Cadillac Xt5

The Cadillac XT5 first arrived on the scene for the 2017 model year, and at the time, it breathed new life into the brand with a replacement for the then-dated SRX crossover. Now it’s five years later, and the XT5 is starting to get long in the tooth as well.

There so many SUVs and crossovers on the market these days, so how does an automaker set themselves apart from the pack? They might go for something super rugged, or maybe sporty and powerful. The big differentiator for Cadillac’s new XT5 crossover?

My tester this week is the new 2017 Cadillac XT, which replaces the SRX, a boring and outdated SUV, despite being a top-seller for GM’s luxury brand. I love the direction Cadillac is going with their new and refreshed lineup of vehicles, however I dislike their latest naming convention.

Automakers like to throw the word “lightweight” around, though the term is relative. For instance the new luxury Cadillac XT5 crossover isn’t a lightweight car compared to the Mazda MX-5, but compared to the Audi Q5, it’s 100 pounds lighter despite being 7-inches longer.