There’s no denying that the former king of luxury, quality, and name prestige in the American automobile market has suffered from a case of getting lost in the crowd in recent years. Their efforts at a comeback, however, seem to pay off in the XTS – a not quite full-size, not quite mid-size entry into competition with the likes of the Audi, Infiniti, and the BMW 5-Series. Not surprisingly, Cadillac holds its own.
Key Features
There’s not much skimping to speak of in the standard inclusions on this model – each and every model – across all four trims – comes with a Bose premium audio system, Cadillac’s Cue infotainment system complete with an iPad preloaded with the software, and a host of safety features like 10 airbags and the renowned OnStar system.
Changes for 2013
This is a brand new entry to the marketplace for 2013.
What We Like
The suspension is tough to beat – it’s powered by Magnetic Ride Control, which makes a mind-boggling 1000 damping adjustments per second (yes, per second). The 8” touchscreen makes it easy to assess needed info, and rear passengers enjoy a generous amount of headroom. The signature exterior chrome touches don’t disappoint either.
What Concerns Us
While technically speaking the rear is touted to offer passengers four extra inches of legroom, this feature is effectively eliminated by the lack of ability to put your feet under the seat in front of you. The 304 horses are sufficient for enjoyable driving but if it’s a more connected, athletic experience you seek, you might want something with more power.
Available Models
The Base, Luxury, Premium, and Platinum trims all offer the same engine: 3.6L V6 6-speed automatic with 264 lb.-ft. of torque, 304 HP, and 17/28 mpg FWD, 17/27 mpg AWD
Major Recalls
There have been a number of recalls on this model, including: * June 2013 – GM issued a recall due to intermittent flashing of the brake lights, which could result in a following driver becoming misled and not braking when the vehicle does in fact slow down. The company issued notices to owners and offered to fix the problem for free.
April 2014 – recall issued for a problem that could cause the brake booster pump connector to become corroded, potentially resulting in melting or a fire. GM notified owners that they could get this problem fixed at no charge.
September 2014 – a number of vehicles left the factory with the sensing module set to manufacturing mode. This could cause airbags to fail to deploy in a crash. GM notified owners and will reprogram the vehicles at no charge.
October 2014 – a recall was issued due to the parking brake actuation arm possibly not fully retracting, which could cause the brake pads to remain in contact with the rotors, increasing the chances of a fire. GM sent notifications to owners and will fix the problem at no cost.
Common Issues
The most commonly reported problems are with the lighting/electrical systems
