| Model year | 2004 |
| Make | Cadillac |
| Model | XLR |
| Style | Cadillac |
| Base MSRP | $75,385.00 |
| As-tested MSRP | $76,200.00 |
| Drive type | RWD |
| Engine type | DOHC 32-valve V8 |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 4.6 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 320@6000 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 310@4400 |
| Transmission type | 5-speed automatic |
| Suspension, front | Independent with magnetic ride control |
| Suspension, rear | Independent with magnetic ride control |
| Steering type | speed-proportional power rack and pinion |
| Tire brand | Michelin |
| Tire model | Pilot |
| Tire size, front | P235/50R18 |
| Tire size, rear | P235/50R18 |
| Brakes, front | 4-wheel disc |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 3.7 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 5.9 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 8.3 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 14.19@100.23 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 28.5 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 118.10 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 61.7 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | Not tested |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | Low |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 80 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 75 |
| Acceleration comments | The XLR's powerband is something of a conundrum. The car is undeniably quick, but it doesn't feel particularly quick — until you floor it and the RPMs rise above 3,000 rpm, then it feels quite fast indeed. It's like Cadillac didn't want the XLR to have a high-strung feel, so it almost masks its power until you really need it, at which point it rockets ahead like a pure sports car, betraying its Corvette roots (not that this is a bad thing). Upshifts occur right at the 6,500 rpm redline and the engine's roar (like its power) only gets better as the revs climb. The shifts themselves are very positive, and our best time came with a power-brake launch at 2,000 rpm. One item to note: the XLR never had a traction problem, even with traction control disabled. In fact, it seemed nearly impossible to smoke the tires on this car -- though the target audience likely won't notice or care. |
| Braking rating | Excellent |
| Braking comments | With the exception of some considerable front-end dive during each braking run, the XLR felt as confident at the Corvette it's based on. After three runs, total distance increase by just over one foot, and all stops were below 120 feet from 60 mph. Those are solid numbers for hard-core sports cars, let alone a 3,700 pound luxury car. With almost no ABS noise or vibration, and confident, straight stopping, there's little to complain about. |
| Handling rating | Excellent |
| Handling comments | Once again, the XLR performs better than the wreath-and-crest on the grille would have you believe (though we all know the heart of a Corvette beats inside this vehicle). A quick steering ratio, minimal body roll and prodigous torque made acclerating out of the final cones easy, as did the car's predictable nature at the edge of adhesion. It's biggest limiting factor came from the long, sharply-angled hood that made placing the XLR a constant challenge (many a cone was sacrificed before generating a clean run). While traction control and stability control can be turned offer separately, we found that by simply disabling traction control the remaining electronic nannies would not interfere with our slalom efforts (and it was nice to know that stability control was waiting out there somewhere in case things got severely out of hand). The Mercedes-Benz SL still has an advantage in terms of pure at-the-limit handling capability, but the advantage is smaller than the price difference between these two models. |
| Elevation (ft.) | Not tested |
| Temperature (°F) | Not tested |
| Wind (mph, direction) | Not tested |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 17 City 25 Highway |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 18 |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 3647 |
| Length (in.) | 177.7 |
| Width (in.) | 72.3 |
| Height (in.) | 50.4 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 105.7 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 42.6 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | N/A |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 37.6 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | N/A |
| Seating capacity | 2 |
| Cargo volume (cu-ft) | 4.4 cu. ft. |
| Max. cargo volume, seats folded (cu-ft) | 12 cu. ft. |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 6 years/100,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Free scheduled maintenance | Not Available |
| Front airbags | Standard |
| Side airbags | Standard |
| Head airbags | Not Available |
| Antilock brakes | Standard |
| Electronic brake enhancements | Standard |
| Traction control | Standard |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Rollover protection | Not Available |
| Emergency assistance system | Standard |
| NHTSA crash test, driver | Not Tested |
| NHTSA crash test, passenger | Not Tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side front | Not Tested |
| NHTSA crash test, side rear | Not Tested |
| NHTSA rollover resistance | Not Tested |
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