Topic: Test Drive: 2018 Cadillac XT5 AWD Platinum

[AutoTrader.ca]

Elevating the blend.
Read more...

[ChaosphereIX]

a crossover is not a blended wine

nice writeup after that though

[Blueprint]

a crossover is not a blended wine

nice writeup after that though

A crossover is a blend of vehicular genes, hence the di-vine inspiration 

Kudos to Jacob for a fine editing job!

[ArticSteve]

At $74K this vehicle is a JOKE!  If one did buy this then the obvious custom plate would read "IDIOT". 

Cadillac’s sales are on the rise lately, which seems to support this theory.


    

Cadillac sales in USA sinking.  GM just fired Nysschen. 

[Noto]

the vast, light beige leather surface on top generates distracting reflections in the windshield, annoying at times, such as in the momentary blindness when entering a car park.

Noted - these are the important things to highlight IMO - I find that Mazda's HUD in MIL's CX-3 and in my Mazda3 (at least - not so much in the current gen) radio display reflect brightly and distractingly upon the windshield at night.  These are not things we frequently read in reviews, but do annoy in ownership.

Manual controls allow one to drop the rear seats from the cargo area, although there is no electric help to raise them back up, a bit lacking at this price range.

Disagree.  What a waste of cost, weight, and effort.  It's so easy to raise the seats back up - no need to make this electrified just because the Murano did once upon a time.

[tortoise]

Cadillac sales in USA sinking.  GM just fired Nysschen.

Was he the guy who came up with the dumb naming scheme and moved Caddy's HQ to NYC?

$74k?  Wut?

EDIT: Yeah, it was him.

Soon thereafter, de Nysschen took the unusual step of moving Cadillac's headquarters from GM's base in Detroit to New York in hopes of absorbing an upscale mentality. He also renamed Cadillac models with a mix of letters and numbers, allowing only the Escalade SUV to retain an actual word as its nameplate.

[Fobroader]

Sorry...$73k for a Traverse in an evening gown, hell to the no.....and as for

No....no it can't.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Could be a nice CUV to pick up in 4 years for $20gs

[Fobroader]

Could be a nice CUV to pick up in 4 years for $20gs $120K

According to a certain someone....

[Ex-airbalancer]

Could be a nice CUV to pick up in 4 years for $20gs $120K

According to a certain someone....

Who cares what anyone else think ,
We have had  12 GM  vehicles over 45 years and they have treated us just fine , had more confidence in a GM truck with 350,000 km than our BMW with 120,000 km

[Noto]

According to a certain someone....

No, it must be based on the platform that underpins the Envision...get your GM platforms right, gah!   

and as for
...

No....no it can't.

I disagree, but I like your rebuttal.

[evil_twin]

I'm not usually one to comment on top optioned model MSRPs....but holy .

That's a hard sell against a fairly well equipped X3 M40i (http://www.autotrader.ca/expert/20180314/test-drive-2018-bmw-x3-m40i/)

I think Cadillac would be wise to capture a bit more of the look of the Escalade in a smaller package (square shoulders, etc).  Something to differentiate their offering from the sea of luxury blobs. 

[Ex-airbalancer]

Caddy should have taken the Saturn dealerships and turned them into dealerships

[Blueprint]

The XT5 bases at $46k, fwd of course, and currently GM generously pours incentives into the mix.

It has the same platform as the new-gen Acadia, Traverse and Enclave (lengths and wheelbases are adjusted for each). Week prior to the XT5 I had a "short" Escalade, and the week after a new Enclave Avenir (both won't be featured here). The Buick felt like a luxury product beyond the blend of its materials. Soundproofing, engine note, powered 3rd row (just for NoSan  ) ...

[Railton]

At $74K this vehicle is a JOKE!  If one did buy this then the obvious custom plate would read "IDIOT". 

Cadillac’s sales are on the rise lately, which seems to support this theory.


    

Cadillac sales in USA sinking.  GM just fired Nysschen. 

Cadillac made an error in not offering more crossovers sooner. A rash of them are about to be released. Same mistake I feel Genesis is making. All of Cadillac's SUVs/CUVs are selling well.

^^ this. Genesis is late to the Luxury SUV party.
Railton

[carcrazed]

I'm sure there are huge discounts to be had with these compared to its competitors like X3/Q5/GLC/XC60.

I don't like how the shifter is positioned and tilted.  And that beige dash would be very distracting on bright days.

[Noto]

powered 3rd row (just for NoSan  ) ...

Base Curb Weight: lbs, 4356

That's the base model.  The loaded model is likely hundreds of pounds heavier.  This beast could use a massive weight reduction - and the platform already has.  A powered 3rd row isn't adding any serious benefit to any car.  If you're too frail to lift the seats on your own, you probably can't open the door or climb in.  Heaven only knows how such a person would react in an emergency situation to avoid a collision (oh wait...there's e-nannies to do that for you now ).

I like luxury features.  I want more of them.  I care very little about their adding weight when they're useful.

...but a flimsy cargo area rail system?  Powered rising rear seatbacks?  21+" wheels?  Give me a break - reduce the weight to get fuel savings and cost reductions.

[Ex-airbalancer]

At $74K this vehicle is a JOKE!  If one did buy this then the obvious custom plate would read "IDIOT". 

Cadillac’s sales are on the rise lately, which seems to support this theory.


    

Cadillac sales in USA sinking.  GM just fired Nysschen. 

Cadillac made an error in not offering more crossovers sooner. A rash of them are about to be released. Same mistake I feel Genesis is making. All of Cadillac's SUVs/CUVs are selling well.

^^ this. Genesis is late to the Luxury SUV party.
Railton

i said that 3 years ago

[Blueprint]

At the time I wrote this, Cadillac's sales were indeed up, and I think the XT5 is part of that - only not in this trim level. I see tons of them around Montreal, heck even a neighbour has one. The XTS is also doing well, but the auto journo darlings (ATS & CTS) aren't.

[Noto]

I have a Dodge Charger at the moment in bright orange. For its price, it's one helluva deal.

... But it's a beast of a car to park and drive through tighter areas. I don't feel the size in the Forester, which has a much smaller except footprint but more interior capacity due to the hatchback layout.

Big sedans just don't make sense like they used to.