The Cadillac Escalade made the world long for a luxury SUV. Large and luxurious, it was piloted by rappers, racers, and celebrities of all types.
However, it’s taken the brand some time to take advantage of its status as an automotive trailblazer to round out its portfolio of luxury SUVs in other segments. If you want to live out your dream of owning a Cadillac SUV but an Escalade is beyond your budget, you have options in the 2025 Cadillac XT5 and 2025 Cadillac XT4.
Let’s check out the two smaller Cadillac SUVs and see which model makes the most sense for you.
2025 Cadillac XT5
The XT5 is a midsize SUV offering ample room for five passengers and their cargo. It shares Cadillac’s common — and handsome — exterior design theme with the XT4 and XT6. Not only does the XT5 look good on the outside, it feels good on the inside, too.
The base model comes with faux leather upholstery, but moving up to Premium Luxury or Sport models gets you leather seats and more soft-touch, premium materials. However, the exterior and interior styling has been largely unchanged for several years, so it may seem a bit dated.
One aspect of the Cadillac XT5 that isn’t dated is its ride and handling. It’s powered by a 235-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Buyers wanting more zip can upgrade to a 310-hp turbo V6. Regardless of engine, front-wheel drive (FWD) comes standard, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.
Cadillac XT5 Highlights
Safety smarts: The Cadillac Smart System makes this SUV even more appealing. The suite’s standard safety tech includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a safety alert vibrating seat, rear parking sensors, and a Teen Driver mode.
Going wireless: All but the base trim comes standard with a wireless charging pad. This makes it easy to keep your phone juiced off without fussing with wires. Furthermore, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is standard.
Brembo brakes: Standard on the Sport trim, these high-performance brakes signified by their bright red calipers help bring the XT5 to a quick stop.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the XT5 models near you.
2025 Cadillac XT4
2024 model shown
The XT4, which received an update last year, acts as a gateway to the Cadillac brand as it’s the least expensive SUV and the second most affordable Cadillac behind the CT4 sedan. If you want to break into the premium automotive market, it’s a good starting point. For 2025, Cadillac adds more standard driver-assists systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, HD Surround Vision, rear pedestrian alert, reverse automatic braking, intersection assist, and traffic sign recognition.
Like its siblings, the XT4 offers a lot of interior space for people and their stuff. It’s nearly the segment leader in rear seat room and cargo space. With the rear seats up, our reviewer noted the vehicle could haul four golf bags. It is spacious inside, and the front seats are comfortable and can be upgraded if you want a sportier feel. The rest of the cabin is filled with upscale materials that can be optioned up depending on the trim level.
While ample space is a selling point, the XT4 features a massive curved display that measures 33 inches on the diagonal and comprises the driver information and infotainment systems. All XT4 trims are powered by a 235-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder connected to a 9-speed transmission. As with the XT5, front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.
Cadillac XT4 Highlights
Advanced Technology: The optional Technology Package adds such high-end features as a head-up display and rear camera mirror.
Superior sound: If you’re riding in luxury, a great sound system hovers near the top of the list of wants. Cadillac teams with AKG, an Austrian company with an excellent reputation for making high-quality microphones, to develop a 13-speaker AKG sound system to its options list.
Sport trim: In addition to extra bolstering for the front seats, the 2025 XT4 Sport comes with a specially tuned adaptive suspension, which seems well-suited to the XT4’s basic character.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the XT4 models near you.
Similarities
The Cadillac XT5 and XT4 enjoy similar good looks, comfortable, spacious interiors, and plenty of technology for safety and convenience — the minimum standard for a luxury vehicle these days.
Pricing
New 2025 Cadillac XT5 Prices
New 2025 Cadillac XT4 Prices
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Cadillac XT5 vehicles and New 2025 Cadillac XT4 vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Cadillac XT5 | 2025 Cadillac XT4 | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 235 hp @ 5,000 rpm | 235 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 22 city/29 highway/25 combined | 24 city/29 highway/26 combined |
| Also Available | 3.6-liter V6/AWD | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5-Star | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 112.5 inches | 109.4 inches |
| Overall Length | 189.6 inches | 180.9 inches |
| Width | 74.9 inches | 76.7 inches |
| Height | 66.1 inches | 63.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.7 feet | 38.0 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.7 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.4 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.2 inches | 44.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 39.0 inches | 39.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 58.3 inches | 57.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 56.3 inches | 55.1 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 30.0 cubic feet | 22.5 cubic feet |
Conclusion
The bottom line: Do you want more room, and are you willing to pay more to get it? If so, spring for the roomier XT5. In addition to a lower price, in the XT4’s favor is it recent update that brought more tech and styling revisions to make it feel fresh. Since these two sit side by side in dealer showrooms, you can easily test-drive them for yourself to see which makes the most sense for you and your needs.