The Cadillac XT5, the American luxury brand’s global best-seller, has gained a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain and new assisted driving technology from Chinese firm Momenta.
The XT5 PHEV, which will go on pre-sale in China on August 21, 2026, is claimed to be the first mass-produced luxury hybrid SUV to feature the Momenta R7 world model.
Momenta is a Chinese firm that develops autonomous driving technology, and claims to have over 15 billion kilometres of real-world driving data.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow
Cadillac already uses General Motors’ Super Cruise system, which itself has accumulated nearly 1.7 billion kilometres of driving globally, and now the XT5 PHEV features a version of this with Momenta R7.
🚘 Don’t just read about your next car. Find a great deal with CarExpert.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert This is claimed to be able to understand when it’s permissible to enter a bus lane and when to yield, and even handle “unexpected situations such as a suddenly falling apple, an unpredictable delivery man, temporary road construction cones, and door-opening accidents”.
The autonomous driving technology uses LiDAR, an eight-megapixel high-definition camera, and millimetre-wave radar to scan the vehicle’s surroundings.
Though GM was an early adopter of PHEV technology with the Chevrolet Volt, sold here as the Holden Volt, its luxury Cadillac brand has only ever offered two PHEVs: the short-lived CT6 PHEV large sedan produced in China, which was also exported to the US, and the similarly short-lived Volt-based ELR coupe.
The new Chinese XT5 PHEV features a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated with front and rear electric motors for all-wheel drive, plus a two-speed direct hybrid transmission.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert Using a 35.5kWh battery, the XT5 PHEV offers a WLTC electric range of 155km and combined fuel consumption of 6.05L/100km when its battery is depleted, which Cadillac claims is the lowest in the class.
The XT5 PHEV is also claimed to be only vehicle in its category with 5C super-fast charging, with a 30 to 80 per cent charge taking 15 minutes. It also offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, with a maximum output of 6kW, allowing users to power small electrical appliances.
Total system outputs are 385kW of power and 740Nm of torque, while the XT5 PHEV can do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 4.8 seconds, or in 5.4 seconds in a low state of charge. To that end, Cadillac claims the XT5 PHEV has performance comparable to a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, regardless of whether or not the battery is charged.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive Lyriq electric SUV, in contrast, produces 373kW and 610Nm and takes 5.3 seconds to hit 100km/h.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert For context, the standard XT5 has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 174kW and 350Nm, mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48V mild-hybrid system. It’s offered with either front-wheel drive or a twin-clutch all-wheel drive system.
Front-drive XT5s have fuel consumption of 7.71L/100km on the WLTC cycle and do the 0-100km/h dash in a claimed 8.0 seconds, while AWD drive variants consume 8.23L/100km and take 8.3 seconds.
The XT5 PHEV features intelligent continuously variable damping suspension, which is claimed to scan the road surface 20m in advance and perform 500 real-time scans per second.
Exterior and interior styling is largely unchanged from the petrol-powered second-generation XT5, with the cabin featuring similar styling to Cadillac EVs like the Lyriq – right down to the 33-inch curved display that incorporates the infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert The XT5 measures 4888mm long and 1957mm wide on a 2863mm wheelbase, making it almost identical in size to the Lexus RX.
Unusually, Cadillac launched a new, second-generation XT5 in China in 2024 but has yet to make it available in its home market of the US.
During an earnings call to discuss the automaker’s second-quarter results in July, GM CEO Mary Barra revealed the company will start rolling out next-generation versions of the current US-market XT5 and XT6 SUVs and CT5 sedan in the first half of 2027, with new model launches continuing until some time in 2028.
While the US market is set to receive a locally built version of the XT5, in China this crossover SUV is manufactured by the SAIC-GM joint venture in Shanghai.
Established in 1997, the SAIC-GM joint venture, which was due to expire next year, has been extended until 2047. The Chevrolet brand is being shuttered in China, though Chevrolet-badged vehicles will still be manufactured for export.
Supplied Credit: CarExpert A greater focus is being put on Buick and Cadillac, and GM plans to make its Chinese operations more of a production hub for global markets.
It says it’s exploring exports to the Middle East, Africa, South America and the Asia-Pacific region, with exports of the Buick Electra E7 large plug-in hybrid SUV to begin in October.
It’s unclear at this stage whether Australia will be among the markets to which Chinese-built GM vehicles will be exported.
“At this time, we have no announcements to make about future vehicles for the ANZ market,” said a GM Australia and New Zealand spokesperson in a statement.
MORE: Explore the Cadillac showroom