2018 Cadillac XTS V-Sport Sedan

The V-Sport is available in just one trim called the Platinum. It comes equipped with so many features that you wont even have to go through the optional packages that the Cadillac offers for it XTS series. The V-Sport ensures maximum safety and luxury for its passengers. Step inside the vehicle and you will be pampered like a baby.

Features like, massaging seats, illuminated entry and exits, 360-degree rear view camera, 12 - airbags, Bluetooth connectivity with android auto and apple Carplay come standard with the V-Sport.

Trims	V-Sport Platinum
MSRP	$73,490
Key Features	20 inch alloy wheels with sterling silver finish
	Front Bucket seats with 22-way electronic adjustability and massage functions
	Tri-zone automatic climate control
	360-degree view parking camera
	14-Speaker audio system by Bose Studio surround
	Power operated sunroof
	Front and rear park assist
	Heated front and rear seats
	Power operated rake and telescopic steering column
	Rear window power operated sunshade
	Brembo performance brakes with 4-wheel anti lock system

Recommendation

Since this is the top of the line trim, you won't need to scratch your head to figure out which one you should go for. This car will be loaded with everything as standard that Cadillac offers as option for lower trims of the XTS.

The top-of-the-line XTS V-Sport Platinum offers enough dynamic chops to feel modern when driving at speed, which also seems out of character with the rest of the car. - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The standard 3.6L V6 engine found in the lower trims of the XTS is accompanied by two turbos to form the more powerful V-Sport. It churns out 410 HP of power and throws 369 ft-lbs of force on the crank. The power is focused on the top of the tachometer but the torque band is fairly wide enough to get you into momentum as soon as you increase weight on the pedal. Not that it is excitingly fast, but it will surely give you the chills.

This engine transfers the power to all four wheels through a 6-speed shiftable automatic drivetrain. The gearbox works like a charm but it is biased more towards the luxury side. However, take the manual control of the shifts and you'll be in for a surprise from the V6 motor.

Models	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
MSRP	$73,490	$74,895	$82,025	$75,345
Engine	Twin Turbo 3.6L V6	Twin Turbo 4.4L V8	Twin Turbo 3.5L V6	Twin Turbo 5.0L V8
Transmission	6-Speed shiftable automatic	8-Speed shiftable automatic	10-Speed shiftable automatic	8-Speed shiftable automatic
Power (HP)	410 @ 6000 RPM	456 @ 5500 RPM	416 @ 6000 RPM	420 @ 6000 RPM
Torque (ft-lbs)	369 @ 1900 RPM	480 @ 1800 RPM	442 @ 1600 RPM	383 @ 5000 RPM

The rivals have surpassed the Caddie in terms of power and torque figures. Although the Caddie is a little gentler on the pocket, it lacks the sheer performance which is offered by its rivals. The BMW flaunts the best equipped engine and is fairly more vocal than the others. Lexus comes in next followed by the G90.

Acceleration

For a car tipping scales over the 4000 lbs mark, achieving 0-60MPH in 5.2 seconds is rather commendable. The V-Sport can breach the quarter mile mark in 13.6 seconds. Plunging you into the seats is not its forte, but certainly spices up the driving dynamics of the boring chauffeur-friendly XTS.

Models	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
0-60 MPH	5.2 sec	3.8 sec	5.0 sec	5.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	12.1 sec	13.4 sec	13.7 sec
Engine	3.6L V6	4.4L V8	3.5L V6	5.0L V8
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @15K Mi/year)	8.8	8.9	7.7	9.3

In terms of acceleration, the BMW leaves the rest of the competition in dust and zooms past them. No other car even touches the periphery of the BMW. The Lexus and the Cadillac are very close to each other while the bulky Genesis is left for the last position inspite of being equipped with the biggest engine.

Braking

This 4200 lbs beast takes just 118 ft to come to a halt from 60MPH. As impressive as it is, the diving front end could get scary. The V-Sport is equipped with a softer suspension setup which diminishes the sportiness of the car. The 6-piston Brembo brakes work delightfully with a bit longer but a gradual pedal travel.

Model	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
Brake pads Front (in)	13.6	NA	15.7	14.8
Brake pads Rear (in)	12.4	NA	14.1	13.4
Curb weight (lbs)	4200	4372	4707	4905
60-0 MPH	118 ft	NA	132 ft.	NA

Although the braking details of the BMW are unavailable, their reputation in terms of sportiness speaks for the M550i too. The Cadillac stops way before the Lexus because of the massive difference in their weights. Judging by the weight, the mammoth G90 is no where in the competition here.

Ride and Handling

The hydraulic steering in the V-Sport feels well-weighed, precise and the feedback promotes confidence. However, there have been complaints about slight torque steer on the highways.

The suspension setup, or as Cadillac calls it, the MagneRide setup executes the function of reading the upcoming terrain and adjusting itself accordingly. Throw it into a corner, and you might be surprised with the agility from a car as heavy as this. However, you might feel some body roll creeping inside.

For an ageing car like the XTS, the V-Sport trim manages to keep it lively and interesting to be in.

For a car aimed at an older demographic, usability may be a challenge. The XTS suffers from a fussy tech interface, challenging visibility and a cabin that doesn't feel as roomy as it should. - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The interior of the V-Sport feels a little dated. Clustered switches around the center console are inconvenient to get hold of. The plastics have a premium soft-touch finish but if you dig deeper, you might find some hard plastics concealed around the cabin.

For a large-sized luxury car, the Cadillac offers decent cabin space. It falls a little short of the rear leg room as compared to its German rivals though. The seats have been wrapped with premium quality leather and the massaging feature adds to the sheer comfort they offer. The seats are well cushioned and they hug you properly. However, the rear cabin might take away the airy feel because of the smaller windows.

Models	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39/57.9/42.1	38.8/58.7/41.4	37.3/58.8/41.0	41.1/59.1/46.3
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.8/56.3/40.0	37.5/55.9/36.5	37.3/56.4/38.9	38/57.9/37.8

The Cadillac, when pitted against it's competitors, performs fairly. It offers more space than the BMW and the Lexus but falls short of the space offered by the G90.

Interior Features

The interior of the V-Sport has been loaded with a ton of features. Some of them are:

• Active Remote Start
• Air Filtration system
• Leather Wrapped interior enhancements
• 14-Speaker surround sound system by Bose
• Automatic dimming rear view mirror
• Keyless entry with push button start
• Electric Power Steering with heating function
• Wireless Charging Pad
• Ambient interior lighting
• Electric sunroof
• Tri-zone Climate control

Infotainment

The 12.3 inch touchscreen unit has a crisp display which works flawlessly. It packs a host of features like:

• Android Auto and Apple carplay
• 4-USB Ports
• Bluetooth System
• Inbuilt Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Universal Home Remote (3 - channel)
• Rear vision camera with surround view

Cargo Space

The V-Sport offers an impressive 18.0 cu.ft of cargo volume. It is enough to carry the luggage of 5 people and then some extra too. The V-Sport also offers the option to fold the rear seats at the press of a button to uncover a humungous amount of cargo capacity, an option missing in most of its rivals. However, the narrow and higher opening of the trunk lid might pose a problem in loading the cargo.

Model	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
Volume (cu.ft) (All Seats Up)	18.0	18.7	17.0	15.7

The Cadillac just falls a little short of the BMW in terms of trunk capacity but given that you can fold the rear seats in the V-Sport, the BMW loses out. The G90, inspite of being bigger and bulkier than its rivals, offers the least cargo capacity while the Lexus sits between the BMW and the G90.

The 2018 Cadillac XTS harmoniously blends curves and angles in a way that hides its girth well. It's as attractive inside as out, especially with this year's upgrades. - Car Connection

Dimension and Weight

The V-Sport weighs at just 4200 lbs. which is quite less for a vehicle that belongs to this segment. It's 200.9 inches of length is just average but the wheelbase of 111.7 inches is disappointingly less.

Models	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
Curb weight (lbs)	4200	4372	4707	4905
Length (in)	200.9	195.4	206.1	204.9
Width (in) (w/o mirror)	72.9	73.5	74.8	75.4
Height (in)	59.4	57.8	57.5	58.9
Ground clearance (in)	NA	NA	5.9	5.1
Wheelbase (in)	111.7	117.1	123.0	124.4

The competition is way ahead of the Caddie in terms of wheelbase. The G90 and the Lexus are massive in dimensions followed by the BMW. The Caddie might feel puny in front of the other three cars.

Exterior Features

• Cap less fueling system
• LED Headlamps with Daytime running lights
• Platinum 20 Multi-spoke Alloy wheels
• Heated Rear view mirrors
• Front Cornering Lamps
• Dual stainless steel Exhaust tips
• Remote-trunk lid opener

The V-Sport manages to return 16 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highways. These figures are lower than the conventional 3.6L V6 offered on the lower trims but hey, Cadillac has focused on the sportiness. The mileage was ought to decrease.

Model	Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport	BMW M550i xDrive	Lexus LS500 F-Sport RWD	Genesis G90 Ultimate
MPG (City)	16	16	19	15
MPG (Highway)	23	25	30	23
MPG (Combined)	18	19	23	18

Safety Features

The V-Sport has plenty of safety features like:

• Engine immobilizer
• Front and rear automated braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Front - head,knee and side impact airbags
• Rear- seat mounted curtain airbags
• Blind-Spot monitoring system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• All wheel traction control system
• Automatic crash response system
• Adaptive air-suspension system
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Anti-Lock Braking system

Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport vs BMW M550i xDrive:

The BMW offers outright sporty performance. The V-Sport comes nowhere close to it. It's a totally different story on the luxury front though. The V-Sport offers sheer comfort and a ton of features complementing it. The BMW is well equipped too but doesn't match the sheer comfort offered by the V-Sport. The suspension setup on the BMW is stiffer and offers a harsher ride quality than the Caddie. But, throw the Beemer into a corner and it'll leave the Caddie biting the dust. All in all, if sportiness is your preference over compromised luxury, BMW is your pick, but, if you prefer luxury with a pinch of sportiness, The Caddie makes a better choice. Also, the Caddie is a little gentler on the pocket.

Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport vs Lexus LS 500 F sport RWD:

The Lexus has a better laid out interior. It also houses more volume inside the cabin. The Caddie, on the other hand, is no less. Do not have blind faith on the paper figures because practically, the V-Sport has enough room to adjust average sized adults and engulf them into luxury. It also has the benefit of All-Wheel-Drive system as compared to the Rear wheel drive on the Lexus. The V-Sport is very similar to the Lexus, just cheaper in price.

Cadillac XTS Platinum V-Sport vs Genesis G90 Ultimate:

The G90 Ultimate might pack a 5.0L engine under the hood, but its no where as sporty as the Cadillac. The purpose of the V-Sport was to blend sportiness into the renowned luxurious cabin of the XTS. The Genesis is a full fledged luxury car focusing on the rear occupants more. The drive is not as engaging as in the Caddie. The G90 has a considerable amount of body roll and given its heavy weight, it will not encourage being thrown into corners. To serve the purpose of sportiness and luxury, the Caddie comes out to be as more faithful than the Genesis G90.

If you are going to spend more time behind the wheel than being chauffeured around, the V-Sport will be your perfect companion. It surely is a wolf in sheep's clothing. You won't notice it as a fast car for it's looks, but floor the pedal and you will see its true colors.