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2004 Cadillac XLR Road Test

Big League Caddy Measures Up

I knew Cadillac could do it. In most ways the XLR is as good as any imported roadster. In some ways its even better.

Whoa is it gorgeous. Everyone who sees it loves it, even those that dont like Cadillacs new art & science approach to styling. Somehow all the sharp edges come together to form a certain grace of presence its angular sedan and SUV siblings dont pull off quite as effortlessly.

Im all for Cadillac pushing the pricing stratosphere as long as it can deliver. Its new models have come so far in driving dynamics in the past few years that the crested wreath brand is now being considered as sporting as Audi, BMW and Infiniti, while surpassing more luxurious brands such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, at least in public perception.

Part of that perception is Cadillacs racy styling. A car has

This gorgeous attention-getter proves that Cadillac can deliver a roadster that warrants stratospheric pricing. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

to look fast standing still, and not many roadsters look faster than the XLR. But really, how racy is it? Plenty! Not only is its throaty Northstar V8 packed with a raucous punch anytime the right foot presses into the throttle, producing a formidable 320-hp at 6,400 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, but at 3,607 pounds its considerably lighter than any of its competition.

This makes the XLR feel sportier than either the 3,840 pound Lexus SC 430 or 4,065 pound Mercedes-Benz SL500. But is it really? Acceleration tests show the Cadillac and

The XLRs throaty Northstar V8 produces a formidable 320-hp at 6,400 rpm and 310 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

Lexus in a dead heat to 60 mph, arriving in 6.4 seconds. The M-B eclipses both by 0.2 seconds for a 6.2 second run, despite weighing 458 pounds more.

Is it all about horsepower? Not at all, as the XLR pushed 18 additional stallions than the SL and 20 more than the SC. It comes down to torque, with both the Lexus and Mercedes besting the Cadillac by 15 and 29 lb-ft respectively. The M-Bs transmission might have something to do with its snappy acceleration too, being the only vehicle in the group to sport a 7-speed automatic. Cadillac and Lexus make do with 5-speed automatics, but unlike the domestic and German roadsters the Japanese

The XLR is of course fast, but also wonderfully stable at high speeds on long stretches of open freeway or while winding through deserted back roads. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

doesnt offer a sequential shifting auto gearbox, only a gated shifter. One point though, while the Cadillac manu-matic shifted well there was no visible indication of what gear I was in to be found anywhere. I found this disconcerting. Fortunately a tachometer is provided, something I rarely use in automatic equipped cars.

But who really cares about zero to 60 mph bragging rights. The fact is theyre all pretty close and all very quick. What matters to a true sports car enthusiast is how a car handles. The XLR feels crisp and athletic again, while wonderfully stable at high speeds on long stretches of open freeway or while winding through deserted back roads.

And theres a reason

The secret to the XLRs great handling is that its chassis architecture is pulled from Americas longest running sports car, the Corvette. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

the XLR does so well in the corners. Its chassis architecture is pulled from Americas longest running sports car, the Corvette. That includes the legendary models control-arm, transverse-leaf-spring suspension system and Magnetic Ride Control shock absorbers. Theyre tuned to better suit Cadillacs upscale image for sure, but its still a dedicated sports car through and through. The XLRs slightly longer wheelbase and longer front and rear wheel travel makes a difference too, softening up severe bumps and ironing out pavement irregularities.

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