SO WHAT’S NEW?

First, let’s just get this naming discussion out of the way. Personally I like a good solid descriptive word to describe my vehicle (“Ford Explorer”, etc.), but when you get to luxury brands it tends to be alphabet soup. So Cadillac is just coming up with a new kind of soup.

XT5 means“Crossover Touring”; the new CT6 flagship sedan means “Cadillac Touring”; the numbers indicate how premium the vehicle is in Cadillac’s lineup.

In the end, customers just want a good car and don’t want to have to analyze the name, so I’m thinking the execs over-thought this one a bit, but it is what it is -- we’re now in the CT and XT era of Cadillac. The extra-large and more upscale Escalade SUV remains the only Cadillac not swept up in this new coding (and rightfully so, as it’s a pretty iconic name).

So what’s new on the XT5 vs. the SRX it is replacing? Visually, you’re going to get a redesign of the exterior, and there is a lighter build to help cut weight and improve fuel economy.

You also get impressive improvements on the interior, including a design with emphasis on space (max headroom, 3 more inches of legroom, etc.). The XT5 is well set up for a family of five. Everyone will be comfortable and the driver has an excellent view out of both front and rear windows, and the side mirrors..

And since this is a luxury vehicle, it needs to reflect that quality level, so the leather seats and other materials in the cabin have been upgraded to reflect that.

While the exterior design is sharp and you get some strong color options (personally, I would get a Cadillac jet black), my only issue is that the XT5 isn’t distinguished enough from other GM models; The front grille is distinctly Cadillac, but if you were to view the XT5 from the side vs. some Chevy SUVs (which I randomly happened to do one day when I parked it), it wasn’t as distinguishable as a luxury vehicle as I would have hoped.

HITTING THE ROAD

GM and Cadillac offer just one engine option on the XT5 -- a 3.6-liter, V6 that produces 310 horsepower. It features an 8-speed automatic transmission, and it also includes a new electronic shifter with a design that is quite irrational and will confuse some drivers.To go in reverse, you must hold down a button, then shift up and to the left. Neutral is straight up. For Drive, hold button and shift down. There is a P button for Park -- no shifting up or down needed. If that sounds complicated, well, it is.

Front-wheel drive is standard, but you can get AWD as an option (note: it is not available on base trim level); Depending on your mood, you can shift between Touring, AWD and Sport modes while driving. I won’t lie and say the XT5 is the most thrilling drive … While not slow, it’s definitely not among the fastest SUVs I have tested. Acceleration can be disappointing at times.

What the XT5 does do well is provide an enjoyable (and very quiet) ride, with the inside free of road noise. When maneuvering through traffic it is responsive and goes where you need it to go. While not a thrill ride, you feel safe, comfortable and relaxed in the XT5, which I suppose is one of the main goals of vehicles in this category that is aimed mainly at families.

COCOON OF SAFETY

The deciding factor for SUV buyers is often safety features, and Cadillac wisely covers itself well here.

Safety features on the XT5 (many of them standard) include: A bevy of air bags, rear camera, side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision alert, pedestrian detection (in front), lane keep assist with lane departure warning, a following distance indicator and more. Looking at the overall safety package available on the XT5, it’s one of the best you can find (for example, the Audi SUV lineup has a few extra safety features you won’t find here, but it is also more expensive).

Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system seems to be improving over the years in terms of responsiveness, but it’s still got its bugs and trails the user experience I’ve had in other luxury vehicles. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability are included, so if you’d like to connect your phone to the car, those systems are often a better alternative to what the vehicle has to offer.

Other tech offerings include an available 4G Hotspot in the car (data fees apply); and a unique camera in the rearview mirror on the top trim level.

For music lovers, the 14-speaker Bose surround sound system will produce some intense audio delight.

FUEL FACTS
Official fuel mileage numbers on the XT5 are 18 city/26 highway/21 combined … For a vehicle of this size, that isn’t bad, and it measures up closely with the alternatives in the class from Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus.

Fuel economy is also aided by start/stop technology that shuts down your engine when you are at a stop light, then restarts once you get moving. It’s a bit jarring at times when you first are getting used to it, but will help your wallet in the long run.

WRAPUP

My test XT5 vehicle (a Premium Luxury AWD model) sells for $56,730; base price on the XT5 starts at $38,995; Pricing is competitive for the segment, coming in well under some of the alternatives and about even with others.

By scrapping the popular SRX and reintroducing themselves to the crossover segment with the improved XT5, Cadillac is taking a bold swing at a segment that features intense competition between all the major luxury automakers.

While lacking in some areas (power and acceleration, CUE system), the XT5’s solid responsiveness to the driver and quiet/smoothness on the road made me enjoy the overall experience, and I can definitely see this latest Cadillac crossover being a strong performer for the brand going forward, even among a sea of enemies from the U.S., Germany, Japan and beyond.

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Matt Myftiu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or on Twitter @MattMyftiu.

His past reviews can all be seen online at autotechreviews.com.

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Matt Myftiu can be foundon Twitter @MattMyftiu.