
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
crc - 1/14/16
180 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 184
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 185
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 186
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 191
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 198
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 204
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 206
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 208
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 212
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 219
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 220 Assistance Systems for
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 233
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 235
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 247

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
crc - 1/14/16
202 Driving and Operating
3. To exit, pull back on the shiftlever a second time. The D in
the shift pattern will illuminate
in red, and the M will switch to
white.
With the transmission in D (Drive)
and not in Permanent Tap Shift
Mode, the Tap Shift controls will
activate a temporary tap manual
shift mode, allowing the
transmission to be manually shifted.
Automatic shifts return after no
manual shifts have been done for
seven to 10 seconds. The
Temporary Tap Shift Mode can also
be deactivated by holding the right
upshift control briefly.
While using Tap Shift, the vehicle
will have firmer, quicker shifting.
This can be used for sport driving or
when climbing or descending hills,
to stay in gear longer, or to
downshift for more power or engine
braking.
The transmission will only allow
shifting into gears appropriate for
the vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (rpm). The
transmission will not automatically shift to the next lower gear if the
engine rpm is too high, nor to the
next higher gear when the maximum
engine rpm is reached.
If shifting is prevented for any
reason, a SHIFT DENIED message
will be displayed in the instrument
cluster. See
Transmission
Messages 0150.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
it is suggested to shift into second
gear. A higher gear allows the
vehicle to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can
operate in All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See Driver Mode
Control 0208.
Press MODE to activate AWD. AWD
is active in both AWD and Sport
Modes.
The AWD system delivers power to
all four wheels and the system
adjusts as needed to improve
traction.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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206 Driving and Operating
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has an HSA feature,
which may be useful when the
vehicle is stopped on a grade
sufficient enough to activate HSA.
This feature is designed to prevent
the vehicle from rolling, either
forward or rearward, during vehicle
drive off. After the driver completely
stops and holds the vehicle in a
complete standstill on a grade, HSA
will be automatically activated.
During the transition period between
when the driver releases the brake
pedal and starts to accelerate to
drive off on a grade, HSA holds the
braking pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there is
no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two-second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill, or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. On an
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle in
AWD or Sport Mode, the system will
operate if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens,
TCS applies the brakes to the
spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
system senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the direction which
you are steering.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
when cruise control is set.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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212 Driving and Operating
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows the driver to
select the cruise control set speed
and following gap. Read this entire
section before using this system.
The following gap is the following
time between your vehicle and a
vehicle detected directly ahead in
your path, moving in the same
direction. If no vehicle is detected in
your path, ACC works like regular
cruise control. ACC uses camera
and radar sensors.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can apply acceleration or
limited, moderate braking to
maintain the selected following gap.
To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If ACC is controlling your vehicle
speed when the traction control
system (TCS) or electronic stability
control system activates, the ACC
may automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control0206. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on. ACC will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak electronic stability control
system is disabled.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see
“Alerting the Driver” in
this section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0182.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads
or when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
The system may not detect
a vehicle ahead. Keep the
entire front of the vehicle
clean.
. Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow
conditions. ACC
performance is limited under
these conditions.
. On slippery roads where
fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive
wheel slip.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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Driving and Operating 215
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. SeeInstrument Cluster
(Uplevel Cluster) 0119 or
Instrument Cluster (Base Cluster)
0 117. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance Gap
When a slower moving vehicle is
detected ahead within the selected
following gap, ACC will adjust the
vehicle's speed and attempt to
maintain the follow distance gap
selected.
Press
[on the steering wheel to
adjust the following gap. Each press
cycles the gap button through three
settings: Far, Medium, or Near.
When pressed, the current gap
setting displays briefly on the
instrument cluster and HUD. The
gap setting will be maintained until it
is changed.
Since each gap setting corresponds
to a following time (Far, Medium,
or Near), the following distance will
vary based on vehicle speed. The
faster the vehicle speed, the further back your vehicle will follow a
vehicle detected ahead. Consider
traffic and weather conditions when
selecting the following gap. The
range of selectable gaps may not be
appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
Changing the gap setting
automatically changes the alert
timing sensitivity (Far, Medium,
or Near) for the Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) feature. See
Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0226.
Alerting the Driver
With Head-Up Display
Without Head-Up Display
If ACC is engaged, driver action
may be required when ACC cannot
apply sufficient braking because of
approaching a vehicle too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, six red
lights or the collision alert symbol on
the HUD, if equipped, will flash on
the windshield. Either eight beeps
will sound from the front, or both
sides of the Safety Alert Seat will
pulse five times. See “Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0151.
See Defensive Driving 0182.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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216 Driving and Operating
Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster and HUD display.
The vehicle ahead indicator only
displays when a vehicle is detected
in your vehicle’s path moving in the
same direction.
If this symbol is not displaying, ACC
will not respond to or brake for
vehicles ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle
down and adjusts vehicle speed to
follow the vehicle in front at the
selected follow gap. The vehicle
speed increases or decreases to
follow the vehicle in front of you, but
will not exceed the set speed. It may
apply limited braking, if necessary.
When braking is active, the brake
lights will come on. The automaticbraking may feel or sound different
than if the brakes were applied
manually. This is normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a
vehicle it has never detected
moving. This can occur in
stop-and-go traffic or when a
vehicle suddenly appears due to
a vehicle ahead changing lanes.
Your vehicle may not stop and
could cause a crash. Use caution
when using ACC. Your complete
attention is always required while
driving and you should be ready
to take action and apply the
brakes.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage
and the driver will need to manually
apply the brakes to slow the
vehicle when:
.
The sensors are blocked.
. The Traction Control System
(TCS) or electronic stability
control system has activated or
been disabled.
. No traffic or other objects are
being detected.
. There is a fault in the system.
The ACC active symbol will not be
displayed when ACC is no longer
active.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a follow gap
behind a detected vehicle and slow
your vehicle to a stop behind that
vehicle.
If the stopped vehicle ahead has
driven away and ACC has not
resumed, the vehicle ahead
indicator will flash as a reminder to
check traffic ahead before
proceeding. In addition, the left and

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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Driving and Operating 217
right sides of the Safety Alert Seat
will pulse three times, or three
beeps will sound. See”Alert Type”
and “Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier” in
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0151.
When the vehicle ahead drives
away, press RES+ or the
accelerator pedal to resume cruise
control. If stopped for more than
two minutes or if the driver door is
opened and the driver safety belt is
unbuckled, the ACC automatically
applies the Electric Parking Brake
(EPB) to hold the vehicle. The
Electric Parking Brake status light
will turn on. See Electric Parking
Brake 0204. To resume ACC and
release the EPB, press the
accelerator pedal.
A DIC warning message may
display indicating to shift to P (Park)
before exiting the vehicle. See
Vehicle Messages 0140.{Warning
If ACC has stopped the vehicle,
and if ACC is disengaged, turned
off, or canceled, the vehicle will
no longer be held at a stop. The
vehicle can move. When ACC is
holding the vehicle at a stop,
always be prepared to manually
apply the brakes.
{Warning
Leaving the vehicle without
placing it in P (Park) can be
dangerous. Do not leave the
vehicle while it is being held at a
stop by ACC. Always place the
vehicle in P (Park) and turn off
the ignition before leaving the
vehicle.
ACC Override
If using the accelerator pedal while
ACC is active, a DIC warning
message will indicate that automatic
braking will not occur. See
Vehicle Messages 0140. ACC
will resume operation when the
accelerator pedal is not being
pressed.
{Warning
The ACC will not automatically
apply the brakes if your foot is
resting on the accelerator pedal.
You could crash into a vehicle
ahead of you.
Curves in the Road
{Warning
On curves, ACC may not detect a
vehicle ahead in your lane. You
could be startled if the vehicle
accelerates up to the set speed,
especially when following a
vehicle exiting or entering exit
ramps. You could lose control of
the vehicle or crash. Do not use
ACC while driving on an entrance
or exit ramp. Always be ready to
use the brakes if necessary.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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220 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
Under many conditions, these
systems will not:. Detect children,
pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals.
. Detect vehicles or objects
outside the area monitored
by the system.
. Work at all driving speeds.
. Warn you or provide you
with enough time to avoid a
crash.
. Work under poor visibility or
bad weather conditions.
. Work if the detection sensor
is not cleaned or is covered
by ice, snow, mud, or dirt.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes. Audible or Safety Alert Seat
Some driver assistance features
alert the driver of obstacles by
beeping. To change the volume of
the warning chime, see
“Comfort
and Convenience” underVehicle
Personalization 0151.
If equipped with the Safety Alert
Seat, the driver seat cushion may
provide a vibrating pulse alert
instead of beeping. To change this,
see “Collision/Detection Systems”
under Vehicle
Personalization 0151.
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing
If equipped, the Rear Vision Camera
(RVC), Rear Parking Assist (RPA),
Front Parking Assist (FPA),
Surround Vision, Front Vision
Camera, Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB) and Backing Warning
System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert
(RCTA), and Automatic Parking
Assist (APA) may help the driver
park or avoid objects. Always check
around the vehicle when parking or
backing. Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
When the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse), the RVC displays an
image of the area behind the vehicle
in the center stack display. The
previous screen displays when the
vehicle is shifted out of R (Reverse)
after a short delay. To return to the
previous screen sooner, press a
button on the infotainment system,
shift into P (Park), or reach a vehicle
speed of 8 km/h (5 mph).
1. View Displayed by the
Camera