First Impressions of the Cadillac XLR for 2005

The restyled XLR Base is equipped with a General Motors 4.6-liter 8-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 32 valves. The Northstar engine is paired with a General Motors 5-speed transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Cadillac.

The XLR uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses leaf and leaf springs front and rear respectively.

XLR Base Statistics

The dimensions of the XLR Base are 72.30 inches wide by 177.70 inches long. It sits a comfortable 50.40 inches off the ground. It seats a standard two passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 105.70 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

There is a 50,000 mile, 48 month warranty with this vehicle, including a powertrain warranty of 50,000/48 miles/months. This is normal for this price range.

The OEM suggested retail price (MSRP) was $75,835 when new. The dealer cost on the car was $70,147. This price was in line with the industry standard price for a 2-door Convertible.

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel is handled for the XLR is a SFI design, running on gasoline fuel. The gasoline is handled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 18.00 gallons.

The XLR Base received an fuel efficiency rating of 17 MPG driving in the city and 25 when it came to distance driving. The gas-powered XLR is a non-green car.

In Summary

The 2005 model year was unsuccessful for the Cadillac XLR. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the Base version) meant that buyers had several options to choose from..