Used 2016 Cadillac ELR Coupe Consumer Reviews
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The perfect electric personal luxury coupe v.2
Eric Rotbard, 05/09/2016
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
51 of 53 people found this review helpful
Having leased a 2014 Cadillac ELR (and 2011 Chevy Volt before it), the bar was already set very high. Contrary to the comments of many online detractors, the ELR is -not- simply a dressed up Volt. As any EV advocate should tell you, the fact that the Volt and ELR have the same powertrain configuration does not mean they are the same car. That would be like arguing that any internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) is the same as any other because they both have similar engines and transmissions. In an EV, what is a battery but the EV analog to an ICEV gas tank? No one would argue two cars are the same because they have the same gas tank. And the electric motor (be it in a Tesla, Leaf or Volt) is very similar in design from the original EV1 days, so it is more of a one size fits all part far more than the engine and transmission which need to be properly mated to the vehicle application. Lastly, the ICE in the Volt and ELR are designed primarily to provide electricity rather than mechanical energy (although it does that too in limited circumstances). What differentiates the Volt and ELR, then is the software and performance tuning (and the fact that the electric motor is more robust to handle the extra hp and torque). The Volt and ELR provide vastly different driving experiences. Other than the fact that both are silent, you would never confuse driving one for the other. I had previously said that the 2014 ELR was the perfect electric personal luxury coupe. It may not be as fast as a Model S, but it had plenty of torque. Also, whereas the Model S is beautiful, practical, spacious sedan, the beauty of the ELR is that it is the opposite: it is designed to be a personal car first and foremost, not a family car. It is not practical, nor is it intended to be. The 2014 ELR was -exactly- what I wanted: a personal car that can transport my family in a pinch. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful expressions of automotive design in history, both inside and out. I thought I could not be happier with the 2014 ELR... ... until I drove the 2016 ELR. Cadillac increased its performance, refined its handling, upgraded its CUE infotainment system with faster processing, more features, and enhanced the interface, and lowered the price. I had to have it, so I managed to transfer my 2014 ELR lease, and leased a new one. After having an ELR for 2 years, I still enjoy simply looking at it. The new '16 ELR is the perfect expression of Cadillac's Art & Science design theme, and is an absolute joy to drive. I cannot praise it enough.
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Love my 2016 ELR
2016 ELR owner, 09/17/2019
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
After several years of looking at the usual cast of long-range plug-ins (Tesla S and 3, Volt, etc), I finally test drove an off lease 2016 ELR when I saw one in our area. (60 miles away). It took 15 seconds of driving the car to make a decision-a beautiful interior, fantastic sound system, great acceleration, spectacular design-instant joy. With 16k miles (off lease), it was about the cost of a new Volt (32K). After 6 months owning and using the car every day, it is still like a mini-vacation when I close the door and start driving. The interior is all Cadillac-it is beautiful. We have owned several Cadillacs (cars and SUVs) as well as several other cars (Infinity, BMW)-the interior of the ELR is gorgeous and the seats/feel driving are similar to the CTS4 we owned and loved-though with instant torque and about 4-5x the gas mileage! I have a 35 mile round trip commute and never use gas despite using the standard wall plug in charger which takes exactly 20 seconds a day to plug in to the car. Although not necessary for my driving, the game of using paddles instead of brakes to see how far you can go on the battery is actually pretty addictive. So far 45 miles is my best. I also use the car to drive long distances and the ability to not think about charging has been awesome. Even in straight up gas mode, the car gets pretty spectacular mileage without really trying (34-36 mpg in my experience)-remember this is a 3000+lb Cadillac! After 6 months and about 10K driving (filling the gas tank about once a month), I have averaged about 79 mpg in mixed use with a number of 200+ mile trips. Acceleration and power are great in "either" mode (as it is all mediated through the electric drive train) and the heralded engine noise is actually pretty sedate unless you are flooring the car when the battery is empty. If a throaty engine sound when hitting the gas is what you seek, this is not the car for you. The trunk has more than enough room to handle a full hockey equipment bag (about 2 golf bags in size)-though my sticks require using one of the fold down seats. With both seats down, there is actually a lot of unobstructed room -though you may feel some guilt sullying the car. I bought the car in Mid-New Jersey (Gold Coast Cadillac -who were great) but live in the Philadelphia area and have found getting the car serviced was not an issue-something I was worried about given the low numbers produced. Overall, my ELR has proven to be a spectacular car. Absolutely love driving it. Perhaps overpriced when first introduced and with a pretty amusing (courtesy Neil McDonough)/polarizing marketing campaign, they are a great option if you can find one.
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Best car I've ever owned!
Lance Jordan, 07/01/2017
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
This car is hands down the best car I've ever had. I have gotten up to 50 miles on an electric charge. I average around 40mpg or more on the generator, no range anxiety of that of a Tesla. It has a super high end interior, the bose system rocks and the seats are comfortable. Its has ever tech feature you need. The acceleration is strong on the low end. The weight distribution is good, since the weight of the batteries are in the center of the car. Handles like a dream, stops on a dime. The styling is a thing of beauty. I love the car, no complaints whatsoever.
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You Should Road Test a 2016
SAM, 06/06/2016
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
23 of 26 people found this review helpful
There are great deals available. The ELR is discontinued and will certainly become a collectors item. As battery technology improves, it is conceivable ELR battery replacement will become available. This is a car to keep... My 2016 Sport is fast, comfortable, provides great MPGe and is an overall thrill to drive all the time. Cadillac has no idea about marketing and have made a huge mistake by ending its life. I took it to a Cadillac event in NJ recently and everyone was incredibly impressed. Every new Caddy should have a plug-in option and offer technology upgrades as they become available, similar to Tesla. Also, the idiot auto bloggers and journalists haven't a clue when it comes to what people want. It is not always about 0-100. There is not 1 test on a 2016 ELR I can find.
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Dr Tasso Pappas recommends 1 a day 4 work and play
Dr Tasso Pappas, 09/18/2016
updated 03/20/2017
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
23 of 26 people found this review helpful
In over 30000 miles I have fallen in love with this auto. These are the most comfortable front seats I have ever seen!,,, The headrests are the best in my 20 years of many new and used cars. I commute 1000 a week and with using my level 2 charger overnight I average 54 miles per gallon. The stereo sounds amazing. The CUE system beats that of my Buick and my Yukon. The ElR. Is an impressive vehicle. The seats are simply the best in comfort of any vehicle I have owned. Although the lack lateral support, the comfort is a 10. The ride is a good balance between sport and cruising. No issues besides a need to replace the intellibeam sensor. We also own a BMW i3 and GM's quality and implementation of hybrid technology is dramatically better. Great vehicle.
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Electric Luxury Roadster...the ELR is all that
Steven Long, 06/29/2016
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Quite simply having owned BMW's, Corvette's etc (I love these cars BTW)....The ELR is the greatest car ever. Show stopping styling, luxurious interior, innovative technology. I regularly have strangers ask what it is. Several people have photographed it. In the first 1200 miles I have put on it. my gas consumption is is 0. Need I say more...get one while you can!
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This is an excellent car
Plug in with range extendr fan, 05/29/2019
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
Anyone looking at this car probably has a clue... don't buy this (used at least 3 year old car at the time of this writing) if you want a: 1: Pickup truck and need the room 2: need a van or big hatchback because you haul so much stuff 3: This is to be your only car unless you never haul anything of size 4: Have 3 kids that you need to haul around 5: Need a testosterone boost and an extension of your manhood with asphalt burning acceleration and/or big Porsche engine sounds 6: Really want some long range EV and don't care about the fact that you have a range extending gas engine or don't care about range anxiety. Do think about one of these cars (2016) if you want a drop dead great looking car that pictures can't accurately display how nice this car looks in person, with an interior quality that can only be bested by a car costing 3 times it's price when new. If you like regen type driving like a Volt, i3, IPace, you got it in L mode, but with the regen on demand paddle you get regen at double the rate of the normal one pedal driving- it's excellent and highly useful. I never even see dirt on my front wheels from the usual brake pad dust/brake fluid vapor like on most cars. Using the regen paddle and normal regen type of driving makes using the brake a rarity. Car is so reliable, problems are rare and few. Drives great and Voltec technology is very well thought out. Car is way better than I even imagined. Super happy with it! Don't believe idiot reviews from car magazine writers. If you understand what the car is all about before you buy and are okay with it, you will be a happy ELR owner. The reviews on this site are wrong! Here's what they say: Still has a lofty base price - No matter now, at used they're an exc deal! noisy gasoline engine - I don't even notice mine, unless going up steep hill claustrophobic backseat - Untrue, anyone under 5-10" can fit just fine tiny trunk with narrow access - Not THAT small, there's way smaller touchscreen can be slow to respond - Nope -2016 fixed all that. continued use of the original Chevrolet Volt powertrain. Not true, it's way tweaked and way better, so that's just not a good statement making it sound the same - it's not! All in all, I would highly recommend this car to folks wanting a 2 door, maybe no kids, especially with normal 50 mile and under driving per day. regen paddle ALONE will make me keep this car for a long time, not even counting it's great looks! It even came with great looking wheels - a rarity on cars.
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The best car I have ever owned
Hans Hansson, 07/20/2016
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought the ElR as an impulse buyer. I saw it thought it had great lines and bought it. I have owned a number of luxury cars over the years from Cadillacs to Lincolns to BMWs this is the best car by far. The volt technology provides great mileage the interior is the best I have owned. The truck offers good room while the backseat is tied is appointed with luxury.
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8 months... Still love it!
Atul Raj, 08/06/2016
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
This car is a dream to drive and is so easy to live with on a daily basis! I still can't believe it's discontinued.
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Love it!
Jeff Bauman, 05/10/2016
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
I knew this would be an awesome car. Mis-understood by the market. I have owned several Cadis. This one has the nicest interior. Show stopping exterior. There is lots of talk out there about lack of horsepower. I am thrilled with the "pick-up". Being electric, the torque is really awesome! I can punch holes in traffic easily and I leave everyone in the dust at stoplights. Does NOT feel underpowered at all. My commute to work allows me to use electric only. WOW!
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ELR
Clifford Reid, 12/14/2015
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
11 of 14 people found this review helpful
ELR is the future. Great two door commuter car or for the weekend. Inside comfort is nice. I like the combo of touch screen and buttond. Seats are very comfortable. I think a price of $60 k to $65 k is fair for this 2 door luxury futuristic coup.
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Excellent car. Underrated by critics.
Greg, 02/25/2019
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Beautiful car, very luxurious. Lots of thumbs up from other cars on the road. Electric driving with no range anxiety.
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Upgraded from the 2014 to a 2016 ELR
Rob, 03/06/2019
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I really like this car. Had the 2014 , went through a few others (CT5, and the electric CT6). The ELR is just more fun. Looks great and always draws a crowd, Don't believe the "professional reviews, this car has plenty of acceleration. Look at what the owners say. All 5 star. I have a 220 plug at work so for my commute I never buy gas or pay for electric. Company gets a tax break, so we all win. Interior is the best of any car I have owned. Traded a Porsche Boxter S for it, and could not be happier. Go get one, if you can find one of the 3000 Caddi made. If you do you will own one of the most limited edition luxury cars on the road. Oh, it is a green vehicle as well. So feel good about you!
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2016 Cadillac ELR
Danny D, 03/23/2017
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Great car. Upgraded from Volt and very happy with purchase
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Great car
Dennis, 08/07/2018
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Love it. For short commutes on the battery or long hauls on the motor generator, a very comfortable and economical ride and the transition from spent battery to motor generator is seamless at any speed. Great styling and performance. Can't believe they've discontinued it. LOVE IT!!!!
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Amazing!!!
Loving it..., 09/11/2018
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I’ve had two cadi’s... My 2016 elr is by far the best yet... Amazing that they discontinued this beast!!! The looks I get driving this beautiful car, is satisfying for sure... Can’t wait to see what they come up with next...
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Smitten!
R.H. MacLaughlin, 12/01/2018
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Well, I acquired this on one of those screaming lease deals...zero down/$499 a month. The sticker price was too expensive for me to consider to buy, but I thought it was a unique vehicle, and having gone through a Nissan Leaf and two Ford C-Max Energis, I wanted to stick with a plug-in; the freedom from gasoline stations is a subtle lifestyle enhancement that I would never trade away...AND, remember the commercial about the Chevy Volt owner who puts gas into her car so seldom that she forgets how...? ME! I forget all the time...but they put the gas tank release in the door so it isn’t in the most intuitive spot... So far, I have averaged 115MPG over the life of the lease. Three years ago I started my life with this car and was sort of troubled by the exclusivity, the beauty, the speed, the quietness...everything about this car is meant to make you feel calmer, and stress free—except the looks. Everyone asks about it, gawks at it, drools over it, insists there is a “V” version. This car is way too fine a vehicle for a fifty-something dad. Now, three years later, with the lease about to expire, I am paralyzed at the thought of a day without this gorgeous car. What am I to do? Buy it? Or Buy a new, lesser car? Decisions decisions. I have a few gripes. 1. The USB port is inside a cubby that my hand does not fit into (thus, being a dad does have its rewards). 2. A manual parking break...really? Even my wife’s Kia engineered that away. 3. No ventilated seats...??? Again, Kia...
Dream Come True
D. Tietz, 06/03/2021
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (gas/electric hybrid DD)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Love, love, love this car! Beautiful automobile, often get comments about the looks of the car, it has been very reliable, and very comfortable. I bought it used, for about 1/3 the list price. It charges overnight, electrically goes about 38-45 miles (which covers 99% of our typical trips) but has a gas engine to extend our range as needed. This car is perfect for us...
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Great car
Patrick , 12/04/2023
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (1.4L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is fun to drive. Smooth ride great handling. The mpg is better than I thought I'd get.
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Like commuting in a Spa
COB, 04/24/2024
2016 Cadillac ELR 2dr Coupe (1.4L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a PHEV in 2018 and bought a used 2016 ELR instead of a 2018 Volt. It was wonderful. As a hybrid I got 33-34 mpg which is the best mileage a Cadillac ever got. I commuted for 5 years on primarily electric (and charged overnight on a regular 110V and standard charger) and almost never bought gas. I did monthly 100+ mile trips to the shore and 300+mile trips to Boston and NYC on occasion for business which absolutely sold me on the PHEV concept -no range angst and still got great mileage on long trips. Sadly, when I bought a PHEV SUV last year that can tow a boat, I only drove the ELR on an intermittent basis-though I kept it over a year because I still loved to drive it and just loved to look at it-it is beautiful. If you see a red 2016 2 owner ELR, 1 accident (prior owner), 42K miles -seriously consider buying it -it was very well cared for, has lots of miles left to go, and is still a fantastic car way ahead of it's time
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