When you think of the Cadillac brand two words come to mind: luxury and big. And both of those are fair associations, in a way. General Motors’ luxury brand is in the middle of a metamorphosis. Gone is the Cadillac DTS and STS, and with those two cars goes the “big as a boat” Cadillacs. New for model year 2013 is the compact ATS and the full-size XTS, which is my tester for the week.
So, it begged the question: How does this big XTS fit into Cadillac’s vision, when they had just retired two other behemoths in the DTS and STS? Well, simply put, the XTS still offers the luxurious size and weight many appreciate in a Cadillac, but it makes it a lot more mobile and agile with magnetic ride control and all-wheel drive.
Also gone are the V8 engines of old, replaced instead with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that actually produces more horsepower than clunky V8 engines from the DTS and STS. At 304 HP, the XTS is a calmer version of its other siblings the CTS and ATS, whose V6 engines produce more power. The powertrain for the XTS is properly suited for the targeted consumer. Combine this with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a two-mode high-performance suspension (sport and tour) and you have a typical Cadillac driving experience.
And you know what that implies — a smooth, controlled, luxurious ride for both driver and passengers.
As part of the new generation of Cadillac, the entire fleet has a specific look, and the XTS fits into that mold well. A handsome and luxurious grille showcases the Cadillac emblem, front and center, and the back of the car is so typical of the modern Caddy. With an angular rear bumper and twin chrome tailpipes, it’s a proud addition to the Cadillac family.
Inside, wood trim highlights the interior for a classy look, and leather seats are both heated and cooled and come with four-way lumbar support. All of this is typical Cadillac, as they’ve always excelled at providing gorgeous, luxurious interiors.
One modern addition to the XTS however is noticeable. With the XTS and the ATS, Cadillac launches a new infotainment system called CUE (Cadillac User Experience). CUE integrates with smart phone and mobile devices and does so without knobs or buttons. It’s all on a touchscreen that offers proximity sensing (wakes up when your finger nears it), haptic feedback (small vibration) and similar to many tablets you can swipe and pinch to interact with programs. Even the volume is touch sensitive as you swipe a finger across to increase or decrease the volume.
CUE takes a little time to adjust to, and I’d recommend a training session from a dealer as it may befuddle the average consumer.
The technology-rich XTS is hip and modern — definitely not your grandpa’s Cadillac.
Make no mistake, despite the updates and change of direction for the brand, the XTS still drives big and feels big. It stretches 202 inches from front to back. Inside, that size is noticeable with ample head and legroom, even in the backseat. The cavernous trunk offers 18 cubic feet of space, and the rear seat splits 60/40.
Fuel economy for the XTS is not impressive, but for a vehicle of its size, it’s about standard. It has an EPA rating of 17 city and 26 highway. I averaged about 19 MPG in a week’s worth of mixed driving.
The bare minimum front-wheel drive XTS starts at $44,995. My top-of-the-line AWD Platinum trim had a price of $62,300.
Few brands epitomize luxury more than Cadillac. And as GM works hard to help reinvent and reinvigorate its luxury brand, they’ve made a good first step with the XTS. It still brings everything to the table that consumers expect from a Cadillac (size, luxury, comfort), but it brings modern looks and current technology and sets this full-size sedan on its way toward a bright future.
Jimmy Dinsmore is the Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115. Follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor