Used 2014 Cadillac ELR Coupe Consumer Reviews

Wow - Get One If You Can Find One

I'd never bought an electric car before, so I researched the heck out of this thing before I bought it. I probably read every review and watched every video review out there. Then I went out and drove the car. Going in, I expected it to be very much a mixed bag, with some big compromises I might be able to live with given the heavily discounted price. What I found instead was an absolutely stellar car that just didn't fit the conventional narrative and has really slipped through the cracks. Is it a modern sports car? No. But it has plenty of power, nice handling, etc. The disconnect between what some reviewers said and the car's actual performance was breathtaking. In the kind of driving we all do in the real world, it will give you absolutely nothing to complain about. It looks like it ought to be able to take on a Porsche 911 and it isn't that fast, but that is the only way in which the driving dynamics will disappoint you. Is it a eco-warrior statement car? No. No one will actually realize that you are driving something that is better for the environment than a Prius. So people who want to wear that on their sleeves will hate it because it doesn't make an eco-statement. Also, it is far too plush and luxurious to give off that "I'm sacrificing for the good of the planet" vibe. Is it a traditional luxury car? Not really. It is much more sporty and nimble than a traditional luxury car. The ride is smooth and well-composed, not floaty at all. However, the interior is all luxury car, and the levels of quiet are better than any luxury car I've ever seen. What it really is, is a car purpose-built for the real and relatively uninteresting driving we actually do in the real world. You don't need a huge V8 to putter along in commuter traffic. You don't need a bone-crushing suspension that handles well but beats you up every mile when you only see those twisty car commercial roads in car commercials. In the real world, quiet matters. In the real world, power matters but only up to a point. In the real world, handling and ride quality need to be thoughtfully balanced. In the real world, you shouldn't waste gas getting to work, even when it is cheap. The ELR does every one of those things well, all while looking absolutely amazing. Yes, the backseat is tiny. Yes, it should not have sold for $80k initially. But that is about as far as the legitimate criticisms go. With gas prices low, these things are selling for absolutely absurd prices. They are very rare, so finding one can be a challenge. But if you land one, you will end up with an amazing bargain.

ELECTRIC LUXURY ROADSTER

That's what ELR stands for. Coming from a Volt, I found a 2014 with 9000 miles on it as a great "owners" car considering my lease is coming up very quickly. It's a head turner, people gather around it, they look, they stare and while it's OK with me, it gets unnerving after while. I watch where I park, especially at places like the supermarket, home depot, etc. It is rare to see on the road. It's a partner when you want to drive it in an economical fashion. It's FASTER than the Volt. It handles BETTER than the volt. Forget about passengers. Forget about lots of storage. I took my 65" TV home in my Volt. Forget about it with the ELR. It screams success, it's a very special car. I hate to drive it in the rain, I hate it when it gets dirty, I wax it all the time. I get 40+ miles on EV alone. On gas, I dont compete with MPG as I just floor it. Engine sounds a bit loud, it's ok. 20's from the factory and it's all good. Update.....it's 8/25/17 now.... Still get stares, looks and endless compliments. I now own a '16 GTR Nismo and I get just as much looks and compliments On the ELR as the GTR. Reliable, fun and top of the food chain feelings.

Sold ELR as 3g connections die

Purchased this car from the dealer that had used it for 10,000 miles as a loaner but had not charged the batteries regularly. Lifetime mileage was only 38 mpg when I picked it up but has increased to 65.5 while I drove the next 13000 miles. The performance is a little better than the Chevrolet Volt due to suspension and computer improvements. The availability of power seats, adaptive cruise control, and general luxury interior was justification for trading a 2 year old car and extending payments 2 more years. Adjusting seats while traveling is easy and helps with old age arthritis. Not as practical for hauling as the hatchback Volt but we always have a truck to get things done. I have been using the car locally and most months I don’t buy gas. Last summer took a 1500 mile trip without plugging in and averaged 37 mpg, mostly 70+ mph. Update 2021, lifetime mpg up to 82.6 but only 35000 total miles. Replaced tires 5 years after installation at factory and had to replace expensive 12volt battery due to electronic glitches when car was unused . No problem in over a year. 2021 update - still drives well. Had oil change when computer said only 17% life left. Cadillac charges a lot for service but they seem to get things right. Never have had the auto windshield wipers work as expected. Sold this car after using it for 5 years, 10 months . Sold it for about $6000 less than I paid for it.

I still love it after a year

One year ago I bought a new, no mile, 2014 Model with every option and Kona brown interior. It stickered for over 82K and I bought it for 46k plus tax and registration. I got a $2,000 check from the state, a $500 rebate from the electric company and the $7,500 federal rebate brought the price down another 10 grand to 36k plus tax and registration. The car is simply stunning. It's beautiful inside and out. Whenever I park it I still look back and smile. It's a joy to drive, all the electronics are simple to operate, suspension is superb, plenty of power and the interior is just gorgeous, comfortable and just works. I usually get around 45 miles one a charge. My commute is 44 miles and when I get home unless it's really cold I will still have one or two miles left or will have just run out of charge a mile or so away. When I drive on the weekends the gas engine gets great mileage and I have never been able to hear when it turns on or off. I still get compliments everywhere I go. I have almost 13k miles on the odometer now and have not had one mechanical failure of any sort. Trouble free and stylish-just love this car.

ELR beats Tesla S hands down!!

I wanted a luxury electric car and thought Tesla was the way to go UNTIL I saw the CADILLAC ELR. This car is the way to go if you are looking for a high end electric car that is fun to drive and practical. The all electric cars concerned me since you HAD to plan a long distance trip around charging. The ELS, however has a 9 gallon gas tank there to power the generator to make more electricity- how awesome is that!!! (It is NOT a hybrid with a gasoline engine). My only fault is with the rear seat size - but lets face it, the population that drives an ELR is not running kids to dance lessons - you are way past that! (or have a mini van for the "family car".) Update 6/2017 --- I have since traded this ELR in for a new XT5 since I get a new car every two or three years tops. Unfortunately the ELR didn't catch with Tesla buyers as a BETTER electric car, yet it remained a "head turner" right until the end. I still maintain that until technology puts a charging station at every "gas station" and that electric charging time does not exceed the the time to gas-up, (5-min.) that an electric car with a back up gasoline source to power the generator when you exhaust the charge is the only way to go.

2014 ELR Off-Lease Steal

While I did get an ELR with 42,000 miles, it also came with a $57,300 discount! Should also be noted that the gas motor currently has only about 9000 miles on it so this vehicle should easily surpass 250,000 combined miles as long as the electric motor is as good as they seem to be. Wonderful car for a commute of 10-15 miles to work each day. Can also plug in while at work and still run errands after work without worrying about running out of charge. Have been going about 4 months and 4000 miles on each tank of gas. The range does drop from 40 to 30 miles in the winter time and the vehicle does run the gas engine when it is cold outside to maintain winter HVAC needs. Would be nice if the winter engine use settings could be adjusted. Overall a great car for someone who doesn't need a back seat for anything more than emergency use.

The Ultimate Commuter Car

The ELR makes my commute so much nicer. It is quiet, it is smooth, it has an amazing sound system, and it's economical. Without too much effort, I can make my 40 mile round trip on electric only. This isn't a fun car you want to rip up mountain roads in; that's not what it's designed to do. It's designed to cart you around town in a quiet, luxurious cocoon that is still responsive and fun to drive. Having the engine backup is vital. There's no way I could do an EV with less than 100 miles of range without being constantly paranoid that I'd run out of juice. The ELR solves that problem. You can milk the batteries for all they've got, then the motor kicks in to keep you going.

Awesome value used

Super mpg! Ghostly quiet. This car is a piece of bold American art. Original retail price was too high but second hand a steal. Already becoming a collectors target. Way ahead of its time. Check out the original commercial on YouTube.

Awseome Cadiallac ELR

The 2014 Cadillac is a joy to drive. it has all the features you would expect in a luxury car and also the responsiveness of a sports car. This vehicle is well engineered. The only negative is it takes over twelve hours to fully recharge the electric battery unless you have the upgraded charging unit.

A Great Auto

This vehicle is without doubt the finest one I have ever owned. And it goes without saying, it is the most beautiful.

Luxurious Economy/Comfort with Style

Style like no other modern day automobile. Great comfort for two and super economical to drive. Blind spots are not as bad as you might think and, of course, the back-up camera helps. Performance is very good, handling is great, ride is adjustable - four settings from touring to all out performance and mountain driving with the tip of the finger. Wind noise is non existent but a little road noise is present with the Z rated performance tires currently on the car. I will opt for good all season radials when replacement is required. I bought mine used with 55000 miles last September (2019) so the "big" depreciation was gone. Price was less than a later model Chevy Camaro but there is no comparison between the two. Because so few were built (about 2500 2014 models) they could become somewhat of a collectable. I'll probably never see that in my lifetime but who knows. In the meantime I will enjoy it all I can.

Sweet unique ride

I've owned a number of cars. Most of them sporty - fast. The ELR is not a great cornering car, and it isn't a hot rod. It is a very nice smooth and mostly quiet ride with a nice sound system. I feel like I'm driving a cloud, surrounded by comfort. I bought this unique car through Vroom which I would NEVER do again. The car is very nice, but Vroom drops the ball on so many levels.

Rolling Archtecture for the Gas-Elect Transition

The ELR will bridge the gap until I receive my 1,000-mile-per-charge all-electric Aptera (google it). The ELR replaced my all-electric Chevy Bolt, used around town, AND my Prius, used for extended trips where the Bolt was impractical due to charging times. Now both jobs are handled by the ELR. When I'm in town, which is 95 percent of the time, I'm using 100 percent wind-generated electricity purchased from Arcadia Power and delivered to my house. Extended cross-country trips begin with 40-50 all-electric miles and then the car behaves like a typical hybrid. On all gas, it gets 45 mpg at 65 mph and 37 mpg at 80, very respectable for such a heavy, safe car. I have had it for 3 years and nearly 30,000 miles and the repair cost has been $0, not surprising since underneath the MOMA-worthy body, meaning mechanically, it's a Chevy Volt, well-respected by now for its reliability. That's good because only 2,900 ELRs were ever made (in 2014 and 2016), of which perhaps 2,500 survive, yet mechanical parts are quite plentiful as are mechanics who know how to install them. I think the ELR is one of the more beautiful automotive designs in existence and I am quite sure that eventually it will be appreciated as such. Most admirers speak of the exterior. But the interior is equally beautiful and daringly creative, with cascading layers of leather. As others have mentioned, the weak point is the back seat, where it's all form and no function, best suited for kids and contortionists. A better design would have deleted the seats and incorporated that space into the trunk, also on the small side. Although in fairness, once you're back there, if you can get back there, it's not as bad as I'm making it sound. Due to its stiff suspension, huge tires, and low, heavy (batteries) center of gravity, the handling is crisp and solid with minimal body roll. The car feels safe. The gas motor serves as a generator. When the car is running on its batteries the motor is off. I would estimate 50 percent of my car's miles have been driven on electricity only. So the motor has only seen half the miles that show on the odometer (78,000 as of this writing) and therefore the motor should last twice as many chassis miles as in a pure gas car. That's no small thing yet it is rarely mentioned as a plus with a PHEV. I don't use the mechanical (foot) brakes except to hold the car at a light. Regeneration provides all the braking necessary. The brake pads, at 78,000 miles, have no visible wear and will no doubt last the life of the car. For nearly 20 years I drove a first-generation Honda Insight hybrid heroically, getting 70 mpg average for 200,000 miles, and often getting 90-115 mpg on highway trips of 300-plus miles. It was a very green and very ugly vehicle. The ELR is a transition car that doesn't pollute around town and is a stunningly beautiful piece of art. It's a delight to look at and be in, especially after the Insight. I don't know what the future will bring, but based on my 3 years of experience, I would recommend this as a transitional car, if you can find one, while you, too, await your Aptera (which will be 3x as efficient as a Tesla Model S).

Why did they stop producing the best looking caddy

Buy it

GREAT CAR

Very nice car

I picked up the car with no charge and quickly noticed how good the milage was with no charge. Dispute other reviews, the car is quiet in EV mode and when the motor/generator is on. This car rides so smooth and attracts much attention, I look forward to driving it more and more. Thank you.

beautiful car

only trouble is that the doors are so long you have to be carefull parking. fantastic car!

50,000 miles

2 problems: both fixed under original warranty: 1. CUE touchscreen failed; 2. battery coolant sensor failed. Now gets 30 mi on battery alone. Always used 110v charging. Hardly ever use gas. Year-old gas trigger mode where car runs on gas-only until you refuel.