Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14590481) - 2021 - CRC - 10/22/20
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM 189
.Change Teen Driver settings.
.Change or clear the Teen
Driver PIN.
.Access or delete Report Card data.
Register keys to activate Teen
Driver and assign restrictions to
the key:
Any vehicle key can be registered, up
to a maximum of eight keys. Label the
key to tell it apart from the
other keys.
For a pushbutton start system: 1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For
manual transmissions, the vehicle
must be stopped with the parking
brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Place the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter key you wish to
register in the transmitter pocket.
The key does not need to be the one that started the vehicle. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation
07for transmitter
pocket location.
6. From the Teen Driver menu, touch Setup Keys.
.If the transmitter key has not
previously been registered, the
option to add the key displays.
Touch Setup and a confirmation
message displays. Teen Driver
restrictions will be applied
whenever this key is used to
operate the vehicle.
.If the transmitter key has
already been registered, the
option to remove the key
displays. If Remove is touched,
the transmitter key is no longer
registered. A confirmation
message displays, and Teen
Driver restrictions will not be
applied if this transmitter key is
used to operate the vehicle.
In vehicles with a pushbutton start
system, if a Teen Driver and a
non-Teen Driver key are both present
at start up, the vehicle will recognize the non-Teen Driver key to start the
vehicle. The Teen Driver settings will
not be active.
For a keyed ignition system:
1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For
manual transmissions, the vehicle
must be stopped with the parking
brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Touch Setup Keys. The system displays instructions for registering
or unregistering a key.
A confirmation message displays.
Manage Settings
Audio Volume Limit : Allows the
audio volume limit to be turned on or
off. Touch Set Audio Volume Limit to
choose the maximum allowable audio
volume level.
Set Audio Volume Limit : Allows a
maximum radio volume to be set. Use
the arrows to choose the maximum
allowable level for the audio volume.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14590481) - 2021 - CRC - 10/22/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 209
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 218
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 230
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 232
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 238
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 254
Assistance Systems for Parkingor Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Night Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 272
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 274
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Recommended Fuel (2.0L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Recommended Fuel (3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 277
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 279
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 289
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 290
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage.
Here are some driving tips to get the
best fuel economy possible.
.Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the engine
is started, or turn them off when
not required.
.On AWD vehicles, use Tour Mode
when conditions permit.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt
stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions
are appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the
same TPC Spec number molded into
the tire's sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and
can take your focus from the task of
driving. Exercise good judgment and
do not let other activities divert your
attention away from the road. Many
local governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a hands-free
method to place or receive
necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take
notes, or look up information on
phones or other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
.Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer
the vehicle so that it straddles the
edge of the pavement. 2. Turn the steering wheel about
one-eighth of a turn, until the right
front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible. If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer and
vehicle control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material on the
road. Learn to recognize warning
clues
—such as enough water, ice,
or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface —and
slow down when you have any
doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden changes
could cause the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid
only the braking skid.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restartthe engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the parking
brake, and back straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle, it is
steep enough to cause it to
roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
.The vehicle can roll backward
quickly and you could lose
control.
.If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a lower
gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake,
shift into P (Park), and turn the
vehicle off. 3.1. Leave the vehicle and
seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled
downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill. A hill
that can be driven straight up or
down might be too steep to drive
across. Driving across an incline
puts more weight on the downhill
wheels which could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause the
tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can
hit something that will trip it –a
rock, a rut, etc. –and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.If an incline must be driven across,
and the vehicle starts to slide, turn
downhill. This should help
straighten out the vehicle and
prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped across
an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be
crushed or killed. Always get out on
the uphill side of the vehicle and
stay well clear of the rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud –
the deeper the mud, the lower the
gear. Keep the vehicle moving to avoid
getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires tend
to sink into the sand. This affects
steering, accelerating, and braking.
Drive at a reduced speed and avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow and ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream and
you and your passengers could
drown. If it is only shallow water, it
can still wash away the ground
from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could
roll over. Do not drive through
rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the ignition
system and the vehicle can stall.
Stalling can also occur if you get the
exhaust pipe under water. While the
exhaust pipe is under water, you will
not be able to start the engine. When
going through water, the brakes get
wet, and it might take longer to stop.
See Driving on Wet Roads 0217.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have
the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing
and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system for
damage and check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
(Continued)
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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220 DRIVING AND OPERATING
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0240.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
For All-Wheel Drive (AWD), select
Off-Road or AWD mode. See Driver
Mode Control 0242 and
All-Wheel Drive 0237.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle 0361.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). This can cause
systems to break and change
the way the vehicle handles.
This could cause loss of control
and a crash. Overloading can
also reduce stopping
performance, damage the tires,
and shorten the life of the
vehicle.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14590481) - 2021 - CRC - 10/22/20
224 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
.Do not drive at any one constant
speed, fast or slow, for the first
800 km (500 mi). Do not make
full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake or slow the
vehicle.
.Avoid making hard stops for the
first 300 km (200 mi) or so.
During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every time
you get new brake linings.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic keyless
ignition with pushbutton start.
If the pushbutton start is not working,
the vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference to
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
system. See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 07.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be turned on and the brake
pedal must be applied. Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Light) :
When the vehicle is
stopped, press ENGINE START/STOP
once to turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0229.
If the vehicle is in R (Reverse),
D (Drive) or M (Manual Mode), the
vehicle will shift to P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0229.
If the vehicle is in N (Neutral), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the message
SHIFT TO PARK in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). When the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park), the
ignition will turn off.