We have been driving our 2019 XT5 Luxury V6, 3.6 L, FWD, horizon red (exterior), Sahara beige (interior), family SUV for more a year and half, now, and are excited every single time we enter it. With our previous cars, the longer we had them the less delighted we were. It definitely is NOT the case with our XT5. The aesthetics are superb, as the cabin inside feels like a piece of art, while still being a real car. (We came to believe that critics of XT5 interior were not seeing the forest for the trees; focused on nitty-bitty details, like "rough edges" of door pockets, but completely missing or mischaracterizing it as a whole).
The appearance of exterior is sharp, not your neighbor's yet another SUV, and elegant. The front and rear boomerang-shaped lights are in our opinion the best looking in the auto industry. Very appropriate for a true luxury vehicle, which it is. Although the cabin is very spacious and comfy, the car's outside dimensions are about perfect for parking in a standard garage or parking lot. Before we bought our XT5 we wanted to buy Explorer, but parking it, even with automatic car assist was a frustrating experience due to its oversized width. (Also, Explorer - the top of the line version - did not feel nearly as luxurious inside as XT5.)
The V6 quietness and pick up are very satisfying. The auto stop-restart gets some time to get used to it, but after a while we actually like it. It's pretty cool.
Driving it is a pleasure, too. Smooth ride like a velvet, easy to maneuver, all-by-wire steering and transmission will amaze you. It feels like a light-weighted car and not 2,500 lb gross weight truck. It does exactly what the driver wants it to do.
So far no repairs, just oil change and washing. Fuel efficiency is good, although we don't drive it too fast.
Now, some critical comments.
Our biggest concern probably pertains to virtually all new vehicles available on the market. The "short travel" suspension that today's cars utilize may look sharp and fashionable, provide better fuel economy and feeling of the road, and offer a smooth ride on a good quality pavement, but becomes rough and bumpy on bumpy roads. We remember times when a full-size or mid-size cars were floating through roads' imperfections as the only parts that were moving up and down were the wheels. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case with today's new cars. When a highway has a bump, you cans see that the wheels AND the entire body of every new car are moving up and down on it.
Our second concern is the car length. Making it a few inches longer (perhaps, an optional "L" version) would make the rear half of the cabin feel like an upscale saloon. We wonder why manufacturers of most cars abandoned the idea that it is the rear seats that should be the most spacious and comfortable. Not that we complain about XT5's rear seat, its is comfy and can be moved back and forth, and reclined a bit, but, again, we are a bit critical about the recent trend in auto industry in this respect.
Our third concern is with the control/GPS screen. It misses a shade so when the sun is up it sometimes throws the light directly on it, which makes it more difficult to read some small details.
We also found it difficult to buy one specific accessory: pillows that would allow passengers to sleep while riding in upward position. Perhaps, Cadillac could consider commissioning them; they would greatly enhance the pleasures (or reduce tiredness) of the long-distance driving.
Other than that, we love it from the first sight. We probably will keep it indefinitely.
