Skip to main content

It’s a hot race in the ultra-competitive luxury subcompact SUV segment, and one American nameplate recently overtook another. 2023 Cadillac XT5 sales are taking the fight to the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus – and winning. 

Sales jumped significantly from Q1 2022 to overtake the Lincoln Nautilus

2023 Cadillac XT5 sales grew 46 percent year-over-year in Q1 comparisons. According to GM Authority, the subcompact Cadillac SUV’s sales grew from less than 5,000 units in Q1 of 2022 to more than 7,000 units in Q1 of 2023. 

That sales boost helped the XT5 to significantly outpace one of its chief rivals, the Lincoln Nautilus. After trailing in the same timeframe last year, the XT5 rallied to outsell the Nautilus by about 1,800 units through the first months of 2023. 

It’s a big win for Cadillac against one of its top rivals. Still, as GM Authority points out, the XT5 is in the middle of the pack as the sixth-best-selling small luxury SUV so far this year. The 2023 Lexus RX tops the list, while the 2023 Infiniti QX55 sits at the bottom. 

Supply chain catchup continues to play a factor in Cadillac SUV sales 

A white Cadillac XT5 sits on the salt flats at dusk.
2023 Cadillac XT5 | Cadillac

The supply chain crises threw the auto industry out of its rhythm, and manufacturers like Cadillac are still trying to self-correct their inventories today.

GM Authority highlights in its reporting that the 2023 sales boost for the XT5 is likely affected by Cadillac’s manufacturing capacity. After years of tumult, GM has been conducting a delicate dance to get its vehicle supply in line with demand. Cadillac managed to get enough XT5 SUVs in its inventory to meet demand, allowing it to sell significantly more units than in last year’s first quarter. 

How Much is the 2023 Cadillac XT5?

The 2023 Cadillac XT5 costs around $45,000 for the base Luxury trim. According to Car and Driver, its MSRP can rise to nearly $60,000 for the top AWD Sport trim. 

By contrast, the Lincoln Nautilus is a bit more pricey. Car and Driver reports a starting MSRP of $46,220 for the Standard trim, with the top Black Label trim starting at over $68,000. 

Is the Cadillac XT5 being discontinued?

No – Cadillac will not discontinue Cadillac XT5 sales. However, its current form will only be available in North America through 2024. 

According to GM Authority, Cadillac will only offer the next-generation redesigned XT5 SUV in the Chinese market. Cadillac’s North American division will pivot to an electric-only strategy that pioneers GM’s EV technology and platforms. 

Related

2024 Lincoln Nautilus: Redesigned Luxury with Features Galore

Best in SUVs
Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words,  “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.