“The 2018 Cadillac XTS is a premium quality automobile with all the luxuries and performance anyone could want. I am extremely proud of and satisfied with this vehicle.”
2018 Cadillac XTS: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2018 Cadillac XTS receives a mid-cycle refresh led by redesigned front and rear styling. It also gets quicker infotainment, more cabin sound insulation, and reworked front seats, while its engines carry over.
About the 2018 Cadillac XTS
1st generation XTS (2013-2019), mid-cycle refresh year; 2018 is the second-to-last model year.
Cadillac positions the XTS as a large, comfort-first luxury sedan. The core appeal is a quiet ride, a roomy cabin with generous rear-seat space, traditional Cadillac comfort, and upscale materials and tech without the sharper, sport-sedan focus of some rivals. For most shoppers, the XTS is the easy-driving long-distance cruiser in Cadillac’s sedan range, while the V-Sport version adds stronger acceleration without changing the model’s comfort-centered mission.
The 2018 XTS remains a large luxury sedan focused on quiet, comfortable travel. Luxury emphasizes comfort features such as heated and ventilated front seats, while Premium Luxury adds adaptive suspension, a head-up display, and broader driver-assist technology. Platinum brings massaging seats and richer materials, and V-Sport Platinum pairs those comforts with a 410-hp twin-turbo V6 and AWD.
What changed, by category
Styling
Cadillac redesigned the front and rear, made LED headlights and taillights standard, and revised the wheel designs.
Tech
The Cadillac touchscreen system received quicker responses and improved graphics.
Structural
Added sound insulation made the cabin quieter, and redesigned front seats improved comfort.
Powertrain
The engines carried over, but the V-Sport Premium Luxury trim was dropped. The 410-hp twin-turbo V6 continued in V-Sport Platinum.
2018 Cadillac XTS specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | V6, 3.6 Liter | V6, 3.6 Liter | V6, 3.6 Liter | V6, 3.6 Liter | V6, Twin Turbo, 3.6 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | 16 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg |
| Horsepower | 305 hp | 305 hp | 305 hp | 305 hp | 410 hp |
| Torque | 264 lb-ft | 264 lb-ft | 264 lb-ft | 264 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 18 cu-ft | 18 cu-ft | 18 cu-ft | 18 cu-ft | 18 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 40 in | 40 in | 40 in | 40 in | 40 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||
| Alarm System | |||||
| Automatic High Beams | |||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||
| Park Assist | |||||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | |||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||
| 360 Camera | |||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||
| Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors | |||||
| LED Headlights | |||||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | |||||
| Panorama Moon Roof | |||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | |||||
| Head-Up Display | |||||
| Navigation System | |||||
| Premium Audio | |||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | |||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||
| Heated Rear Seats | |||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||
| Leather Seats | |||||
| Massage Front Seat | |||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||||
| Memory Front Seats | |||||
| Memory Steering Wheel | |||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||||
| Rear Window Shades | |||||
| Remote Start | |||||
| Tri-Zone Automatic Air Conditioning | |||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | |||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2018 Cadillac XTS?
The biggest change is its refreshed exterior. Cadillac redesigned the front and rear, added standard LED headlights and taillights, and introduced revised wheel designs.
Did the 2018 Cadillac XTS get a new engine?
No, the engines carried over for 2018. Most trims use a 304-hp 3.6-liter V6, while V-Sport Platinum has a 410-hp twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6.
Which 2018 Cadillac XTS trim has the twin-turbo engine?
The 2018 XTS V-Sport Platinum has the 410-hp twin-turbo V6. It also has AWD, adaptive suspension, massaging front seats, and the Platinum trim's richer interior materials.
Was the XTS V-Sport Premium Luxury offered for 2018?
No, the V-Sport Premium Luxury trim was dropped for 2018. V-Sport Platinum remained as the XTS trim with the 410-hp twin-turbo V6.
Is the 2018 Cadillac XTS meaningfully different from the 2017 model?
Yes, mainly in styling, cabin comfort, and infotainment rather than performance. The 2018 has redesigned front and rear styling, standard LED lighting, a quicker touchscreen system, more sound insulation, and revised front seats, but its engines are unchanged.
2018 Cadillac XTS Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2018 Cadillac XTS.
4.2
2018 Cadillac XTS
(108 reviews)
“I love the quality of my car. It feels so well made and solid that it makes me love being in the car. Driving experience is excellent”
“I have owned 4 Cadillacs in my time, each year they design and comfort greatly improve. I am going to move from a sedan to an SUV.”