Photo Gallery:
2013 Cadillac XTS
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
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It is a pretty rare occurrence that one drives two full-size sedans back-to-back, so I was excited to jump into Cadillac’s XTS immediately after last week’s Toyota Avalon. Now I wouldn’t say the XTS is a direct competitor to the Avalon – it’s more the equivalent of the Lexus ES350. But despite lacking some technology and the badge, the Avalon does offer many of the same attributes of this XTS – including comfort and spaciousness.
It is also a pretty rare occurrence when one can stand up in the back of a car (not an SUV or CUV but a car) to take photos – headroom need not be mentioned any further in this review.
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The XTS is Cadillac’s answer to the aging DTS full-size sedan that was no longer selling. It is also a replacement for the STS – the rear-wheel-drive, full-size Cadillac that was above the more commonly known CTS. The the XTS is smaller, more forward thinking and more technically advanced than the outgoing models, though I was surprised to hear it would be offered in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive and not rear-wheel drive when it was announced over a year ago at the LA Auto Show.
With a starting price of $48,995 the XTS is $6,000 more than the Avalon’s “as-tested” price last week, but my XTS tester is no base model either. Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, lane departure, blind spot detection, a safety alert seat (more on that later), Navigation and 14-speaker Bose audio system; my tester tops out at over $60,000.
Of course the talk of the town and the centrepiece of the XTS is the technology-filled interior with Cadillac’s new CUE system. A system I didn’t particular like on the ATS I drove a few months back, but perhaps it has grown on me – stay tuned to see!
MSRP as tested (including destination): $61,320
For more information on Cadillac and the XTS visit GM Canada
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