automatic braking, side blind-zone alert with lane change alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, a rearview camera, surround vision, front and rear parking assist, and rear cross traffic alert.

And let’s not forget about GM’s Safety Alert Seat that vibrates when the vehicle senses an obstacle. The vibration works in conjunction with flashing lights on the dash rather than audible alerts. That way your passengers aren’t aware of your poor maneuvering skills. It should be noted that the XT5’s active safety tech was less hyperactive than those in the Theta-based Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs we recently sampled.

Our XT5 Platinum was also fitted with Cadillac’s new rearview camera mirror that was first seen during the Cadillac CT6 introduction. It uses the regular rearview mirror dimming lever to switch the conventional mirror to a video screen showing a wider-angle view aft of the vehicle. Although we like being able to see the lane directly behind us as well as two lanes on each side (including cars in your blind spot) with no interior obstructions, vehicles on the screen appear smaller and farther away than they do on the standard rearview mirror. At night and under low-light conditions, the video image appears somewhat pixelated. However, it’s not as pixelated as the standard rearview camera feed displayed on the infotainment screen while in reverse.

Not only is the all-new 2017 Cadillac XT5 a worthy replacement for Cadillac’s best-selling model, but the new SUV shouldn’t have any issue competing in showrooms against rivals from Europe and Japan.

2017 Cadillac XT5 AWD 3.6 (Platinum)
BASE PRICE	$63,495
PRICE AS TESTED	$63,845
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINE	3.6L/310-hp/271-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6*
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	4,333 lb (58/42%)
WHEELBASE	112.5 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	189.5 x 75.0 x 66.0 in
0-60 MPH	6.5 sec
QUARTER MILE	15.1 sec @ 92.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	111 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.82 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	27.1 sec @ 0.65 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	18/26/21 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	187/130 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.93 lb/mile
*SAE Certified

 

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