Mar 17, 2023
A silver 2023 Cadillac XT5 parked in an open desert near a Mankato Cadillac dealer.

Shopping for a new car can involve a fair amount of stress and effort, but it can also be a lot of fun and is made much more enjoyable when you shop at a dealership that really puts your needs first. Here at Snell Cadillac, we always focus on listening to our customers and ensuring you find the right vehicle with everything you need. As your Cadillac dealer in Mankato, we love the full lineup of Cadillac models, but there’s something particularly special about the 2023 XT5 and everything that it has to offer. If you’re looking for a fantastic compact luxury crossover model and you like having the freedom to get precisely what you want, then you owe it to yourself to give the XT5 a good look. Let’s check out some of the options available to you with the XT5 and figure out how to put together the perfect model with everything you need.

Impressive Performance with Two Engines Available

You might not expect remarkable performance from a vehicle like a compact crossover since its small size means manufacturers can toss a pretty weak engine into it and call it a day. Fortunately, Cadillac isn’t one of those manufacturers, and you have two fantastic engines available on the XT5, letting you get the right kind of power for what you’re looking for. You really can’t go wrong with either of these, though one is certainly more powerful than the other.

The standard engine on the 2023 Cadillac XT5 is a 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder engine that delivers 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. You can see that this is already excellent performance for a compact model like this, and it shows Cadillac’s commitment to ensuring you enjoy a fantastic experience every time you get behind the wheel of one of their vehicles. This is a great place to start, and it’s more powerful than the kinds of engines that you’ll find in a lot of other compact crossovers out there, but Cadillac has you covered if you want even more power.

There’s an available 3.6L V6 engine for the XT5 that delivers an impressive 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. You can see that this is a significant boost from the standard engine, and those are the kinds of numbers that you’ll actually feel when you drive it. Sometimes it seems like car companies just want to be able to brag about a higher number, and you’ll find very minimal differences; with this V6 engine, the XT5 really does feel stronger and roars to life in a way that few other compact crossovers can. Both of these engines come paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, so you get a smooth and responsive driving experience no matter which of them you choose for the performance you want.

A close-up shows the infotainment screen in a 2023 Cadillac XT5.

Your Choice of Drive Type

In addition to deciding on which engine you want for your 2023 Cadillac XT5, you also get to choose between two different drive types for this compact crossover. The standard option is Front-Wheel Drive (FWD), which gives you a great experience that makes the XT5 feel good to drive and delivers excellent handling. Some people like Rear-Wheel Drive, and you can find it in a lot of sports cars, but FWD is a better choice for handling and control since the powered wheels are located below the engine, where a lot of the vehicle’s weight is located.

If you want even greater traction and control on the road, then All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is available for the XT5. By sending power to all of the wheels, you can maintain control in slippery conditions, such as when driving on gravel and dirt roads or when dealing with rain, snow, and slush. Perhaps best of all, with the XT5, you have lots of freedom to get the setup you want; you can choose FWD or AWD with both engines and most trim options (more on them below), so you don’t have to sacrifice what you want just to get something else that you need.

Three Remarkable Trims to Choose From

Speaking of the trims for the Cadillac XT5, whether you visit a new or used Cadillac dealership, you will have three options available to you and while the higher trim levels bring more to the road, all three of them are fantastic choices. With the starting Luxury trim, you get the standard 2.0L engine, 18-inch Bright Silver wheels, and LED headlamps. The Luxury comes with an 8-inch Infotainment display, a Bose Premium eight-speaker sound system, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. You get Inteluxe seating in the Luxury, with heated front seats, Remote Start functionality, and dual-zone automatic climate control, all standard.

If you choose the Premium Luxury trim, then you still get the 2.0L Turbo engine as the starting powertrain, but you can choose the 3.6L V6 engine if you prefer it. You get many of the same features with the Premium Luxury, along with numerous upgrades such as an enhanced Infotainment system with Navigation included and a Bose Performance Series 14-speaker sound system. This trim features eight-way driver and front-passenger seating, with leather seating surfaces featuring mini-perforated inserts, plus a wireless phone charger and numerous available options that you can’t get on the Luxury model.

Finally, moving up to the Sport trim gives you a similar interior as the Premium Luxury, with the 14-speaker sound system and leather seating, but you get performance-focused upgrades. For example, the Sport model is only offered with the 3.6L V6 engine, and it comes with 20-inch Pearl Nickel finish wheels. Due to its focus on performance, the Sport model is only available with a twin-clutch Sport Control AWD that delivers improved overall control and performance. You also get a Performance suspension on the Sport, including on-demand drive mode selection, plus Brembo front performance brakes to ensure you remain in control and can stop safely even while getting the most from this powerful model.

Exterior and Interior Options

Your choice of trim can also impact some of your options for the overall look of your 2023 Cadillac XT5, though all three trims have the same exterior color options. These include Argent Silver Metallic and Stellar Black Metallic for a clean and bold look, as well as options like Radiant Red Tintcoat and Opulent Blue Metallic if you prefer to really make a statement. Inside, you’ll find different interior options depending on the trim; for example, the standard Luxury model features Jet Black Inteluxe seating with brushed aluminum details. With the Premium Luxury trim, you can choose from a variety of options like Jet Black leather seating with dark high-gloss wood details, or Sedona Sauvage leather seating (a warm brown hue) with Satin Rosewood wood trim for an extra touch of refined luxury. The Sport has some exclusive options like Jet Black leather seating with V-Line carbon-fiber high-gloss-finish details, along with access to many of the Premium Luxury interior styles.

Luggage is shown in the trunk of a white 2023 Cadillac XT5.

Is the Cadillac XT5 Right for You?

It’s easy to see that the Cadillac XT5 has a lot to offer and even easier to understand why so many people choose this compact crossover year after year. If you’re looking for an incredible combination of refined luxury, gorgeous style, innovative technology, and bold performance, then the XT5 is the one for you. All you have to do now is put together the right combination of options and features to get exactly what you need in your next vehicle—this becomes a lot easier when you work with a dealership that has people ready to listen to you and help you get the right vehicle. Visit us at Snell Cadillac today to see the XT5 for yourself, and we’ll make sure you drive away in a model that’s perfect for you.