2020 Cadillac XT5 Improves Gauge Cluster Design

The 2020 Cadillac XT5 delivers a midcycle update to Caddy’s popular midsize luxury crossover. Cadillac Society has been gradually outlining all the various changes and updates to the vehicle, and today we’re taking a closer look at the updated gauge cluster.

Like the 2017, 2018, and 2019 units of the XT5, the 2020 model continue to offer a base/standard instrument cluster, and an uplevel one.

Base Instrumentation

The base-level gauge cluster on the 2020 Cadillac XT5 gets completely revised speedometer and tachometer designs, with new fonts and updated gauge faces.

The 2017-2019 models featured a “half moon” theme, with the tachometer on the left hand side of the cluster, the speedometer in the middle, and the fuel level and engine temperature readouts each making up the “half moon” on the right hand side. A 5.7-inch display is positioned in the middle, just below the speedometer section. This setup was standard on the base, Luxury, and Premium Luxury models, with the only remaining model – the Platinum – getting a different cluster.

Meanwhile, the 2020 XT5 scraps that setup entirely, replacing it with two round faces for the speedometer and tachometer straddling dual screens, one at the bottom of the cluster, and another at the top. This configuration is standard on all of the revised 2020 XT5 trim hierarchy, including Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport.

• UDD – Gauge cluster with 5.7-inch color Driver Information Center display, driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
• UHS – Gauge cluster with 8-inch color Driver Information Center display, driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information

Uplevel Instrumentation

The 2017-2019 XT5 Platinum model was the only one equipped with an 8-inch color DIC. On the 2020 XT5, this same unit is now included in the optional Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package, which is available on all trims except the base Luxury model. However, 2020 models with this screen (and, by association, package) now feature revised speedometer and tachometer designs, as described earlier.

• UDD – Gauge cluster with dual Driver Information Center display, driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information
• UHS – Gauge cluster with 8-inch color Driver Information Center display with driver personalization, warning messages and vehicle information

The design of instrument panels in Cadillac vehicles has been the topic of some discontent over the past few years. Industry watchers and owners alike have often criticized Cadillac’s gauge clusters as being less attractive and having a less premium feel than those of rivals, which either offer more attractive analog clusters or offer completely digital clusters.

Cadillac’s last president, Johan de Nysschen, commented during his tenure that the luxury automaker will focus more on the design and details of the instrumentation in its vehicles. It would appear that the updated 2020 Cadillac XT5 delivers, or attempts to deliver, on that promise by upgrading the look of the gauges, particularly the speedo and tach, while also giving buyers more display tech.

An updated instrument panel is just one of several changes and updates to the 2020 Cadillac XT5. We will cover more in the near future, so be sure to subscribe to Cadillac Society for more Cadillac XT5 news and around-the-clock Cadillac news coverage.