QUALITY | 10 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The cabin is large, quiet, comfortable and stylish.
Detroit News
front seats are mounted in such a way that I couldn't slide my feet under them
Motor Trend
The cabin is functionally perfect, given the character of the car
Winding Road
At more than 200 inches long, with a wheelbase of nearly 112 inches, the 2013 Cadillac XTS is a large car, slotting alongside standard-wheelbase versions of the Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series, along with the Lincoln MKS, in length. So if passenger space is one of your top priorities, you've come to the right place in considering the XTS.
Compared to most of those cars, the LaCrosse's secret weapon is its back seat. There’s truly enough space to fit any passenger in comfort. The headliner includes carved-out areas for even more headroom behind the sunroof housing, so even those well over six feet tall will have extra space. Back seats aren’t quite as contoured as we expected them to be, although the middle backseat position—either more confined, too narrow, or thinly padded in many larger sedans, even—is quite useful here.
In front, it's good but not the standout that the back-seat area is. You tend to sit a bit higher in the XTS than in other large luxury cars—which means that you get great outward visibility. Front seats are quite comfortable, but not in the realm of the carved-out, ultra-supportive perches you get in some performance sedans.
The MagneRide suspension system, which uses electromagnetically adjustable dampers, can quickly adjust for varied road harshness, and it helps make the XTS feel more nimble without being any less comfortable. MagneRide works together with a leveling air suspension to stay composed, even when you have the whole family loaded in; and active noise cancellation, which helps cancel out road noise especially, is standard. From inside the vehicle, you only hear the engine when pressing it hard—in the range of 4,000 rpm on up—so when you’re just commuting or cruising it’s way in the background.Interior materials are impressive in the 2013 XTS, and definitely a step up from those in the XTS; they include real wood trim, available soft Opus leather with perforated inserts (Platinum). There's also a leather-wrapped instrument panel, and soft-touch surfaces virtually everywhere, while Platinum models also get an Alcantara (faux-suede) headliner.
From a controls and ergonomics standpoint, some users may be puzzled to find there are no physical buttons for the climate control or audio (other than what's on the steering wheel). Instead occupants must touch capacitive patches just above tabbed (ridged) areas. We found that these 'buttons' don't always work consistently, or as well as the real thing, however, in a first drive.
Conclusion
A supremely roomy back seat; leading-edge tech that keeps the ride smooth and quiet; and standout materials all assure a true luxury-car experience.
