2026 Cadillac XT5

If it survives into its ninth model year, the 2026 Cadillac XT5 will have few noteworthy changes, which is surprising considering how long this midsize luxury SUV has been around. This Caddy has its strengths, mainly in the form of generous passenger space, with ample headroom and legroom for front and rear seat passengers. It's also relatively affodable, at least compared to its primary competition. But the reality is that the XT5 is long in the tooth and has a hard time keeping up with more modern rivals, most of which have been revised at least once since this Cadillac was introduced. The most likely change is for the XT5 to be discontinued entirely in favor of one of Cadillac's newer all-electric offerings.

Edmunds spotlight: No more XT5?

While Cadillac hasn't officially confirmed it yet, rumors have swirled for a couple of years that the XT5 won't be renewed for the U.S. market, though it may live on in China. Originally, one of the primary motivators for this was Cadillac's push to go all-electric by the 2030 model year, and the new Cadillac Optiq electric SUV is very similar in size to the XT5. However, many manufacturers have recently signaled that they're hedging their bets when it comes to going all-EV. And that could give a reprieve for the gas-powered XT5; it may return to our shores after all.

Competitors to consider

Since its debut way back in 2017, the XT5 has only received minor updates. In the meantime, key rivals like the Lexus RX have been thoroughly redone, and new competitors have been introduced, including the similarly sized Genesis GV80 and slightly smaller GV70. Other considerations include the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3, although they're a touch smaller and their prices tend to escalate rapidly.

Unless you're a Cadillac die-hard, the harsh truth is that there are better ways to spend your dollars on a luxury two-row SUV than the XT5. It's not bad; it's simply behind the times and can't quite keep up with its more modern rivals, though the price is undeniably attractive.