The Cadillac->ke18 brand has been on the mend as of late, following many years of sliding sales due to a lack of exciting cars. The brand built its V-Series lineup to attract a younger following, but the styling was too dated to garner much interest. Now with the new 2015 Cadillac ATS and 2014 Cadillac CTS, and the upcoming 2016 Cadillac CT6 already in the fold, Cadillac has turned its attention to the 2014 Cadillac SRX midsize crossover->ke288; more specifically, its replacement, the XT5.

With the SRX sliding nearly 6 percent in overall sales in 2014, the midsize crossover is in desperate need of an overhaul. Keeping true to his promise when he took over Cadillac, Johan de Nysschen will change the name of the SRX to the XT5 when the redesigned model arrives at dealers. With a new name, new look, and new engine lineup, can the XT5 help bring Cadillac back to the top of the luxury car->ke505 heap?

Updated 02/10/2016: Cadillac announced that the new XT5 will arrive in U.S. dealerships in early-April. Prices will range from $38,995 for the base version and up to $62,500 for the highest XT5 Platinum level.

Continue reading my full preview of the XT5 to find out.

2017 Cadillac XT5

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2017 Cadillac XT5
• Engine/Motor: V6
• Horsepower: 310
• Torque: 270
• Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Pros

Cons

Exterior

The Cadillac XT5 looks a lot more sophisticated than the SRX. That’s largely due to its adoption of Cadillac’s new design language, which we’ve already seen on the the CTS and the upcoming CT6 luxury sedan->ke142.

The front end is the biggest beneficiary of this new styling cue. The vertical integrated LED headlights drop down close enough to a separate set of LEDs on the air intakes. When all the lights are illuminated, the front profile of the XT5 turns aggressive.

Caddy’s egg crate grille is also a lot bigger than it was on the SRX, but even with all the real estate it’s occupying, it doesn’t take any attention away from the other design elements in the front, including the subtle, but effective bumper lines LEDs and the wide fenders and wheel arches. From the side, the character lines that extend from the taillights all the way to the front doors further showcase the XT5’s muscularity.

Keeping with the adoption of Caddy’s new design language, the back of the XT5 looks similar to the CTS Sedan. The XT5 does look busier, thanks to the horizontal lines running from taillight to taillight. The placement of the reverse light is also different from the CTS. Whereas the light on the sedan was curiously placed below the bumper and between the two exhausts, the light on the XT5 is in a more visible location, resting on the top of the bumper.

The new design of the XT5 comes from Cadillac’s expertise for lightweight and driving dynamics. It comes in 278 pounds lighter than the SRX, 100 pounds lighter than the Audi Q5 and 650 pounds less than the Mercedes Benz GLE. Use of ultra-high-strength steel and laser welding means that that XT5 was able to shed that extra weight and still maintain body rigidity and crash performance. With a wheelbase that is two inches longer and a track that is one inch wider than the SRX, the car has a sleek look and a firm stance.

Exterior Dimensions

Interior

Most notably, the first thing you’ll notice about the interior of the XT5 is the cut-and-sewn wrapped panels as opposed to molded surfaces like we see in other models. The XT5 uses a new Rear Camera Mirror System. This system uses a camera mounted in the rear of the vehicle to display digital video on the display that is applied to the traditional rear view mirror. Like all 2016 Cadillac models, the XT5 also has a 4G hotspot, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone integration.

The center stack includes an updated CUE system with a faster processor and slightly larger screen. A slot inside the center console provides a wireless charging dock for capable smartphones. The climate controller that sits above the wireless charging cradle provides all essential climate control functions --including settings for the heated and cooled seats. The transmission shifter has been designed to accommodate the electronic shift control. Park is engaged by pressing a button on the shifter.

Woodgrain inserts are installed on the door trim panels, around the air vents on the instrument cluster, and the steering wheel. The steering wheel contains various controls for cruise settings, as well as buttons to control the drive information center. The DIC in the center of the instrument cluster is digital, however, the tachometer, speedometer, temperature gauge and gas gauge are all analog with a traditional needle design.

To the rear, there are 40-20-40 folding rear seats that fold down flat to extend cargo room. There also appears to be a rear-passenger entertainment system installed on the floorboard in front of the rear, center seat. The rear seats also recline and slide forward and backward to make for adjustable leg and cargo room on demand.

Interior Dimensions

Drivetrain

Here in the U.S., the 2017 XT5 will be powered by the same engine that propels the 2016 Cadillac ATS, 2016 Cadillac CTS, and the 2016 Cadillac CT6. It is estimated to produce 310 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Variable valve timing provides a strong and smooth response, while the Active Fuel Management and Cylinder Deactivation technology allows the engine to run on just four cylinders when under low or moderate load. Added to this system is a newly developed Stop/Start technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped at traffic lights. It should also be noted that in the Chinese market, the XT5 will come standard with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that also features Start/Stop capability.

A new eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard and includes Electronic Precision Shift – a first for any vehicle from Cadillac. The car comes standard with front-wheel drive, with an optional twin-clutch all-wheel drive system. When equipped with AWD, all available torque can be transferred to the front or rear axle as conditions require. In the rear, an electronic rear differential allows up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear axle to be diverted to either wheel.

Lightweight was the name of the game for the suspension, which includes MacPherson struts in the front, and a five-link system in the rear. 18-inch wheels come standard, but 20-inch wheels are optional for an additional fee. When equipped with the aforementioned 20-inch wheels, the XT5 is also equipped with a Continuous Damping Control system to manage the suspension system on demand. On the Platinum trim level, additional ride bushings are installed to the rear cradle to improve ride comfort those riding in the rear.

Drivetrain Specifications

Prices

The 2017 XT5 will be available in four trim levels, including a range-topping Platinum model, a first for Cadillac in this segment. Prices will range from $38,995 for the base version and up to $62,500 for the XT5 Platinum level.

Safety

As with most Cadillacs, the XT5 is equipped with front and rear airbags, as well as with the Driver Awareness and Driver Assist packages that aid vision and help avoid collisions. Driver assistance systems include automatic front and rear braking at low speeds, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Automatic Parking Assist.

The crossover also comes with Rear Camera Mirror, a system that debuted on the CT6 sedan. The system uses a video display instead of the rearview mirror and a high-dynamic range camera that records wider images behind the car. Cadillac says that the Rear Camera Mirror enhances the driver’s rear vision by 300 percent.

Competition

2015 BMW X3

The BMW X3 is one of the big guns that Cadillac has in its sites when creating the XT5. Fresh off of a facelift in 2015, the X3 should remain relatively unchanged until the new Caddy arrives, save for the possibility of a few drivetrain changes here and there.

The 2015 model comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 240 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque. This base setup is available with rear- or all-wheel drive, There is also an xDrive28d model that comes with a 2.0-liter diesel engine that produces 180 horses and 280 pound-feet of torque. The range topper is the xDrive35i, which comes with a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo engine that cranks out 300 horses and 300 pound-feet of torque. Both the xDrive28d and the xDrive35i come standard with all-wheel drive.

The X3’s pricing starts at $38,500 for the 2015 sDrive28i and climbs to $45,500 for the xDrive35i.

You can read our full review here.

2013 Audi Q5

Wherever the BMW X3 is, the Audi Q5 isn’t too far behind, so it is no surprise that this is another main target for the XT5. Unlike the X3, however, look for the Q5 to receive a slight refresh before the XT5 hits showrooms.

In the 2015 model year, the Q5 comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that injects 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque into the small crossover. Moving into the optional 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 bumps the power to 272 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque. If you’re looking for something a little more, you can opt for the SQ5, which features a 3.0-liter TFSI engine that produces 354 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque.

For the thrifty driver, there is the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces 240 horses and 428 pound-feet of twist, Lastly, there is the Q5 Hybrid, which matches the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine to a 54-horsepower electric engine for a combined output of 245 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.

Like all proper Audi->ke14 models – yes there are a few improper ones that lack it – the Q5 comes standard with quattro all-wheel drive. The model bases at $39,300 and rises to a starting price of $52,700 for the 2014 Audi SQ5.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

Cadillac is in a rebuilding phase of sorts, and the SRX is one model that it needs to focus on. I think that the slump is mostly due to the aging design, but an updated engine lineup can’t hurt either.

Updated History

Updated 11/09/2015: Cadillac dropped full specifications figures on the 2017 XT5. Continue reading for the full details.

Updated 09/10/2015: Cadillac dropped the first official images of its latest SUV->ke145: the new XT5, aka the replacement of the SRX. Enjoy!

Updated 09/09/2015: A new report from Autoblog suggests that the new XT5 will make its world debut in November at the Dubai Motor Show, while the North American debut will be made later that month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. However, we should have more details on the 2017 XT5 later this week, so stay tuned!