Price: $44,995 to $59,080
Competitors: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus GS 350, Audi A6
Powertrains: 3.6-liter V-6, 304 hp, 264 lb-ft; FWD or AWD
EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17/27?28 mpg
What?s New: The full-size XTS isn?t just the first all-new Cadillac in three years. It?s blazing a trail for the next generation of Caddy sedans, including the smaller ATS that joins the lineup this summer.
Powered by a 3.6-liter V-6, the XTS comes with front- or all-wheel-drive layouts in four trim levels: Standard ($44,995), Luxury ($49,610), Premium ($54,505), and Platinum ($59,080). Strategic use of high-tensile steel helps claim a lighter curb weight than the Audi A6, and standard features include magnetic ride control, HID lighting, and Brembo brakes.
Tech Tidbit: Cadillac?s new CUE multimedia system debuts with the XTS and comes standard on all trim levels. The system uses two banks of haptic actuators behind a floating LCD that vibrates when touched. Swiping, pinching, and other motions familiar to smartphone owners are here, as are infrared proximity sensors to conjure navigation, cellphone, multimedia, and audio menu buttons on the 8-inch screen. Additionally, integrated voice recognition encourages intuitive verbal commands?which we confirmed during an afternoon of driving in Malibu, Calif.
Driving Character: Despite its bulk and relatively modest six-cylinder engine, the Cadillac XTS accelerates and handles twisting roads better than you might expect, especially when freed from the 209-pound burden of the Haldex all-wheel-drive setup. Thanks to magnetic ride control that scans road surfaces and adjusts shock stiffness every 5 milliseconds, the XTS can strike a sweet spot between cushy straight-line damping and body control during cornering. As you?d expect in a Caddy, there?s little harshness in ride quality. But the surprise here is how well the XTS behaves when it?s tossed a few curves. Factor in the comfy seats and quiet cabin and you?ve got one road-trip-friendly ride.
Favorite Detail: We?ve become so used to fuel-saving electric power-steering systems and their vague on-center feel that it was a pleasant surprise to experience this big Caddy?s reassuringly familiar response. Credit the XTS?s good old-fashioned hydraulic assist setup, which uses Magnasteer to automatically adjust steering-effort levels based on vehicle speed.
Driver?s Grievance: The Cadillac XTS?s steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters are well-intentioned nods to the car?s driver-focused intentions, but they don?t work unless the center-stack-mounted gearshift selector is in the "M" position. It makes on-demand downshifts an annoying two-step process.
Bottom Line: Cadillac?s new XTS strikes back at its driver-oriented competitors with force. Crisply styled and elegantly appointed with soft leather surfaces and real metal trim, the Caddy still has satisfying road manners, thanks to the suspension?s automatic adaptability between ride quality and handling. Its mild V-6 and front-drive setup may disappoint performance purists, but there?s plenty here to satisfy buyers seeking an American alternative to full-size sedans from Germany and Japan.
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