The 2013 XTS made its first appearance at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. The XTS bowed in with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that pumped out 304 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. This, combined with all-wheel drive in the XTS4, is enough to launch the sedan to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds.

Now, with just one model year under its belt, the XTS is set to receive its first major update: the addition of an all-new V-6 engine and a new Vsport trim level. If this V-6 powerplant seems familiar, it certainly should, as it is the same engine that will power the Vsport variant of the 2014 CTS.

Like the 2013 model year, the XTS will take on some familiar performance luxury sedans. The XTS’ key competitor, the 2014 E-Class, is revised for the new model year and features an all0new diesel engine. Also competing with the XTS is the 2014 Lincoln MKS, which carries over its full redesign from 2013 and packs a mean punch from its optional EcoBoost engine.

Updated 05/19/2014: Cadillac announced today a series of updates for the 2015 XTS which will be put on sale later this summer. The biggest update for the 2015 model year includes the addition of the OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, while few other changes were also made to both the exterior and the interior. The model continues to be offered in one well-equipped standard model and three optional Collections: Luxury, Premium and Platinum.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Cadillac XTS.

2014 - 2015 Cadillac XTS

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 - 2015 Cadillac XTS
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 306
  • Torque: 264
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

For the 2014 model year, the XTS remains unchanged on the exterior. It gets the usual Cadillac look with a chrome/satin-chrome grille finish, unique headlamps and accent lighting. Also, the models equipped with the new twin-turbo engine will receive unique "Twin-Turbo" grille and deck lid identification.

There are eight exterior colors to choose from: Radiant Silver Metallic, Black Raven, Crystal Red Tintcoat, White Diamond Tricoat, Graphite Metallic, Black Diamond Tricoat, Silver Coast Metallic and Sapphire Blue Metallic.

Dimensions

Curb Weight (FWD)

4,006 lbs

Curb Weight (AWD)

4,215 lbs

Cargo Volume

18.0 cu-ft

Front Track Width

62.28 in

Overall Height

59.45 in

Overall Length

202.00 in

Overall Width

72.91 in

Rear Track Width

62.48 in

Wheelbase

111.70 in


Exterior Features

Standard

-HID Xenon headlights

-Daytime running lights

-LED center high-mounted stop/brake

-Outside heated power-adjustable, manual-folding, body-color, with turn signal indicators and puddle lamps

-Rear Park Assist

-LED taillights

-P245/45R19 all-season tires

-19-by-8.5-inch aluminum wheels

Luxury Collection

-All Standard features, plus:

-Daytime Running Lamps, upper and lower auxiliary

-Door handles, illuminating

-Fueling system, capless

-Memory Package

-Rainsense wipers

-Tire inflation kit

Premium Collection

-*All Luxury features, plus:

-*Illuminating door handles

-*19-by-8.5-inch polished aluminum wheels

-*IntelliBeam and Adaptive Forward Lighting headlights

-*Adaptive Forward Lighting

-*Automatic Parking Assist

-*Heated outside mirrors with auto-dimming feature, turn-signal -*Front and Rear Park Assist

-*Side Blind Zone Alert

-*Adaptive remote start

Platinum Collection

-All Premium features, plus:

-Automatic Collision Preparation

-Platinum Collection badges

-Platinum Collection grille

-20-inch polished aluminum wheels with chrome inserts

-P245/40R20 all-season blackwall tiresmirrors

-Rainsense wipers

-Tire inflation kit

-UltraView power sunroof

Changes for 2015

- Cocoa Bronze Metallic and Dark Adriatic Blue Metallic (late availability)

- 19-inch painted aluminum wheel design – painted finish on Luxury Collection/polished finished on Premium Collection

- Available power-folding outside mirrors

Interior

Cadillac opted for a bold, elegant design, which offers the right accommodations and features for both the front and rear passengers. Depending on the trim level, customers will get a full-leather interior with microfiber sueded headliner, as well as premium wood trim on the steering wheel, console, center stack, instrument panel and door panels.

There are six different color combinations: Jet Black, Shale with Cocoa accents, Medium Titanium with Jet Black accents, Caramel with Jet Black accents, Jet Black with Light Wheat accents and Very Light Platinum with Dark Urban and Cocoa accents.

Front Head Room

40.08 in

Front Hip Room

55.12 in

Front Legroom

45.83 in

Front Shoulder Room

57.87 in

Rear Head Room

37.80 in

Rear Hip Room

54.29 in

Rear Legroom

40.00 in

Rear Shoulder Room

56.34 in

Seating Capacity

5


Interior Features:

Standard

-Air bags, dual-stage frontal, side impact, knee and head curtain side impact for driver and front passenger, head curtain and seat side impact for outboard rear passengers

-CUE Information and Media Control System, including: 8-inch display, featuring touch response, haptic feedback, gesture recognition, proximity sensing, articulating storage door/bin, clock display and compass feature

-Bose premium 8-speaker AM/FM stereo with USB ports, SD card slot, Natural Voice Recognition,single-slot CD/MP3 player and auxiliary input jack

-Bluetooth for phone, streaming audio for music for select phones

-Dual-zone automatic climate control with individual climate settings for driver and front passenger

-Auto-dimming rearview mirror

-Leather seating surfaces with Soleil Keisel, mini-perforated inserts

-Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter

-Universal Home Remote

Luxury Collection

-All Standard features, plus:

-Trunk net

-LED spotlights with light pipes

-Memory Package

-Rear Vision Camera

-Heated front and rear seating

-Audio system with Bose premium eight-speaker sound

-SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with free trial period) and HD radio feature

-Leather and wood-trimmed shifter and steering wheel

-Heated steering wheel

Premium Collection

-All Luxury features, plus:

-Rear seat armrest

-CUE Information and Media Control System with Embedded Navigation, AM/FM stereo with embedded navigation, USB ports, SD card slot, Natural Voice Recognition, auxiliary input jack and Bose Studio Surround Sound 14-speaker system

-Tri-zone automatic climate control

-with 14-speaker system with surround energy-efficient amplifier

-SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with free trial period) and HD radio feature

-Tri-zone automatic climate control

-12.3" color guage cluster

-Head-Up Display with color readouts

-Lane Departure Warning

-110-volt power outlet

Platinum Collection

-All Premium features, plus:

-Leather-wrapped console

-Leather-wrapped door trim

-Leather-wrapped instrument panel top pad

-Sueded microfiber headliner

-Opus full-leather seats with mini-perforated inserts

-Illuminated "Platinum" front sill plates

-UltraView sunroof

-Power, rear window sunshade

-Premium wood trimming

Changes for 2015

- 22-way power-adjustable front seats with heat, ventilation and massage are available on the Platinum Collection

- Revised armrests with radio and sunshade controls (standard on Platinum and Platinum Vsport)

- Kona Brown with Jet Black accents and Open Pore Sapele wood trim

Drivetrain

The base engine in the 2014 XTS is the same 3.6-liter V-6 engine from last year, but its delivers a total of 306 horsepower – a 2-horsepower increase from last year. This peppy V-6 mates to a Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission with tap-shift control.

The big news for the 2014 model year is the addition of the Vsport trim level to the XTS lineup, which adds a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter V-6 engine to the luxury sedan. All of you horsepower junkies know that you cannot simply strap some boost to a V-6 engine and expect to get a 104-horsepower gain with any reliability. So, Caddy heavily modified the 3.6-liter engine by adding in a new cylinder block casting, stronger connecting rods hooked up to domed pistons, new direct injection, retuned the intake system, and boosted compression to 10.2-to-1. This gives the XTS Vsport a healthy 410 horsepower to play with.

Trim

XTS

XTS Vsport

Engine

3.6-Liter V-6

3.6-Liter Twin-Turbo V-6

Output (HP @ RM)

306 @ 6,800 RPM

410 @ 6,000 RPM

Torque (Lb-FT @ RPM)}}

264 @ 5,200 RPM

369 @ 1,900 RPM

Acceleration (0-60 MPH)

7.3 Sec.

5.3 Sec.

1/4-Mile (Sec @ MPH)

14.9 @ 93 MPH

13.7 @ 104.4 MPH


Prices

For the 2014 model year the XTS will be offered in three trim levels: Luxury, Premium and Platinum Collections with prices starting from $45,525. Customers can also opt for the new XTS Vsport model priced at $63,020.

Pricing:

Trim Level

MSRP (Including delivery)

Base

$45,525

Luxury

TBA

Premium

TBA

Platinum

TBA

Vsport

$63,020


Competition

Mercedes E-Class

The E-Class was updated with new headlamps and revised aprons, and for the interior with more premium materials, precise lines and clearly defined surfaces.

Under the hood, the E-Class features a slew of engines, including: the new E250 BlueTEC powered by a 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with 195 horsepower; the E350 with its 302-horsepower, V-6 engine; the or the E550 with its 402-horsepower, 4.7-liter V-8 engine; and the E400 Hybrid with its electric motor that brings the 3.5-liter V-6 engine to 329 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque.

On the surface, the XTS appears to be a better performer than the E-Class, while the E-Class likely trumps it in terms of luxury. Additionally, the E-Class’ $51,900 base price is significantly higher than the XTS’ base price.

2014 Lincoln MKS

With a healthy redesign in 2013, the MKS essentially carries over into the 2014 model year with only minor tweaks. That’s not a bad thing either, as the redesigned MKS is the best-looking model that Lincoln has put out in ages. Sure, it is a little shocking at first sight, but it is one that grows on you over time.

The Base MKS features a 3.7-liter V-6 engine sees a 4-horsepower bump to 304 ponies and 279 pound-feet of torque, putting it on par with the base 3.6-liter engine in the Caddy. Where Cadillac pulls away is the in the Vsport variant, as the top-line MKS features a 365-horsepower, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine.

Where the MKS makes up a little ground is in pricing, as it bases out at $40,425 and the EcoBoost model bases at $47,415. Both prices are less the $895 delivery fee.

Conclusion

With the new twin-turbo V-6 engine, the 2014 XTS became an even more serious competitor for the German and American luxury sedans. We're just waiting to test it so we can tell you how good it handles on the road.