The 2017 Cadillac XTS is a large, luxury sedan with room for five. Two V6 engine choices, available all-wheel drive, and a long list of technological features mark this model.
Cadillac offers the 2017 XTS comes in Base, Luxury, Premium Luxury, V-Sport Premium Luxury, Platinum, and V-Sport Platinum grades. All models come powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V-Sport models have a turbocharged version of that engine.
The 2017 Cadillac XTS gains a revised instrument gauge cluster and a Teen Driver feature, the latter helping parents encourage safe driving habits for their sons and daughters when they’re behind the wheel. The remaining changes for the year include a new wheel design choice and an additional three exterior colors.
Exterior Highlights
The Cadillac XTS is an attractive sedan with a gently sloping roof line and a rising beltline. A pitched hood and a notched rear deck supply a sporty look.
Wheel choices include 19- or 20-inch aluminum polished or painted designs. Each model comes outfitted with standard all-season tires or run-flat tires.
Available equipment includes a power sunroof, HID adaptive headlights, and power-folding and heated side mirrors with puddle lamps.
Interior Highlights
The 2017 XTS offers a quiet and luxurious cabin with lavish leather-covered seats, including a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat supplying access to an 18 cubic-foot trunk. Few models in this segment match the XTS’ room with excellent head and legroom front and back. All models have power-controlled front seats with lumbar support.
Standard equipment includes keyless entry with a push-button start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood accents, a power tilt and telescoping steering column, cruise control, real wood trim, and dual-zone climate control.
Optional features include a fully-wrapped leather interior, a suede headliner, a heated steering wheel, massaging front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, 22-way power-operated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, power rear window and side mirror shades, and three-zone climate control.
Performance and Efficiency
The XTS’ standard engine is a 3.6-liter V6 generating 304 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. There’s also a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine with 410 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Both engines come paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Front-wheel drive comes standard on most models with optional all-wheel drive. Both VSport trims are powered exclusively by the twin-turbo engine and all-wheel drive.
The front-wheel drive models offer the best fuel economy with an EPA-estimated 18/28/22 mpg city/highway/combined. The all-wheel drive twin-turbo makes an EPA-estimated 16/23/18 mpg city/highway/combined.
Technology and Safety
Standard technologies include keyless entry, remote start, push-button start, and rear park assist. An eight-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, OnStar, Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, an auxiliary input jack, and wireless charging are also included. All models include Apple CarPlay and Android Autos.
Available features include automatic headlamps with adaptive forward lighting, a voice-controlled telematics system, a rearview camera, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and rear-seat entertainment.
An available driver assist package adds a surround vision camera, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision alert. Optional equipment includes adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking.
All XTS models come with rear parking sensors. Among the available safety features are front parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular parking assist, and forward collision alert. Cadillac also offers lane departure alert, lane keep assist, forward and reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display. Finally, the XTS achieved “good” scores in each of the four crash test rating categories offered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Competitive Set
Among the main competitors to the 2017 Cadillac XTS are the Lexus ES, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Volvo S90, and the Hyundai Genesis. The Buick LaCrosse is similar to the XTS but lacks many of the Cadillac’s top features.
Our Verdict
The Cadillac XTS matches well with the Lexus ES. But it isn’t a strong competitor to the BMW and Audi. But its roomy interior and cavernous trunk are features not to be easily dismissed. As always, when shopping for a used car, perform your due diligence. Review a copy of the vehicle history report and always avoid cars with rebranded titles as these sustained serious crash or flood damage.
See Also — What We Love About the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
Photos courtesy of GM Corp. The manufacturer retains all rights.
