CADILLAC XT5 2020 Owner's Manual

190 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can operate
in All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode. See
Driver Mode Control0195.
Press MODE to activate AWD. AWD is
active in AWD, Sport, and Off-Road
Modes.
The AWD system delivers power to all
four wheels and the system adjusts as
needed to improve traction. The AWD Mode will stay selected
until the mode is changed. If the
vehicle is placed in Sport Mode, see
Driver Mode Control
0195.
Sport Mode and Off-Road Mode are
canceled with each ignition cycle. See
Driver Mode Control 0195.
When operated in Tour Mode, the
vehicle will deliver power to the front
wheels only and may provide better
fuel economy.
If Tour Mode is selected see Driver
Mode Control 0195.
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric brake
boost have hydraulic brake circuits
that are electronically controlled when
the brake pedal is applied during
normal operation. The system
performs routine tests and turns off
within a few minutes after the vehicle
is shutdown. Noise may be heard
during this time. If the brake pedal is
pressed during the tests or when the
electric brake boost system is off, a
noticeable change in pedal force and
travel may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 191
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 118.
ABS does not change the time needed
to get a foot on the brake pedal and
does not always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close to the
vehicle ahead, there will not be
enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly. Hearing or
feeling ABS operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the
same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help even more than
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The EPB can always be
activated, even if the ignition is off. To
prevent draining the battery, avoid
repeated cycles of the EPB system
when the engine is not running. The system has a
Y,f, or PARK
Electric Parking Brake light, and a
8
Service Parking Brake light. See
Electric Parking Brake Light 0118 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 118.
Before leaving the vehicle, check for
the
Y,f, or PARK light to ensure
that the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The
Y,f, or PARK light will flash
and then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the
Y,f, or PARK light
flashes continuously, then the EPB is
only partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC message
will display. Release the EPB and try
to apply it again. If the light does not
come on, or keeps flashing, have the
vehicle serviced. Do not drive the

192 DRIVING AND OPERATING
vehicle if theY,f, or PARK light is
flashing. See your dealer. See Electric
Parking Brake Light 0118.
If the
8light is on, press the EPB
switch and hold it. Continue to hold
the switch until the
Y,f, or PARK
light remains on. If the
8light
remains on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle
is moving, the vehicle will decelerate
as long as the switch is pressed. If the
switch is pressed until the vehicle
comes to a stop, the EPB will remain
applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when the
vehicle is not moving. This may occur
when shifting to P (Park) on a hill or
with a cold transmission. This is
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the EPB
system.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB: 1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the
Y,f,
or PARK light is off.
If the
8light is on, release the EPB by
pressing and holding the EPB switch.
Continue to hold the switch until the
Y,f, or PARK light is off. If either
light stays on after release is
attempted, see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system and
cause premature wear or damage to
brake system parts. Make sure that
the parking brake is fully released
and the brake warning light is off
before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to drive
away. Avoid rapid acceleration when
the EPB is applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.
If parking on a hill, or if the vehicle is
pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0234.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional
braking to activate the Antilock Brake
System (ABS) if the brake pedal is not
pushed hard enough to activate ABS
normally. Minor noise, brake pedal
pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue
to apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist
disengages when the brake pedal is
released.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely. You
may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. SeeDefensive
Driving 0160.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA) prevents
the vehicle from rolling in an
unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes
release when the accelerator pedal is
applied. If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes, the
Electric Parking Brake will apply. The
brakes may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle. HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must come to
a complete stop on a grade for HSA to
activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), 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/ESC activates when the
system senses a discrepancy between
the intended path and the direction

194 DRIVING AND OPERATING
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC 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/ESC
begins to limit wheel spin, cruise
control will disengage. Cruise control
may be turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC 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. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0170 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
The indicator light for both systems is
in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
. Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin
. Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message may display in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to indicate
that the system is inactive and is not
assisting the driver in maintaining
control. The vehicle is safe to drive,
but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Turn the engine off and wait
15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and
stays on, the vehicle may need more
time to diagnose the problem. If the
condition persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is off.
The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster and
a DIC message may display. To turn
TCS on again, press and release
g.
The Traction Off light
idisplayed in
the instrument cluster will turn off
and a DIC message may display.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn off
until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
guntil the
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC Off light
gcome on and stay on
in the instrument cluster. A DIC
message may display. To turn TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC on again, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lighti
and StabiliTrak/ESC Off lightgin the
instrument cluster turn off and a DIC
message may display.
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h
(36 mph). Traction control will
remain off. Adding accessories can affect vehicle
performance. See
Accessories and
Modifications 0249.
Driver Mode Control
If equipped, the Driver Mode Control
has the following modes: Tour, Sport,
All-Wheel Drive (AWD), Snow/Ice
(Front-Wheel Drive vehicles only), and
Off-Road (AWD vehicles only). Press
MODE on the center console to make
a mode selection. The first press of
the switch will show the current mode
in the instrument cluster. Continue
pressing through the available modes.
If the vehicle is put in AWD Mode, it
will remain in AWD through future
ignition cycles, until a different mode
is selected.
If the vehicle is in Tour, Sport,
or Off-Road Mode when the engine is
turned off, Driver Mode Control will
come on in Tour Mode at the next
ignition cycle.
When AWD Mode or Sport Mode is
selected, the light will come on in the
AWD indicator below the MODE
switch. The indicator light will turn off when Tour Mode is selected. For
more information on AWD Mode, see
All-Wheel Drive
0190.
Driver Mode Control Switch
Tour : Tour Mode operates in FWD to
improve fuel economy. Use this mode
during normal driving operations.
Sport : Sport Mode improves vehicle
handling and acceleration on dry
pavement. When active, Sport Mode
modifies steering efforts, transmission
shifting, AWD torque, and suspension
tuning, if equipped.
The Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
(PAL) feature is enabled in Sport
Mode. PAL allows the transmission to

196 DRIVING AND OPERATING
hold the current gear after a quick
release of a heavily applied accelerator
pedal. This provides greater engine
braking and enhanced vehicle control.
When PAL is activated, there may be
an additional green gear symbol which
appears in the instrument cluster
display. SeeGear Shifting Light 0119.
AWD : AWD Mode provides drive
torque to all four wheels. Select AWD
to improve traction and control on
slippery road surfaces, such as gravel,
sand, wet pavement, snow, and ice.
When in AWD Mode, the AWD Mode
indicator light will be on. For more
information on AWD Mode, see
All-Wheel Drive 0190.
Snow/Ice (FWD Vehicles Only) :
Snow/Ice Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice covered
roads.
Off-Road (AWD Vehicles Only) : Use
this mode for off-road recreational
driving. Choosing Off-Road Mode also
engages AWD Mode. For more
information on Off-Road Mode, see
Off-Road Driving.Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph).
If the Traction Control/StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system begins to limit wheel spin
while using cruise control, the cruise control automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0193. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is disengaged.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0217. When road conditions
allow cruise control to be safely used,
it can be turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if either
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 197
J:Press to turn the system on and
off. A white indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, press briefly to resume to
that speed or press and hold to
accelerate. If the cruise control is
already active, use to increase vehicle
speed. 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 cruise control. If the
cruise control is already active, use to
decrease vehicle speed. 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 cruise control
without erasing the set speed from
memory. Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET−
or
RES+ could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
Joff
when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET−. The desired set speed briefly appears
in the instrument cluster.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has been set
to the desired speed, a green cruise
control indicator appears on the
instrument cluster and a cruise set
speed message appears on the
Head-Up Display (HUD), if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired
speed and then the brakes are applied
or
*is pressed, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory. Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press RES+
briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.
Press and hold RES+ until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, briefly press RES+ to
the first detent. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h (1 mph)
faster.
. To increase vehicle speed in larger
increments, briefly press RES+ to
the second detent. For each press,
the vehicle speed increases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0108.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.

198 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold SET− until the
desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
small increments, briefly press
SET− to the first detent. For each
press, the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, briefly press
SET− to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle speed
decreases to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer.
The cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the
vehicle down.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0108.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed. Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase
the vehicle speed. When you take your
foot off the pedal, the vehicle will slow
down to the previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly applying SET−
will result in cruise set to the current
vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the accelerator
pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill, the cruise control
system may automatically brake to
slow the vehicle down. Also, you may
have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. If the brake
pedal is applied, cruise control
disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if the
ignition is turned off.
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

DRIVING AND OPERATING 199
works like regular cruise control. ACC
uses camera and radar sensors. See
Radio Frequency Statement0358.
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
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system activates, the ACC may
automatically disengage. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 193. 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/ESC 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
(Continued)
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 0160.
{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.