2020 Cadillac XT5 Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

When you hear the name Cadillac, images of luxury and comfort probably come to mind. Drivers tend to have high expectations for Cadillac, and there is a good reason why. Cadillac has been delivering strong and chic vehicles for decades.

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 lives up to many of those expectations. This model year, there is a brand new Sport trim level that is drawing some attention. Also, the base trim is now known as the Luxury. If that does not tell you what the XT5 is all about, then nothing will. The 2.0-L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is now standard on the lower trim levels, which should reel in more buyers.

There are a few things that buyers might not like about the XT5, starting with a few bizarre design choices that make the vehicle less utilitarian. The optional packages also up the price tag quite a bit.

So, which of the 2020 Cadillac XT5's three trim levels (the Luxury, the Premium Luxury, and the Sport) is the right one for you? Is there a trim level that is better than the other two? Are any of them worth just skipping over entirely? By the end of this trim level comparison review, we will declare which 2020 Cadillac XT5 trim level gives drivers the best deal.

Compare the 2020 Cadillac XT5 Luxury vs Premium Luxury Trims. What is the difference?

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 has a base trim that is now known as the Luxury. This trim level is equipped with a nice array of standard safety features. It comes with a safety alert seat, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, traction control, and front and rear parking assist. For a base trim level, this is a decent set-up.

Of course, the Premium Luxury trim level adds onto that list of standard safety features. If you decide to go with the Premium Luxury, you will get lane change alert with a side blind zone alert, a rear cross traffic alert, and rain-sensing front windshield wipers.

Of course, your decision to buy the XT5 will likely be based on what is under the hood. The Limited and Premium Limited both come with the 2.0-L turbocharged engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine gets 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The standardization of this engine on the Luxury is one of the major changes that was made for the 2020 model year and makes the Luxury an even more attractive purchase.

There are some differences worth mentioning on the exterior of the Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels. The Luxury has 18-inch alloy wheels done in a bright silver finish while the Premium Luxury gets treated to 18-inch slit-spoke alloys with a lovely pearl nickel finish. The Luxury has LED headlights with IntelliBeam technology, but the Premium Luxury trim level adds a hands-free power liftgate to the list of standard features. This liftgate makes it much easier and quicker to open the liftgate and load and unload items. The Premium Luxury also has options like an 18-inch spare steel wheel, 20-inch 6-split spoke wheels with a diamond cut/Android finish, assist steps for getting in and out, clear taillights, a cargo convenience package, a front license plate bracket, the premium carpet package, a rear fascia protector, and roof rack cross rails.

On the inside, the XT5's Luxury trim is equipped with a proximity key, remote keyless entry, power windows (with one-touch up/down) and doors, illuminated vanity mirrors on the sun visors up front, a full floor console with a covered box, a day-night rear view mirror, automatic climate control, a manual folding driver's side mirror, a HomeLink universal transceiver, two 12-volt power outlets, four USB ports, cruise control with controls mounted onto the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, illuminated entry, an illuminated glovebox, and plenty of cupholders in the front and rear of the vehicle.

The Luxury's interior is also given a genuine wood and piano black instrument panel insert, a 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat, a manual 60/40-split folding rear seat, chic leatherette upholstery, heated front seats (which feel wonderful in winter), leatherette door panel trim, an 8-way power-adjustable driver seat, and a steering wheel that is wrapped in leather.

The Luxury trim level comes with 4G LTE WiFi hot spot connectivity, a wireless charging pad, a premium 8-speaker Bose sound system with an amplifier, an antenna that is integrated into the roof, SiriusXM Satellite Radio connectivity, AM/FM radio, voice control, and speed-sensitive volume. For a base trim, this is a pretty good deal. You do, of course, get Bluetooth for hands-free access.

The Premium Luxury gets a lot of the same features but goes quite far in terms of building upon the Luxury's foundation. The same standard mechanical features come on it, including a capless fuel filler, automatic emergency braking, an electronic brake, electronic traction control, and the front-wheel drive drivetrain. Optional mechanical features include a battery protection package, a chassis with a real-time damping suspension, an engine block heater, a heavy-duty cooling system, and smart towing.

In the Premium Luxury trim, 2-way power-adjustable lumbar support gets added to both front seats for extra support and comfort. The standard Advanced Security Package gives the vehicle a steering column that locks, latch and lock shields for the doors, a theft-deterrent alarm system which is self-powered, a vehicle interior motion sensor, and wheel lugs that lock. There is a nifty feature called an inclination sensor that senses when the tilt of the vehicle shifts, such as when it is going to be towed or put on a jack.

You also get Cadillac Connected Access capability, the 8-inch touchscreen with smartphone app integration via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a compass display, a dual note horn, front pedestrian braking, an HD rear view camera, and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. The driver's seat also gets two memory functions, and there are four USB ports plus two 12-volt auxiliary power outlets.

There are plenty of interior options for the Premium Luxury trim level that are very tempting to add on despite the price. Drivers will likely be attracted to the optional reverse automatic braking, rear pedestrian alert, the HD surround vision camera, automatic parking assist with braking, the powered universal tablet holder, and the rear seat DVD entertainment system. The latter is especially nice if you are constantly transporting kids in the back seat.

Compare the 2020 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury vs Sport Trims.  What is the difference?

Of course, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 ups the luxury - and sporty vibe - on the line-topping Sport trim level. Of course, the price tag jumps about $5,000, and that is just based on the starting MSRP. Tack on extra features, and you will sure be spending a pretty penny. But is it worth the cost? Let us find out.

The Sport comes with a more powerful 3.6-L V6 engine that generates 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The 9-speed automatic transmission that comes with this engine has overdrive and Driver Shift Control and provides smooth, natural, and effortless shifting. An all-wheel drive system with a twin clutch comes standard, as does the chassis a with real-time damping suspension. You cannot get the Sport with front-wheel drive. Also, the heavy-duty cooling system comes equipped.

The Sport's exterior gets some sophisticated and sporty-looking upgrades too. For starters, the Sport gets to ride atop 20-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels that have a pearl nickel finish to them. 20-inch all-season tires come equipped as well. There are also body-colored door handles and gloss black roof rails. Options include regular black roof rack cross rails, which you cannot get on the lower trim levels.

Inside of the Sport, you will find a lot of the same features as what you get in the Premium Luxury. There are still options for OnStar and Cadillac Connected services, night vision, a highway safety kit, HD surround vision, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and the Platinum Package. The Platinum Package gives the vehicle semi-aniline leather seating on all rows, leather wrapping (on the instrument panel, door trim, and console), headliner that is microfiber sueded, premium protective carpeted mats for the front and rear, chassis damping control, the performance suspension, and your choice of two unique interior trim options (maple sugar with jet black accents and open pore elm cluster wood trim or jet black with bronze carbon fiber trim).

Note that, while EPA estimates are not yet available for the Premium Luxury trim, the Sport is estimated to get 20 mpg combined, with 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Based on what drivers are sharing and on the 2019 EPA estimates, the Premium Luxury should get about 21 mpg combined, with 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. As you can see, the two engines produce similar fuel economies, both of which are pretty standard for vehicles in this class.

Which Trim to Choose?

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 is certainly a luxurious vehicle, inside and out. Trying to decide between its trim levels might prove to be a bit difficult. The Sport's standard V6 engine is definitely an attractive feature, but a lot of drivers will not want to spend the extra $5,000 or thereabouts basically for a sportier performance.

Sure, the Sport has a great driving performance. It handles well and feels very athletic. And, yes, the loss of the V6 as the standard engine is kind of a bummer, but the 2.0-L on the lower trims is quite capable, getting close to the same amount of torque as the V6. It's just a trade-off for ever-so-slightly better fuel efficiency.

Considering the fact that the Sport does not really add a lot in terms of standard features or trim-exclusive, optional packages and makes what options it does have pretty expensive, the Premium Luxury trim level is the better deal.

The Premium Luxury trim level offers standard features like blind zone monitoring, wireless charging, and the power liftgate. Everything that comes on this trim level should be enough to please the average driver. The base Luxury trim level does have a lot of necessities (such as smartphone app integration and forward collision warning), but the Premium Luxury offers more for a modest price tag leap. It also gives you many more options that you cannot get on the Luxury. Depending on your budget, you can really go all-out on customizing the Premium Luxury trim.

No matter which trim level you decide to go with, you are getting a stellar vehicle. There are a few design choices that could be improved upon, such as the tiny mirrors and windows. Otherwise, the 2020 Cadillac XT5 is a strong contender in the mid-size luxury SUV segment. The changes that Cadillac did make to the line-up will likely garner the vehicle more attention from potential buyers. If you get the chance, test drive the XT5 and experience its balance of power and prestige.