One Of The Cheapest Luxury Cars To Maintain Is A Compact SUV From 2016

Just because you paid a lot of money for a luxury vehicle, new or used, does not mean the repair bill should also be high. Among luxury cars that are cheap to maintain is the Cadillac XT5, a compact luxury SUV that first launched in 2016. Per CarEdge, in the first five years the XT5 will cost $3,175 to repair and maintain — a figure that is $1,231 less than the average cost to keep similar style vehicles maintained during that time frame. Maintenance is also just 5% of the vehicle's overall cost over five years.

However, repair costs grow over time. In the first 10 years of service, the Cadillac XT5 costs $9,924 to repair and maintain, an expense that is $134 higher than other luxury models. That is also a higher bill than the $7,872 it costs to maintain a Lexus RX350 over 10 years, an SUV that could be a good investment for retirees. With that said, the XT5's repair costs are still much lower than a popular Jeep SUV with terrible resale value, the Wagoneer, which can exceed $11,500.

Designed to replace the Cadillac SRX, the XT5 consumes just 24 miles per gallon of gas, is equipped with an efficient AWD (all-wheel drive) system, has comfortable seating, and 30 cubic feet of cargo space. Plus, its optional collision provision system earned the 2017 model an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It's also an affordable vehicle, for a luxury brand, with a new 2025 Cadillac XT5 starting at about $44,000 while a used 2017 averages around $20,000, per Edmunds.

But the XT5 is not without its issues. Its infotainment system is slow to configure with smartphones, its interior design can be confusing, and its engine performance is less-than-thrilling, per a SlashGear review. The Cadillac SRX's design has also not been significantly changed in at least eight years, an eternity in the competitive SUV market, which can reduce demand. Indeed, the Cadillac XT5 can depreciate by 54% after five years, per CarEdge, which is about as bad as the over 50% loss for a Jeep Cherokee. Yet, a spokesperson for Detroit-based General Motors told MotorTrend that the XT5 "continues to be Cadillac's top selling model globally," adding that the vehicle experienced a 26% surge in sales year-over-year from 2024. Nevertheless, GM confirmed it will unleash a "next-gen XT5 in the second half of 2027."