The Cadillac XLR is a two-seater built from 2003 to 2009. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the XLR is
The Cadillac XLR is a two-seater that Cadillac built from 2003 to 2009 — 7 model years. It has been offered with V8 power. Its closest sibling in the Cadillac range: Allante.
Where the XLR is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 73 XLRs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1G6 | 2004-2009 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Cadillac VIN decide which of these 1 lines your XLR belongs to. What every character in a XLR VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Cadillac XLR adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Cadillac XLR tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment XLR owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Cadillac XLR have? Power & range
The Cadillac XLR is offered with 1 powertrain — 4.6L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Cadillac XLR, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 4.6L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The XLR by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Cadillac XLR. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | XLR | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 12 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 80 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,575/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 32 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Cadillac XLR?
The XLR is a two-seater, built from 2003 to 2009. Engines offered: V8.
Where is the Cadillac XLR made?
Across 73 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Cadillac XLR warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the XLR reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific XLR?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Cadillac
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac Escalade | 1999–2026 | 128 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Cadillac CTS | 2003–2019 | 75 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Cadillac CT5 | 2020–2026 | 20 | 27 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Cadillac XT5 | 2017–2026 | 23 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Cadillac Deville | 1981–2005 | 50 | 19 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Cadillac Eldorado | 1981–2002 | 40 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |