2016 Cadillac ELR Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Forget what you may have heard about the Cadillac ELR. If you ever have a chance to stand next to one in person, just step back and look at it for a while. Many automotive writers say it's the best looking car in the GM lineup. Looks are subjective, but when you see it in the wild, the Cadillac ELR is stunning.
The 2016 Cadillac ELR is a front-wheel-drive (FWD), 2-passenger extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). It can drive about 39 miles on electricity alone. The vehicle also has an onboard 1.4-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine that aids in the propulsion of the car indirectly, and at times sort of directly. For the most part, the gas engine charges the battery and lets the electric drivetrain do the pushing. In combination, a fully charged ELR with a full tank of gasoline can go 330 miles before stopping to re-fuel and re-charge, meaning it should cause no range anxiety. At any point, the driver can stop and refill the gasoline tank and drive on. That said, most Volt owners, and presumably ELR owners, use their car as an electric-only vehicle and rely on the gas engine only in the odd road-trip scenario.
The 2016 Cadillac ELR is significantly updated compared to its 2014 debut version (which covered the 2015 model year as well). Almost every mechanical aspect of the car has changed for the better and, like most EVs, its price has dropped significantly. Having previously shared its drivetrain for the most part with the Chevy Volt, the two are now more different, since the Volt has a generation-2 Voltec drive and the Cadillac ELR stays with the first generation in a newly revised form.
Let’s start the list of changes with the most frequently cited cause of the ELR’s poor sales: price. For 2016, the ELR drops in price to $65,995. The ELR qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax deduction (assuming you do), so the number GM wants you to have in mind as a starting point is $58,495. Many states, including California, add more taxpayer dollars to the kickback, so let’s say the ELR will cost buyers roughly $55K after tax considerations and dealer cash on the dash. That puts the ELR neatly in between the price of a range-extended (REx) BMW i3 and a basic Tesla Model S.
The 2016 Cadillac ELR’s mechanical changes are huge. The drivetrain has been reprogrammed, and the result is a 4 mile gain in range and a small increase in its MPGe to about 85. Instant torque is now up to 373 lb-ft, and together the engine and motor make about 233 hp. This results in a 1.5-second drop in 0-60 mph time, to about 6.4 seconds. That’s quick, and for an EV, very quick. The only EV a lot faster than the ELR is the performance version of a Tesla Model S.
Cadillac didn’t stop with just a boost in power. The company completely re-tuned the elaborate suspension of the ELR, changed its electronic steering, improved its brakes, and much more. Another new aspect is the addition of a sport package that adds 20-inch summer-only tires, Brembo brakes, special sport tuning for the suspension, and a meatier steering wheel.
The steering wheel controls one of Cadillac’s nifty EV tricks. Instead of using the car’s wheel-mounted paddle shifters to shift the transmission, the ELR uses them to control the amount of regenerative braking the car does. Regenerative braking uses the drivetrain in generator mode. It slows the car and adds juice back to the battery at the same time. This cool feature lets the driver actively participate in the process.
Inside, the ELR sports cut-and-sewn trim that can include semi-aniline leather. Suede microfiber is used in the headliner and trim, just like on GM’s other special cars. Like most GM products, the 2016 ELR also gets 4G LTE connectivity. This means that Cadillac can offer real-time monitoring and software updates over the air (like in a Tesla), and your passenger can stream movies on Netflix.
Cadillac had a slow start entering the luxury electric-car world, and the 2015 ELR was a flop; there're no two ways about it. However, GM is deeply committed to making its green cars class competitive. The changes to the ELR are so significant, it's well worth a new look with an open mind.
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2016 Cadillac ELR Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · Premium Brand: Bose · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 9
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.5 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Center console trim: leather · Dash trim: leather · Door sill trim: aluminum · Door trim: leather · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Center console: rear console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: voice recognition controls · Storage: bin · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.16
Engine
Battery: maintenance-free · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 233 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 174 · Electric Motor Torque: 373 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator Displacement: 1.4 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator HP: 84 · Electric Vehicle Extended Range Generator Number of Cylinders: 4 · Electric motor charging time: 5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 39
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: hidden exhaust · Exhaust tip color: metallic · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black with chrome accents · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: power operated · Window trim: silver
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: CUE · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: automatic high beam dimmer · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: front · Parking sensors: rear · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: leather
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.4 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.5
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: ride control · Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: Turn-by-Turn Navigation · Smart device app function: engine start · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel locks: front and rear · Wheel spokes: 7
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Laminated glass: acoustic