summary
Grand luxury has always been the name of the game for Cadillac, but its less-than-flagship XTS sedan proves the company is no longer at the head of the land yacht pack. There’s an available twin-turbocharged V-6 that provides the kind of power we want from executive cruisers, and there are plenty of luxury features on the higher trim levels. But despite its overall elegance, the XTS can’t come close to the opulence and refinement of the king of this particular jungle, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. By offering its products at a much lower price than Mercedes (and keeping some of the brand magic that makes the XTS more desirable than the similarly priced Genesis G90), Cadillac makes its case: The XTS is a credible choice. for luxury that will please buyers looking for some status and style, but not so much that they need a second mortgage to pay for it.
what’s new for 2019?
Cadillac hasn’t made many changes to its 2019 XTS sedan. The car’s standard wireless smartphone charging feature now offers more charging power thanks to reinforced internal components and a larger charging surface. otherwise xts doesn’t change.
Reading: Cadillac xts review car and driver
price and which one to buy
We prefer the XTS V-Sport’s 410-hp twin-turbo V-6 to the standard 304-hp V-6. That adds considerably to the cost of our preferred XTS, but it’s still many thousands cheaper than its German rivals. V-Sport comes standard with all-wheel drive instead of the standard front-wheel-drive setup and includes adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, rear armrest with integrated audio and sunshade controls, and massager 22-way adjustable leather front seats. The V-Sport is the top version of the XTS and almost all of its available features are standard, but we’d gladly pay $350 for a compact spare tire.
engine, transmission and performance
Likes: Fast with twin-turbo V-6, smooth ride, available adaptive suspension. Dislikes: Not a sports sedan by any means, base engine slower than similarly powered rivals.
The XTS comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 304-hp V-6 engine, while top-line V-Sport models get a 410-hp twin-turbo V-6 with all-wheel drive. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the base engine can be paired with all-wheel drive if desired. We don’t have recent test data for a non-V-Sport XTS, but the powertrain hasn’t changed since we recorded a zero-to-60 time of 6.6 seconds in a front-wheel drive model. an all-wheel drive variant of the 304-hp car needed 7.2 seconds to complete the same task. Those numbers are respectable, if not impressive, and won’t leave XTS owners on freeway on-ramps frustrated.
the v-sport’s engine is much better suited to the high-end attitude of the xts. It provides effortless power both coming off the line and accelerating to pass, and its 0-60 time is right in the mix with most competitors at 5.2 seconds. the xts is big and feels every bit of its size on the trail. Our test car featured the available adaptive suspension, and the ride was smooth and airy even on uneven surfaces. There’s very little feedback from the road through the big steering wheel, and it’s hard to imagine a driver taking the XTS for a joyride. The XTS is simply not a sports sedan, and we’d bet most people who buy this car are perfectly happy with its luxury-oriented tuning.
real world fuel economy and mpg
We haven’t tested an XTS in our 200-mile real-world highway fuel economy test, but its highway EPA rating of just 23 mpg suggests the V-Sport’s powerful engine isn’t quite as efficient as conventional engines. comparable to competing top models. The lower-powered, front-wheel-drive XTS gets a 28-mpg highway rating.
interior, infotainment and cargo
Likes: Plush seats, folding rear seatbacks improve cargo capacity, desirable infotainment features standard. Dislikes: Not as luxurious as its rivals, finicky touch-sensitive controls, disappointing massage seats.
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The XTS is huge and comfortable, though several in this class outperform it for rear-seat legroom. Cadillac went to great lengths to equip the XTS, but he’s going to have to open up his wallet to enjoy them. Audio controls for the rear seats, an interior ambient lighting system, and heated and cooled massaging front seats with 22-way adjustment are available, but of our favorite luxury-car features, only a steering wheel and power-adjustable front seats they are standard. Savvy customers should note that the Cadillac’s seat massage feature, while nice, isn’t nearly as well executed as the Mercedes-Benz’s.
Cadillac’s infotainment system has all the makings of a great deal, but its finicky and unreliable touch controls are frustrating, especially when trying to operate the system while driving. An 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are standard; Navigation, a 14-speaker Bose audio system and a 12.3-inch digital gauge display are optional.
The xts’ long rear overhang has one big advantage: it allows for an extra-large cargo hold, offering 18 cubic feet compared to 16 on the g90 and s-class, which was enough room for seven carry-on bags during our evidence. It’s relatively normal for cars in this class to have fixed rear seats, but the XTS’s seats fold almost flat, which means a lot more luggage space in a pinch.
safety and driver assistance features
The XTS did well in crash testing (although it received an incomplete test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and offers many driver-assist technologies on higher trim levels. however, neither of these technologies is standard and child seat anchors can be difficult to locate. key security features include:
- front and rear automatic emergency braking available
- available adaptive cruise control
- blind spot monitoring available
- limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
- complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
warranty and maintenance coverage
Cadillac’s warranty coverage periods mostly match those of its luxury competitors, and its six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty is one of the best in its class. But Genesis offers longer coverage periods in most categories, and Lincoln Continental’s Unlimited Roadside Assistance plan is unmatched in the industry.
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