This was supposed to be posted back in December, but as we all know, life can be unpredictable.
I didn’t have time to take more photos, but I found a YouTube video that should be helpful for anyone interested.
Currently, there are three trims available in China. To keep it simple, let’s call them the mid, high, and top trims. Notably, there is no low-spec version for the second-gen XT5 in China. The video showcases the mid trim, which I can tell by the absence of ventilated seats on the door panel. I purchased the high trim, which offers more features than the mid trim. The top trim, on the other hand, is only available with a red interior.
Improvements Over the 1st Gen XT5:
Exterior:
This feels like a small Escalade now. In my opinion, it better represents Cadillac’s modern styling compared to the Lyriq. The pair of vertical LED lights provide outstanding performance for night driving compared to the 1st gen (I had LEDs in my 1st gen).
Interior:
It seems like SAIC-GM borrowed the entire dashboard and door panel design from the Lyriq, which is definitely an upgrade. The seats have a slightly different design than Lyriq's, but the biggest improvement for me is the AKG sound system, which outperforms the Bose system in the 1st gen. Honestly, this is a bigger selling point for me than the interior overhaul itself.
Another notable upgrade is the rear headroom and legroom. Let’s just say it’s a much better fit for me now compared to the 1st gen.
Suspension:
The suspension is much more compliant on rough pavement, thanks to the cheap version of MRC. I believe the marketing team calls them RTD (real-time damping?) to differentiate them. The vehicle does feel a bit wobbly at low speeds, but it provides enough confidence to handle the average traffic in China.
Fuel Consumption:
The LXH engine (the Chinese inline turbo 2.0) is more than adequate for daily driving, and it’s the only engine option offered by SAIC-GM. Fuel efficiency is impressive—I averaged 30 MPG over 3,000 miles. For comparison, my 1st gen XT5 with the LGX engine only achieved 20 MPG. Don't take this wrong, I'd still take LGX.
Gimmicks:
You can now use voice control to open the trunk from outside the car.
The top trim offers a limited massage function for the front seats.
As I mentioned earlier, with the dash design borrowed from the Lyriq, the XT5 now features a column shifter.
While the exterior sound isolation seems slightly worse, overall noise and vibration have improved significantly. This might be due to the switch from Bose to AKG or the enhanced suspension.
What’s Lacking from the 1st Gen XT5:
The overall driving experience is typical of new luxury vehicles. While they offer a more refined experience, the connection between the driver and the vehicle itself is more isolated. The brake pedal feels unintuitive, despite the offer of 6-piston Brembo brakes. The steering, while sporty and firm, provides no real feedback from the road. This is a very subjective matter and I'll leave it here.
Baidu, a Chinese tech company, seems to be providing software services for SAIC-GM. The built-in map system is poorly designed—it’s actually worse than Baidu’s mobile app. Additionally, it feels like the company is constantly tracking your movements, as the car seems to be monitored 24/7. This is becoming a concerning trend among car manufacturers in China. While I know GM has faced controversy with OnStar selling user data to insurance companies, I do wish there was an option to completely disable Baidu like Onstar.
Should GM bring this vehicle to North America:
My honest opinion is they definitely should.
But they won't. It will kill Lyriq.
For reference, SAIC-GM sold over 6000 2nd gen XT5s in China last December.
How many Lyriq did they sell for that month in China? 53.
