2016
Cadillac XTS
As
the largest sedan in the luxury brand's lineup, the 2016 Cadillac XTS doesn't
just aim to be a step up in size and space from the luxury brand's ATS and CTS
sport sedans. It targets an entirely different kind of shopper—one who may be
less concerned with all-out performance than with a careful balance of comfort
and capability.
The
XTS is a handsome restatement of Cadillac's long-standing Art & Science
design theme, though it's backed off the extreme angles and edges of the prior
generation of Cadillacs. With a softly arched roofline and smoothly styled
sides, it's a plus-sized complement to the other Cadillac models. From the
inside out is probably the way that Cadillac would want you to see the XTS, as
its instrument panel and interior trims showcase the latest from GM, with a
swoopier look, softer details, and plenty of smooth contouring inside,
contrasting with beveled, tightly-fitted metallic trim pieces.
The
Cadillac XTS is not trying to be a sharply tuned sport sedan; yet given its
more comfort-oriented mission, it's more athletic than its size implies. The
base 304-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 is smooth and predictable with the six-speed
automatic, although it's a little lacking right from a standing start. Step up
to the VSport's twin-turbocharged, 3.6-liter V-6, and you won't be left
wanting, not with its 410 horsepower. It truly delivers a V-8-like kick.
In
all other respects, the XTS tones down the cushy, underdamped past and dials in
a more connected driving feel. Thanks to a well-tuned suspension, with
MagneRide magnetic ride control and air springs, the XTS stays composed and
isolated, keeping minor harshness out while responses are more crisp than in
other comfort-oriented cars. At the same time, it's very quiet inside.
If
passenger space is the priority, you've come to the right place in considering
the XTS; in back-seat space in particular, it's roomier than most other sedans
this size, with plenty of headroom and lots of legroom. Front seats allow
plenty of space, too, though they could be a bit more supportive.
You'll
get one of the most extensive lists of safety features in any vehicle if you
step up to one of the safety-tech packages in the 2015 XTS. There's even a
system that can brake the XTS to a stop from about 20 mph—to help reduce
pedestrian accidents, for instance—and occupant-safety scores are top-notch
from both U.S. agencies.
The
XTS comes in standard guise, plus in Luxury Collection, Premium Collection, and
Platinum Collection versions. All come with CUE, although only the top two
models include navigation and premium audio.
CUE
sits at the center of the XTS's instrument panel, and it's the focus of this
sedan's leading-edge feature set. At its heart is an eight-inch, fully
capacitive touch screen—like what's used in iPads and other tablets. The system
helps clean up the dashboard, leaving it remarkably free of physical buttons.
It also provides a touch-sensitive interface that mostly--if not
always--enables an easy to use set of new features that wouldn't be possible
with a roller-controller system, one like BMW's iDrive, for example.
There's
a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, with screens that fold out of the backs
of the front seats. The XTS also has a rear-seat armrest that includes wood
trim, radio controls, and controls for the available sunshade (an opaque
sunroof shade is newly offered). Intellibeam headlamps and a front-seat memory
feature were added recently, as was 4G LTE connectivity with OnStar, and the
ability to create an in-car WiFi network.
For
2016, the XTS also adds available surround-view cameras, and integration with
Apple CarPlay, which mirrors some iPhone content on CUE's screen.
