While cruising through town en route to our photoshoot location, we encountered a Cadillac DTS in ve

I was extremely surprised one rental day to find this brand new 2013 Cadillac XTS sitting pretty at DCA in National s rental lot; I had no idea that National was even planning to purchase the XTS.  As far as I know, National is the only mainstream rental agency to deploy this vehicle.  It s also quite rare at DCA; since renting it nearly a month ago, I haven t seen it returned.
Very interestingly, National has only classified the Cadillac XTS as an LCAR ( Luxury ).  I was fully expecting a specialty budget hotels in singapore classification such as WXAR ( Luxury Special Elite ) or UXAR ( Premium Elite ).  Furthermore, this is the third 2013 Cadillac vehicle that National has classified as an LCAR, following the 2013 Cadillac CTS 3.0L and the 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.5L.  No word yet on what classification the 2013 Cadillac SRX will be .  In short, National has provided a very nice array of options to renters who reserve a luxury car.
The XTS replaces two former budget hotels in singapore Cadillac models, the geriatric DTS and the mid-level STS.  The XTS comes in FWD and AWD flavors and rides on  a stretched Epsilon II platform, aka the Super Epsilon II.  The Super Epsilon II will also be used on the upcoming 2014 Chevrolet Impala and the base Epsilon II is used to underpin the present Buick Lacrosse and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.
While cruising through town en route to our photoshoot location, we encountered a Cadillac DTS in vehicle-for-hire garb.  We took the opportunity to photograph some comparison shots.  The overall DTS DNA is still very apparent in the XTS.  The XTS wears a similar looking front grille and rear tailfins, albeit in a tauter and more striking package.  The XTS also shares the DTS s considerable front and rear overhangs.  The XTS is a handsome evolution of the DTS and it also bears considerable road presence.  While driving my rental XTS, many pedestrians and fellow motorists craned their necks to get a better view of the new Caddy.
Our 2013 Cadillac XTS in Raven Black paint sporting Soleil Keisel perforated black leather in its mid-level Luxury Trim had an as-rented priced of $49,610.  No other options were included.  Resplendent 19 inch cast aluminum wheels with polished finish come standard budget hotels in singapore with the Luxury Trim level.  The Luxury Trim package comes with a number of very helpful features over the base trim, including manually adjustable thigh cushions for the long-legged, ultrasonic budget hotels in singapore parking sensors with rearview backup camera, memory seating, and a number of LED spotlights and lightpipes.
budget hotels in singapore Cadillac s new infotainment system, Cadillac User Experience (CUE), is standard on all XTS trims, as are Brembo brakes, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, and Magnetic Ride Control for an improved suspension.
This was my second time using CUE and it was a much better experience.   Visually, it s one of the best in the rental car industry because it utilizes crisp, high resolution 800 x 480 graphics coupled with excellent contrast ratios.  GM claims that the display screen budget hotels in singapore is four times as bright as an iPad and I believe it.  It was certainly an ocular pleasure budget hotels in singapore to operate.
I didn t particularly care for CUE when I first rented the ATS because it was difficult to discern budget hotels in singapore which portions of the console faceplate could be depressed due to the confusing chrome strip layout.  This time around, I was able to experiment further with CUE.  CUE s volume slider bar was more sensitive and easier to control than on the 2013 Lincoln MKS s volume slider bar.  The touchscreen featured snappy response times and operation was aided by subtle haptic feedback.  CUE s voice commands were also more streamlined budget hotels in singapore than the Lincoln budget hotels in singapore s MyLincolnTouch routine.
For example, with CUE I didn't have to say " USB; Play Artist XXX ".  I just said " Play XXX " and the system understood me.  I especially appreciated the utility of the 5.7 Driver Information Center (DIC) display budget hotels in singapore mounted between the driver s instrumentation gauges.  The DIC showed CUE options from which I could make voice selections as well as a myriad of other helpful vehicle information.  Furthermore, the DIC was another high resolution color display that was very legible budget hotels in singapore and easy to read even while driving.
My biggest complaint about CUE on the XTS rental was the system s inability to index my USB stick full of songs each time I started the car.  Since I only had 150 songs on my USB stick, the issue is likely software related.  The redesigned steering wheel required acclimation, but at the end of my rental I appreciated how well it worked together with CUE.
As on the ATS, I was particularly impressed by the audio fidelity and bass response of the base Bose audio system.  It sounded markedly improved over the Bose systems used on the last generation of Cadillacs and even on the current generation of Infiniti vehicles.  A six-CD changer is inelegantly stuffed into the electronically operated glovebox.  Fortunately, the glovebox can still be opened even when the car is turned off.  However, I wonder if drivers will be out of luck when the car battery runs out.
Several professional auto reviewers complained budget hotels in singapore about the XTS being too slow.  I didn t feel this was the case at all.  The 3.6L base engine provides nearly identical output numbers to its crosstown rival, the 2013 Lincoln MKS, and propels the XTS from 0-60 in just 6.5 seconds.  I had no trouble merging or passing on the highway.  The Brembo brakes had excellent stopping power, although the brake pedal was a touch too soft for my tastes.   I averaged a fuel economy in the low-20s from a mix of city and highway driving.
Unlike your grandpa s DTS, the XTS exhibited little body roll in turns and managed its bulk nicely without feeling like a ponderous two ton boat.  I didn t detect a change in suspension stiffness from the Magnetic Ride Control, but the XTS soaked up bumps well with a hint of firmness.  The cabin was whisper quiet even at highway speeds.  Steering was pinky light; in other words, I could steer the XTS with just my pinky finger if I so desired.  I wasn t expecting the XTS to be anything but a serene highway cruiser, but adjustable steering feel (as featured on the 2013 MKS s sport mode) would have been a thoughtful option.
The front seats were generally comfortable with supportive side and thigh bolsters, although the seat bottoms felt too soft and lumbar support oddly was near non-existent.  Perhaps the lumbar support budget hotels in singapore air bladder on my seat was defective.  Rear passengers are treated to a livery-like 40 inches of legroom.  I had plenty of room to stretch my legs even with the front seats adjusted for my six foot frame.
Overall interior quality seemed excellent.  The doors were nicely cushioned budget hotels in singapore and much of the interior was draped in soft-touch materials.  The dashboard featured finely stitched leather materials.  I was disappointed to learn that the mid-level Luxury Trim does not use real wood as I would expect a $50K MSRP car to use authentic budget hotels in singapore timber.  ( EDIT: the XTS indeed features authentic (deliciously named) Nutella Sapele wood, sorry about that Cadillac! budget hotels in singapore )  On the exterior, the XTS s door handles had integrated LED lightpipes and approach lamps which illuminated upon unlocking.