2005 Cadillac XLR | Review | Buying Guide
For 2005, Cadillac has focussed much on the revolutionary all-new STS and the XLR, after major recent work, has only changed for 2005 with new exterior and interior colours with Light or Dark Eucalyptus wood interior and Blue Steel exterior paint to replace Thunder Gray.
This is only fair - after considerable investment bringing the XLR design to its current configuration, a major change would seem unnecessary and gratuitous. To put it another way, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
So, lets talk about the 2005 Cadillac XLR. This two-door hard-top roadster sure has a lot to drool over. The XLR is every bit a Cadillac. Sleek and adorned with vertical headlamps, among other things, the XLR is as fresh as they come and is filled with modern gadgets. XLR’s adaptive cruise control is just one of them. The system maintains a set speed on clear roads, but when a vehicle is detected in the same lane in front of the car, the system will adjust vehicle speed to help maintain a constant following distance, set by the driver.
Under the Hood
There is only one model trim with the Cadillac XLR, and it is fitted with a 4.6-liter Northstar VVT (variable valve timing) V8 engine. This gives the speedster 320 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. The XLR is a rear-wheel drive vehicle, equipped with 5-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.
The XLR comes with standard traction control and GM's Magnetic Ride Control, which automatically adjusts suspension firmness based on the road surface. In terms of safety equipment, the 2005 XLR comes with dual front airbags, side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, an antiskid system, a tire-pressure monitor and a rear-obstacle-detection system.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
There is no “base” XLR, and no trim levels for the XLR. Basically, Cadillac took this car, designed it to the max and then stuck in every interior amenity that would fit. A retractable power hardtop lets you feel the breeze as you power over the road.
Inside, notable highlights include a 7-inch color touch screen mounted in the upper center console, giving the driver and passenger access to DVD navigation (with voice recognition) and DVD entertainment (the latter available in Park position only—for obvious reasons), dual-zone automatic climate control, OnStar, adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery on heated/cooled multi-way powered bucket seats, comprehensive memory settings, wood trim, heated power mirrors w/tilt-down back-up aid and driver-side automatic day/night, head-up instrument display, rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers, hi-intensity bi-xenon headlights, fog lights, cornering lights and 235/50WR18 run-flat tires on alloy wheels.
Optional XM Satellite Radio compliments a world-class, nine-speaker Bose audio system with a six-CD/DVD in-dash changer and digital signal processing modes. But if you don’t feel like blasting music, you can always listen to the steady purr of 320 horses at the tip of your feet.
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Cadillac XLR Buying Resources...
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2005 Cadillac Buying Guides:
• 2005 Cadillac CTS
• 2005 Cadillac DeVille
• 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV
• 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
• 2005 Cadillac Escalade
• 2005 Cadillac SRX
• 2005 Cadillac STS
• 2005 Cadillac XLR |
