Cadillac’s Most Unexpected Comeback Is A Gas SUV

The XT5 was expected to go the way of the dodo, but as it turns out, gas isn’t easy to give up

Cadillac was planning to go electric-only by 2030, so they’ve introduced several new models, including the Optiq, Lyriq, Vistiq, Celestiq, and Escalade IQ. That’s an impressive lineup, but the brand realized electric vehicle adoption was occurring more slowly than they had anticipated.

A Shrinking Gas-Powered Lineup

This likely set off alarm bells as their ICE-powered lineup is getting old and thin. The XT4 went out of production earlier this year, while the larger XT6 has a date with the undertaker. The XT5 was expected to follow them, and its death would have meant the end of Cadillac’s second-best-selling vehicle in America.

More: China’s New Cadillac XT5 Will Make You Jealous We Don’t Get It Here

However, GM doesn’t want to give it up, and the Detroit Free Press obtained a UAW document saying the current XT5 will stick around until late 2026. The crossover will then be redesigned for the 2028 model year.

Details are scarce, but there’s speculation we’ll be getting a version of the Chinese crossover that debuted last fall. The second-generation model is larger than its predecessor and sports a Lyriq-inspired design.

While the Chinese XT5 has a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with mild hybrid technology, the US-spec model could follow in the footsteps of the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia. If it does, the crossover could have a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 328 hp (245 kW / 333 PS) and 326 lb-ft (442 Nm) of torque.

Cadillac Confirms Return

In a statement to MotorTrend, the company said, “In response to strong demand for the nameplate, we made the decision to keep XT5 as part of our portfolio, which is stronger than ever with a mix of new EV and recently refreshed gas-powered vehicles like Escalade. We look forward to launching the next-gen XT5 in the second half of 2027.”