2023 Cadillac XT5 Performance

Two years ago, Cadillac finally joined the modern world by adding a small-capacity turbocharged engine to the existing naturally-aspirated V6. It's available in both front- and all-wheel-drive. The V6's performance was already underwhelming, so the smaller engine was unlikely to provide proper fireworks. Acceleration isn't impressive, but the decent mid-range torque keeps it bowling along, if not with much enthusiasm.

The V6 produces 310 horsepower, while the turbocharged four-pot delivers 235 hp. Independent tests have shown that the V6 makes the 0-60 mph sprint in a modest 6.5 seconds. Most of the Germans can do the job in six seconds or less. The Cadillac XT5 SUV also fails to impress with its limited towing capacity, and can only manage 3,500 lbs. The four-cylinder's outputs are on par within the segment, and the weight differences between it and competitors are negligible. With that in mind, the Cadillac should deliver similar performance to its German rivals, but it just doesn't. The main problem is the gearbox, which is tuned for fuel economy rather than performance. It lacks the urgency of the Germans' eight-speed boxes, taking a split-second longer to kick down.

Still, both engines are perfectly fine around town, but the 3.6-liter is much better at merging with the freeway and overtaking. Neither engine likes being pushed hard, with the V6 sounding particularly stressed and unrefined at higher revs.

Two engine options are available. Caddy's turbocharged four-pot produces 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The older, naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 delivers 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The small engine is the only engine option for entry-level Luxury, while the mid-spec Premium Luxury is available with both. With a Sport badge attached to it, the top-spec model is only available with the V6 and all-wheel-drive. All models use a nine-speed automatic transmission

The turbocharged four-pot XT5 delivers an EPA-estimate of 22/29/24 miles per gallon city/highway/combined in FWD guise and 21/27/23 mpg in AWD guise. Add two cylinders and remove the turbo, and it will deliver 19/26/21 mpg with FWD and 18/25/21 mpg with AWD. The XT5 is not a class leader in this segment, but you get a decent-sized fuel tank on both models. A 19-gallon tank is standard on FWD models, while AWD models get a larger 22-gallon tank. The XT5 with the best gas mileage can do an impressive 506 miles between refills, while the AWD with a larger gas tank can do 399 miles.