Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2009 Cadillac XLR lineup has two distinct personalities. The Platinum is the luxury-focused entry, built for comfortable top-down touring with a naturally aspirated V8, upscale cabin trim, and convenience technology. The XLR-V is the performance step-up, pairing the same two-seat retractable-hardtop layout with a supercharged V8, stronger brakes, and a sportier feel.
The Premium Luxury trim level, represented by the Platinum, is the comfort-focused XLR, with an upscale cabin and technology aimed at relaxed top-down touring.
Best for: Drivers who value luxury, comfort, and the retractable-hardtop experience more than maximum performance.
Highlights
The High Performance trim level, known as the XLR-V, is the quicker, sportier XLR, built around supercharged V8 power without giving up its luxury-roadster character.
Best for: Drivers who want the XLR's distinctive hardtop-convertible design with stronger acceleration and a firmer performance edge.
Highlights
Steps up from the Platinum with a supercharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 443 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque, plus performance-focused braking hardware.
0 in stock| Feature | Premium Luxury | High Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Includes | Platinum0 in stock | XLR-V0 in stock |
| Lineup focus | Comfort and top-down touring | Supercharged performance |
| Engine | 4.6-liter V8 | Supercharged 4.4-liter V8 |
| Horsepower | 320 hp | 443 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 414 lb-ft |
| City/highway fuel economy | 15/24 mpg | 14/23 mpg |
The final lineup had two trims: Platinum and XLR-V. Platinum emphasized luxury and comfort with the standard V8, while XLR-V added a supercharged engine and stronger performance hardware.
In the final-year lineup, Platinum is the luxury-focused XLR. It pairs a 320-hp 4.6-liter V8 with rich leather and wood cabin trim, adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated seats, and the retractable hardtop.
The XLR-V is the performance-focused version. It combines a 443-hp supercharged 4.4-liter V8 with a six-speed automatic, stronger brakes, adaptive suspension, and the same two-seat retractable-hardtop layout.
The main difference is performance. In the final lineup, Platinum uses a 320-hp 4.6-liter V8 and emphasizes luxury, while XLR-V uses a 443-hp supercharged 4.4-liter V8 with stronger brakes and a firmer performance character.
It adds the supercharged 443-hp V8, a six-speed automatic with manual shift control, performance four-wheel disc brakes, and a more aggressive V-Series identity. The power-retractable roof and luxury cabin remain.
No. The XLR-V has meaningful mechanical changes, led by its supercharged 4.4-liter V8 and performance brakes. It is the quicker, more performance-focused XLR, not simply a cosmetic version.
Platinum is the more natural fit. In the final lineup, it emphasizes comfort, upscale cabin trim, adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated seats, and smooth V8 touring rather than maximum performance.
Look for the XLR-V. Its supercharged 4.4-liter V8 makes 443 hp, compared with 320 hp from the Platinum's 4.6-liter V8 in the final lineup.
Platinum does. It uses the standard 4.6-liter V8 while retaining major comfort and technology features, including adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise control, navigation, Bose audio, and heated and ventilated seats.
Yes. Both Platinum and XLR-V in the final lineup have a power-retractable hardtop, so the roof design is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Yes. Both final-lineup trims have heated and ventilated eight-way power leather seats, so either one provides the XLR's core seat-comfort features.
Yes. In the final lineup, both Platinum and XLR-V include a 6.5-inch touchscreen navigation system with a nine-speaker Bose audio system.
Yes. Both final-lineup trims use Magnetic Ride Control, an adaptive suspension that adjusts the dampers as the car is driven. The XLR-V still has the stronger performance emphasis.