Cadillac Gives Its Oldest Luxury Sedan A New Lease Of Life

The 2018 Cadillac XTS has received a much-needed update with a fresh face and new tech.

Just when we thought Cadillac was going to put the ageing XTS out of its misery in 2019, the automaker has given the luxury sedan a new lease of life with a much-needed redesign for the 2018 model, while also updating it with modern tech and making the ride more refined. Noticeably, the front and rear fascias have been freshened up to bring the XTS closer to its CT6 sibling, while new fenders, grille and LED headlights and taillights, which now come as standard, give the 2018 XTS a more modern look.

Ride comfort has been refined thanks to an updated chassis with revised tire designs for both 19- and 20-inch tires. Brembo brakes also now come as standard. For the first time, the XTS can be equipped with optional Magnetic Ride Control and Rear Air Levelling for sharper handling while also reducing outside noise. Cabin comfort has been improved thanks to redesigned foam geometry, wire frame structure and heat pad design on the front seats, as well as 40 inches of rear leg room. Exclusive to the Platinum model’s leather-wrapped interior are Maple Sugar and Jett Black interior color options, as well as a microfiber suede headliner and premium wood trim.

The new XTS is also more hi-tech thanks to the addition of Cadillac’s new intuitive infotainment system, which includes an array of in-vehicle apps displayed on an eight-inch LCD touch screen. You even get an eight-speaker Bose audio system as standard. A range of driver assists can be added to the Luxury trim via the Driver Awareness Package, which include Low Speed Automatic Braking, Following Distance Indicators, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward/Reverse Automatic Braking, Lane Change Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert. As you would expect, all assists come as standard in the Premium Luxury and Platinum models.

Tailoring to enthusiasts, the V-Sport trim is powered by a twin-turbo V6 that produces 410 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. The rest of the range is powered by a 304-hp 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox.