The Cadillac XT5 SUV originally debuted in the USA in 2015 and only came to China in the spring of 2016. Nonetheless, the Chinese market eventually proved the largest for the car company, so its decision to conduct a mid-generational refresh there first should not come across as surprising.
The official list of changes consists of 30 items, but major ones are few. Outside, a new radiator grille with a fine mesh pattern is the only readily noticeable detail, although a closer glance reveals slightly reshaped side mirrors and a rear spoiler with a wiper hidden underneath.
Inside, the Cue multimedia system has received an update and now sports a controller knob on the center tunnel. There are minor changes in the styling of the instrument cluster, and the bezel-less, high-definition mirror display is also new.
The old 2.0-liter turbocharged LTG engine makes way for a new, similarly-specced LSY unit capable of partial cylinder deactivation. While this means better overall fuel efficiency, it also translates into less power. The discontinued engine produced 269 hp (200 kW) and 400 Nm (300 pound-feet) of torque, while the new one only pumps out 241 hp (180 kW) and 350 Nm (254 lb×ft) of torque.
The automatic transmission now consists of nine gears rather than eight. The company says the same transmission design will be available with the naturally aspirated 3.6 V6 version of the car when it gets released in the USA. Another bit of good news concerning the U.S. variant of the XT5 is that it will be available with a 2.0-liter engine.
The official U.S. premiere of the facelifted Cadillac XT5 is still weeks away, though, and the sales won’t begin until closer to the end of the year. Dealerships throughout China will get their first shipments sooner, namely in the third quarter of 2019.
Photos: Cadillac