Dec 28, 2016

See What They’ve Done to the New Cadillac XTS

The 2017 Cadillac XTS is a five-passenger luxury sedan. It comes in twelve consumer trims: the Base trim, the W20 Livery trim, the V4U Coachbuilder Limousine trim, the Luxury trim, The Luxury AWD, the Premium Luxury, the Premium Luxury AWD, the Sport Premium Luxury Twin Turbo trim, the Platinum trim, the Platinum AWD trim, and the V-Sport Platinum Twin Turbo trim.

The XTS offers a spacious, quiet, comfortable, and luxurious interior with Semi-Aniline leather, Nutella Sapele wood trim, ambient lighting, active noise cancellation, Trizone Climate System, and the front and rear Ultraview sunroof. The 22-way adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats have power massage, power-adjustable seatback bolsters, and manual support. The memory package for the driver’s seat also remembers the preferred positions for the seat, the steering wheel, and the outside mirrors. With 18 cubic-feet, the XTS also provides ample trunk space.

All of this is enhanced by the exterior design. The exterior has sleek, sculpted lines, and a striking presence. The High-Intensity Discharge headlamps provide better illumination down the road. The Intellibeam® system automatically changes between high and low-end when needed. In the rear, the sculpted lines are enhanced by the signature LED taillights.

Specifications

The 2017 Cadillac XTS is 202″ long x 73″ wide x 59″ high and weighs 5,346 pounds with a maximum towing capacity of 1,000 pounds.

Trim prices are as follows:

  • The Base trim starts at $45,295 MSRP.
  • The W20 Livery Package trim starts at $46,295 MSRP.
  • The V4U Coachbuilder Stretch Livery trim starts at $49,130 MSRP.
  • The Luxury trim starts at $49,295 MSRP.
  • The Luxury AWD trim starts at $51,295 MSRP.
  • The Premium Luxury trim starts at $55,795 MSRP.
  • The Premium Luxury AWD trim starts at $57,995 MSRP.
  • The Sport Premium Luxury Twin Turbo trim starts at $63,795 MSRP.
  • The Platinum trim starts at $64,595 MSRP.
  • The Platinum AWD trim starts at $66,795 MSRP.
  • The V-Sport Platinum Twin Turbo trim starts at $72,395 MSRP.

Features

The XTS has a standard 304-horsepower, 3.6-liter, SIDI, DOHC V6, VVT engine. The V-sport Premium Luxury and V-sport Platinum trims have a 410-horsepower, 3.6-liter, Twin Turbo, V6, SIDI engine. Both engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission. It offers Bremo front anti-lock disc brakes, Stabilitrak stability control, and rear independent linked H-arm suspension. The Cadillac Magnetic Ride Control reads the road and adjusts the suspension for a smooth ride. For additional control, the AWD version of the XTS uses Halves technology with an electronic limited-slip differential to transfer power between the front and rear wheels and between the right and left sides.

For the safety of your family, Cadillac is a leader in automotive safety. The 2017 Cadillac XTS received the highest overall five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also got a five-star rating for frontal and side crashes. It received a four-star rating in rollover testing. It got a superior rating for crash avoidance and mitigation.

To absorb energy from impacts, the XTS has an ultra-high-strength steel safety cage with crumple zones. The XTS’ safety alert seat warns the driver of a potential crash with a vibration from the left, right, or both sides indicating the direction of the threat. The full color Head-up display projects vital information like your speed on the windshield so you can keep your eyes on the road.

A Driver Awareness Package that uses radar and cameras to spot potential accidents is standard on the Premium Luxury and Platinum trims and optional on the Luxury trims. It includes Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Surround Vision which projects a view of all sides of your vehicle on the CUE screen when your vehicle is in reverse or low speed.

A Driver Assist package that uses radar to avoid crashes or reduce crash impact is standard on the Platinum trims and optional on the Premium Luxury trims. It includes Front and Rear Automatic Braking and Automatic Cruise Control. The XTS also has rain-sense windshield wipers that automatically activate the Auto-Dry braking.

For parents, the Cadillac XTS offers the Teen Driving system. It mutes any audio devices until the front seat belts are fastened and uses an audible alert if your teen is speeding. It also provides a driving history for parents.

For your entertainment, the XTS offers a 14-speaker Bose® Studio Surround® sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 3-D GPS navigation, Siri Radio, voice recognition, touchscreen technology, Bluetooth technology, Pandora Radio, wireless charging, and OnStar 4G LTE5 with built-in Wi-Fi®, so you can connect seven devices within a range of 50 feet.

How Does It Compare With Its Competitors?

MotorTrend ranks the 2017 Cadillac CTS second in the luxury passenger car class. The XTS is larger than the Cadillac CTS and one step down from the CT6 in Cadillac’s price line-up. The CT6 is a closer competitor to the Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS than the XTS. The CTS is similar to the XTS in price. The focus for the CTS is more about performance, while the XTS is more about interior space and comfort.

The comparable Chrysler 300 has similar cabin space and optional AWD, but it also offers a choice between a V6 and a V8 engine. The Hyundai Genesis has less leg room but has a sleeker look and a more powerful V6 engine. The Lincoln MKS is very similar overall and costs less. The Audi A6 has a more powerful, fuel-efficient, four-cylinder engine with Quattro AWD.

Fuel Efficiency

The FWD models get 18 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. The AWD models get 17 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway.

Pros and Cons

If you are looking for performance, then consider the V-sport models with the twin turbo V6 engine, because the standard V6 needs more power. The XTS offers a spacious interior and a quiet ride. The high-quality upholstery and trim on the higher trims is also a plus. It offers a lot of high-tech features. However, the ride on the V-sport can be too firm, and the infotainment system is a little hard to operate.

With MotorTrend rating it second in the luxury car class, the 2017 Cadillac XTS should be given serious consideration. The sleek, head-turning exterior is only a surface reason for considering the XTS. The roomy, luxurious interior with the quiet ride makes the XTS a comfortable car for city traffic or long road trips. The safety features and the safety ratings are an added assurance of the commitment of Cadillac to build cars that will protect you and your family. The reputation of Cadillac as a manufacturer of quality cars should make the XTS go to the top of your list.

arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com

arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com

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