2016 Cadillac XTS

The 2016 Cadillac XTS gains a revised grille, an updated CUE infotainment system with Apple CarPlay capability, wireless phone charging, and a surround view camera. Three exterior colors have been added, Red Passion Tintcoat, Crystal White Tricoat, and Stellar Black Metallic.

Vehicle Summary

The 2016 Cadillac XTS is a large luxury sedan available in front- or all-wheel-drive configurations. In terms of size, the XTS is slightly larger than the rear-drive CTS and two inches shorter in length than the new CT6 flagship sedan.

Overview

Two 3.6-liter V-6s are offered on the 2016 XTS, a naturally aspirated variant for the base model rated at 205 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbocharged version in the VSport producing 410 hp and 369 lb-ft. Both engines are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is respectable for a larger luxury sedan at 18/28 mpg city/highway for front-drive models and 17/26 mpg with all-wheel drive. The more powerful VSport is rated slightly lower, at 16/24 mpg. There's plenty of space for passengers in the cabin while trunk space is generous at 18 cubic feet and can be expanded via the standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats.

Safety

In addition to dual front, front-side, and side-curtain airbags, the XTS also comes with rear-side airbags and knee airbags for the driver and front passenger as standard. The Driver Awareness and Driver Assist packages comes with additional safety features such as the safety alert seat, lane departure warning, lane keep assist (front-drive models only), blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and a 360-degree view camera. A head-up display and adaptive cruise control are also available in higher trim levels of the XTS.

Trims, Packages, and What's Standard

Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, Magnetic Ride Control, rear air springs, GM's HiPer Strut front suspension, Brembo brakes, automatic HID headlights, remote start, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, leather upholstery, Bluetooth, and Cadillac's CUE infotainment system. Navigation, a 14-speaker Bose surround sound system, rear seat entertainment, tri-zone automatic climate control, a reconfigurable 12.3-inch TFT display, and 22-way power front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage function are available in higher trim levels.

What We Think

Despite having performance features such as Magnetic Ride Control and the HiPer Strut front suspension as standard, the 2016 XTS excels as a cruiser. In a 2013 XTS 4 Platinum First Test review, we said that the car has one of the best interiors GM has made, featuring high-quality materials and comfortable seating for adult passengers. The CUE infotainment system, however, was slow to respond to inputs when compared to interfaces with traditional buttons and knobs. While the base 3.6-liter V-6 provides adequate power, the twin-turbocharged unit found in the XTS VSport is much more potent and doesn't have much turbo lag. The standard 20-inch alloy wheels, however, made the car's ride jittery and rough on less-than-perfect surfaces, as we noted in a 2014 XTS VSport First Test review. In a comparison test that also included the Acura RLX, the Cadillac XTS lost because of its clunky user interface and less than stellar fuel economy. Despite looking cool, the controls for the infotainment system proved frustrating and a hassle. Additionally, the XTS' rear seats were stiff and didn't offer as much comfort as those found in the RLX. In terms of performance, however, the XTS was superior because of its standard Magnetic Ride Control and superior steering, making it feel more stable on the road.

Cool Fact

The XTs shares its platform and base V-6 engine with the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Impala.

Key Competitors

• Acura RLX
• Lexus ES 350
• Hyundai Genesis
• Chrysler 300
• Toyota Avalon