
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146119) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
176 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 181
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 193
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 195
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 202
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 210
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) . . . . 232
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 233
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 235
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 238
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 181
and you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping equipment
in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper tread
depth. See Tires0284.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape. .
Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let
the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear. .
Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
Warning (Continued)
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 0178.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.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.
J:Press to turn the system on or
off. The indicator turns white on the
instrument cluster when ACC is
turned on. RES+ :
Press briefly to resume the
previous set speed or to increase
vehicle speed if ACC is already
activated. To increase speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press RES+ to the first detent.
To increase speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press RES+ to the second detent.
SET– :Press briefly to set the speed
and activate ACC or to decrease
vehicle speed if ACC is already
activated. To decrease speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), press SET− to the first
detent. To decrease speed to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, press SET− to the
second detent.
*: Press to disengage ACC without
erasing the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap
time (or distance) setting for ACC of
Far, Medium, or Near.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 215
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
0 147. See
Defensive Driving 0178.
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 automatic braking may
feel or sound different than if the
brakes were applied manually. This is
normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
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.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
automatic braking will not occur. 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.
{Warning
On curves, ACC may respond to a
vehicle in another lane, or may not
have time to react to a vehicle in
your lane. You could crash into a
vehicle ahead of you, or lose control
of your vehicle. Give extra attention
in curves and be ready to use the
brakes if necessary. Select an
appropriate speed while driving in
curves.
ACC may operate differently in a
sharp curve. It may reduce the vehicle
speed if the curve is too sharp.
When following a vehicle and entering
a curve, ACC may not detect the
vehicle ahead and may accelerate to
the set speed. When this happens, the
vehicle ahead indicator will not
appear.
ACC may detect a vehicle that is not
in your lane and apply the brakes.
ACC may occasionally provide an alert
and/or braking that is considered
unnecessary. It could respond to
vehicles in different lanes, signs,
guardrails, and other stationary
objects when entering or exiting a
curve. This is normal operation. The
vehicle does not need service.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12146119) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
218 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Other Vehicle Lane Changes
ACC will not detect a vehicle ahead
until it is completely in the lane. The
brakes may need to be manually
applied.
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and When
Towing a Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on steep
hills or when towing a trailer. ACC will
not detect a vehicle in the lane while
driving on steep hills. The driver will
often need to take over acceleration
and braking on steep hills, especially
when towing a trailer. If the brakes are
applied, the ACC disengages.
Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to
disengage ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if
the ignition is turned off. Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the windshield
behind the rearview mirror and the
radar sensors on the front of the
vehicle can become blocked by snow,
ice, dirt, or mud. These areas need to
be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle
”under Exterior
Care 0324.
System operation may also be limited
under snow, heavy rain, or road spray
conditions.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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226 DRIVING AND OPERATING
is maneuvering the vehicle into a
previously detected space. The APA
system does not need service.
APA will instruct the vehicle to stop
once a large enough space is found.
Follow the displayed instructions.
When instructed, shift to R (Reverse)
to engage automatic steering. The
steering wheel will briefly vibrate as a
reminder to remove hands from the
steering wheel. Check surroundings
and continue braking or accelerating
as needed, and be prepared to stop to
avoid vehicles, pedestrians, or objects.
If the vehicle exceeds 10 km/h
(6 mph), APA is automatically
disengaged and automatic steering
will turn off. A progress arrow displays
the status of the parking maneuver.Depending on the space size,
additional maneuvers may be
required, and there will be additional
instructions. When changing gears,
allow the automatic steering to
complete before continuing the
parking maneuver. Upon successful
completion of a maneuver, APA will
beep and display a PARKING
COMPLETE message. Place the vehicle
in P (Park).
APA may automatically disengage if:
.
The steering wheel is used by the
driver.
. The maximum allowed speed is
exceeded.
. There is a failure with the APA
system.
. Electronic stability control or
antilock brakes are activated.
. A high priority vehicle message is
displayed in the DIC.
To cancel APA, touch
Oagain. When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The APA system may require a short
period of driving along curves to
calibrate.
Assistance Systems for
Driving
If equipped, when driving the vehicle
in a forward gear, Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), Lane Departure Warning
(LDW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Side
Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), Lane Change
Alert (LCA), Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB), and/or the Front
Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System can
help to avoid a crash or reduce crash
damage.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
If equipped, the FCA system may help
to avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. When approaching
a vehicle ahead too quickly, FCA
provides a red flashing alert on the
windshield and rapidly beeps or pulses

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 227
the driver seat. FCA also lights an
amber visual alert if following another
vehicle much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a distance
of approximately 60 m (197 ft) and
operates at speeds above 8 km/h
(5 mph). If the vehicle has Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), it can detect
vehicles to distances of approximately
110 m (360 ft) and operates at all
speeds. SeeAdaptive Cruise Control
0 210.
{Warning
FCA is a warning system and does
not apply the brakes. When
approaching a slower-moving or
stopped vehicle ahead too rapidly,
or when following a vehicle too
closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help
avoid a crash. It also may not
provide any warning at all. FCA
does not warn of pedestrians,
animals, signs, guardrails, bridges,
construction barrels, or other
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
objects. Be ready to take action and
apply the brakes. SeeDefensive
Driving 0178.
FCA can be disabled with either the
FCA steering wheel control or,
if equipped, through vehicle
personalization. See “Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0147.
Detecting the Vehicle Ahead
FCA warnings will not occur unless
the FCA system detects a vehicle
ahead. When a vehicle is detected, the
vehicle ahead indicator will display
green. Vehicles may not be detected
on curves, highway exit ramps,
or hills, due to poor visibility; or if a
vehicle ahead is partially blocked by pedestrians or other objects. FCA will
not detect another vehicle ahead until
it is completely in the driving lane.
{Warning
FCA does not provide a warning to
help avoid a crash, unless it detects
a vehicle. FCA may not detect a
vehicle ahead if the FCA sensor is
blocked by dirt, snow, or ice, or if
the windshield is damaged. It may
also not detect a vehicle on winding
or hilly roads, or in conditions that
can limit visibility such as fog, rain,
or snow, or if the headlamps or
windshield are not cleaned or in
proper condition. Keep the
windshield, headlamps, and FCA
sensors clean and in good repair.