Cadillac for some time hasnt had a new product since the CTS came out in its current guise in 2008. Now the brand is looking to set a new precedent in the luxury sedan marketplace. Cadillac wants to take on the vaunted BMW 3-series at its own game with the new compact ATS. First, though, it wants to liven up its front wheel drive lineup that once consisted of the STS and the DTS with a young, chic and thoroughly modern XTS sedan.
Based on the Epsilon II platform the XTS shares its roots with the likes of the current Buick Lacrosse, but in a larger and robust form. At 202 inches in length it is 5.6 inches shorter than its predecessor the DTS. This switch to a smaller platform is thanks to a complete ideology change from comfortable sedans to performance sedans meant to stir the soul.
For erence, I was driving the Premium version of the XTS, which means every bit of tech that Cadillac has to offer was stuffed into my test vehicle. The Premium includes 20-inch wheels a 14-speaker Bose audio system and also also comes with a blind spot and frontal crash awareness system that pulses the driver seat in case of imminent danger. The system helps the driver react calmly and focused This system by the way is customizable for your driving style and is very intuitive for the driver. You simply react naturally to the stimuli in the seats. Its a great way to stay focused in traffic. All of this comes at a price. Cadillac is asking $58,475 which has it squaring off against a similarly equipped BMW 535i xDrive.
The centerpiece of the XTS is CUE (Cadillac User Experience). The system brings many of the features of a smart phone into the automotive world. This means that if you can easily navigate your iPhone® then you can easily navigate CUE. I was also quite skeptical of the touch sensitive center stack controls, but I found them to be quite easy to use and find even while driving.The XTS uses an intuitive LCD screen for the entire gauge package. You can choose between four different layouts: Performance, Enhanced, Balanced and Simple. While this was extremely cool I found I perred to use the heads up display projected on the windshield with a simple tach and the digital speed displayed.
Powering the XTS is an updated version of the faithful direct injected 3.6 liter variable valve timing V6 engine found in many General Motors products. This engine has been updated with exhaust manifolds cast directly into the engine head assembly. The engine has a pleasing, technical, quick revving character matched to a very ined and surprisingly sport exhaust note. What is also surprising is just how easy it was to see fuel economy in the mid 30s out of an engine with 304 horsepower mated to an all-wheel-drive system. On one hand it was superbly quiet on a cruise down Woodward Avenue yet effortlessly quick on the busy highways of south central Michigan.
Steering is weighted nicely with less of the numbness associated with electric power steering. The XTS is definitely tuned to cruise on the highway and effortlessly strolled along at 70 miles per hour. While not as cushy as Cadillacs in the past there is still excellent noise isolations and suspension compliance to keep STS and DTS owners happy when they look to upgrade.
I spent about an hour with the XTS and came away very impressed. Cadillac is taking German competition very seriously, but they havent become a copy cat of their rivals. While the ATS is set to take on the world the XTS is set to take on the evolving world of luxury cruisers. Big sedans can be fuel efficient fun to drive and a welcome place for larger drivers like me (Im 61" and 240 pounds). Some cars I drive for a short test drive and thats all I need, but the technology, driving finesse and luxury makes an upstart Millenial like me wish for more time behind the wheel.
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