In the minds of most Americans, Cadillac is still that brand that makes big luxury cars. The truth, though, is that Cadillac hasn't had a successful large sedan in a long time. In fact, the brand hasn't even offered a large sedan since production ended on the sporty STS and luxurious DTS more than a year ago. That left Cadillac with only three model ranges: the successful midsize CTS, the increasingly popular SRX midsize crossover and the behemoth Escalade SUV.
For 2013, Cadillac is adding two new models: the compact ATS sport sedan and the large XTS sedan, set to be priced from $44,995. We drove the XTS in and around Los Angeles last week; here are our initial thoughts.
Beautiful interior: The cabin of the XTS is beautifully designed and appointed. Rich, soft-touch materials abound. The new Cue user interface simplifies the layout by eliminating buttons, and the overall look is accented with wood and -- in the top trim level -- splashes of purple stitching. (Don't worry, it looks cool.)
Controlled handling: Though it isn't intended as a sport sedan, the XTS has a lot of suspension technology that makes it controlled and almost sporty. Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control adjustable suspension firms up in corners, an H-arm rear suspension improves ride quality and reduces noise, rear air springs control the ride height, and General Motors' HiPer Strut front suspension eliminates torque steer while also improving steering feel.
Big back seat and trunk: The rear seat's 40 inches of legroom make it comfortable for even very tall passengers. The deep trunk boasts 18 cubic feet of space, which is 4 cubic feet more than the BMW 5 Series.
Courtesy of msnautos.com
No comments:
Post a Comment