Two big, opulent American sedans fall
short of expectations
A face-off between the
Flagship luxury sedans from Cadillac and Lincoln used to be a center-ring
event. Not anymore. With German and Asian automakers continually raising the
bar iin this category, the new Cadillac XTS and the updated Lincoln MKS are now
little more than a sideshow among more inviting and higher-rated models
Cadillac XTS Vs. Lincoln MKS
Of the two, the XTS is
a considerably better car. But its 79 overall road-test score still places it
near the bottom of this competitive class and well short of the top-rated Audi
A6 and Infiniti M37. The MKS scores too low for us to recommend and sits in the
cellar of our luxury-sedan ratings.
The $57,200 XTS
replaces the plush DTS and sporty STS sedans at the top of Cadillac’s lineup. It
is wonderfully luxurious, with a very spacious and well-appointed cabin and a
roomy trunk. But the car lacks the silky ride you’d expect from a big Caddy, and
although it handles well for its size, it doesn’t have the finesse or brawn of
the better German and Asian competitors.
The XTS is also
hampered by a new high-tech infotainment system called CUTE (for Cadillac User
Experience). The system is so convoluted and frustrating that it detracts from
the XTS’s pampering environment. Though the XTS scored well enough, we don’t’
recommend the model because it’s too new for us to have reliability data.
The XTS is a considerably better car
At $50,070 for our
loaded test car, the MKS costs much less than the XTS and offers plenty of
features. But they don’t’ make up for the car’s basic flaws, including a
cramped driving position and limited visibility. Moreover, handling is
ungainly, the ride is neither isolating nor adequately composed, and the
3.7-liter V6 engine is coarse. A recent update added the MyLincoln Touch
infotainment system, making the controls confusing, distracting, and
frustrating.
Buyers would do much
better with the roomy, well-appointed, and less expensive Chrysler 300 or
Hyundai’s Genesis or Equus.
The MKS scores too low for us to
recommend and sits in the cellar of our luxury-sedan ratings.
Less than supple
Though the XTS and the
MKS deliver great isolation from road noise, their engines can sound gruff when
pushed.
Neither car has a true
luxury-car ride. The XTS is not as velvety on the road as many competitors, and
its low-profile tires tend to slap a bit over road joints. A Sport mode
stiffens up the shocks some but doesn’t significantly ratchet up agility. The
MKS’s suspension allows impacts to come through harshly. It has three modes.
When driving in Comfort mode, undulations on the highway can make the car feel
float, like a boat riding over waves. The Normal mode quells the buoyancy but
amplifies some of the impacts. Sport mode only makes the MKS’s suspension feel
jittery.
The XTS has impressive handling for a
big luxury car, exhibiting little body lean.
The XTS has impressive
handling for a big luxury car, exhibiting little body lean. It navigated our
avoidance maneuver at a commendable speed. The MKS, on the other hand, felt
ponderous and lumbering, with little steering feedback. Electronic stability
control had to work overtime for our testers to thread the avoidance maneuver,
posting a low speed.
The cars have
six-speed automatic transmissions mated to their V6 engines. The XTS’s is
smooth and responsive. The MKS’s gearbox is less refined, with lagging shifts
that sometimes arrive with a thud. Both engines use regular fuel and deliver
similarly strong acceleration, although at 22 mpg overall the XTS is more fuel-efficient
than the MKS at 20.
All-wheel drive is
optional on the cars. A 365-hp turbocharged EcoBoost V6 is available in the
MKS; it delivers effortless acceleration
From cushy to complicated
The interiors have
abundant upscale materials, and the fit and finish is commendable is both cars.
The XTS’s interior is General Motor’s best effort to date and is comparable to
some of the finest interiors in this category.
Drivers have more than
room in the XTS. The Lincoln feels cramped, with a wide consoled and sill and
more instruction into left foot space. Each has a wide range of power seat and
steering-wheel adjustments.
Sightlines are
impaired in both cars, although the XTS has a standard backup camera. Small
window, thick pillars, and high windows make driving the MKS feel like sitting
inside a tank turret, and a backup is only optional. Both of our cars also came
with blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and rear cross-traffic
alert. Our XTS also has lane-departure waning. Many of those safety systems
sound an alert or set off a vibration in the Cadillac’s driver seat. That gets
your attention without alerting other occupants. But we found that it was
sometimes hard to identify which system was alerting us.
Cadillac’s CUE system is so frustrating
that it almost makes us pine for our MKS’s MyLincoln Touch.
The XTS’s front seats
are big and well-padded and provide good overall support. Cushions that adjust
for thigh support come on higher trim levels. Two passengers will find it
comfortable in back, but the bench isn’t quite wide enough to comfortably fit
three.
Front seats in our MKS
are supportive enough but are narrow and flat. The rear seat is roomy enough for
three, but the cushion’s support lags over time.
Cadillac’s CUE system
is so frustrating that it almost makes us pine for our MKS’s MyLincoln Touch.
Both replace almost all of the physical buttons and knobs in the cabin. Inputs
are made through a touch screen and by tapping flush surfaces. MyLincoln Touch
is somewhat easier to navigate; CUE has bigger fonts and clearer screens. But
neither system works well. The only redeeming qualities of the systems are the
voice controls and the ability to easily integrate mobile electronics.
Front seats in our MKS are supportive
enough but are narrow and flat
These large cars have
the spacious trunks you’d expect, but each has a small opening. Rear seats fold
down in 60/40 sections to create more room in the XTS. The MKS has only a small
pass-through.
