Vital Stats

1.4L I4, 154 kW Motor
207 HP / 295 LB-FT
Single Speed
0-60 Time:
8.0 Seconds (est.)
Front-Wheel Drive
Curb Weight:
4,050 LBS (est.)
Base Price:



2015 Cadillac ELR2015 Cadillac ELR2015 Cadillac ELR

Face-to-face with Cadillac's newest, it is hard to not be impressed with its appearance. The coupe has a wonderful stance, excellent proportions and the full LED exterior illumination looks spectacular. Even the mirrors, which are the most obvious change from the concept, seemed perfectly sculpted and the design team has artfully integrated the turn signals into their housings (the same LED strips illuminate as charge indicators when the vehicle is plugged-in). The 20-inch alloys were a must-have carryover, explained a Cadillac executive, and they appear to have been well worth the additional headaches they may have caused during the design phase.

I would argue that the ELR's cockpit is Cadillac's most luxurious to date.

Thankfully, the cabin doesn't disappoint either. The interior is an inviting mix of beautiful high-quality leather and sueded microfiber, with bright chrome, genuine wood and carbon-fiber accents offered in a variety of packages - I would argue that the ELR's cockpit is Cadillac's most luxurious to date. The ELR and CTS share much inside, including the steering wheel design, CUE infotainment, center console and switchgear layout. The seats, with the exception of the upholstery pattern and minor functionality, also appear to share frames with those in the CTS.

While Cadillac has thoughtfully put four seats inside the ELR, only the front are fit to be occupied by an adult (the automaker acknowledges its 2+2 configuration). I found both the driver and front passenger seating position exceptionally comfortable, with plenty of leg, shoulder and head room for my six-foot two-inch frame. I climbed into the rear seats, which are comfortable buckets for the lower half of the torso, but I was unable to sit upright without my head pressing awkwardly, and uncomfortably, against the roof. Overall, the choice of materials, fit and finish seemed very good - "world class" is a well-deserved and appropriate description.

2015 Cadillac ELR2015 Cadillac ELR2015 Cadillac ELR2015 Cadillac ELR

The primary instrument cluster is a flat-panel display with a bright chrome ring in the middle for dimensional contrast. State-of-charge for the battery is a green LED-segment on the left, while the right features a blue LED-segment for the gasoline level. The center of the screen is a full-color multifunction display that is very easy to read, even through polarized sunglasses.

Cadillac's CUE infotainment system with navigation is standard. The capacitive touch and haptic feedback flat-panel display occupies all of the vertical real estate in the center stack. I have experienced CUE in the ATS, CTS and XTS - the identical system in the ELR is equally as frustrating to use as the buttons are difficult to actuate and slow to respond, while the gloss black surface quickly becomes covered in fingerprints. Immediately below the CUE is a traditional shift lever (PRNDL) with a button to select one of four driving modes.

The battery sends its juice to a 207 horsepower primary drive motor powering the front wheels, which is a nice bump in power over the Volt.

Beneath the skin, GM's Voltec powertrain technology was carried over mostly unchanged from its operation in the Volt, with the exception of a bump in power that is done purely through the software. The nucleus of the system is a T-shaped, 435-pound, 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that is mounted low and along the centerline of the vehicle. The battery sends its juice to a 154 kW (207 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque) primary drive motor powering the front wheels, which is a nice bump in power over the Volt (the same motor produces 149 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque in the Chevrolet).

When the battery is discharged, a 1.4-liter gasoline-fed internal combustion engine (GM's EcoFLEX LUU), rated at 84 horsepower, is tasked with turning an electric generator to provide the necessary energy for propulsion. The front wheels are driven through a planetary gearset, which links everything together. Technically speaking, there is a physical connection between the engine and the wheels, but the ELR is considered a series hybrid as the power is not direct - the engine revolutions are unrelated to the speed of the vehicle.

2015 Cadillac ELR

According to Cadillac, the ELR will deliver an electric vehicle (EV) range of about 35 miles, which is slightly less than the Volt's 38 miles due to the higher power output. After the battery is discharged, the combustion engine will fire up to deliver a combined estimated range of 345 miles, a figure that also falls short of the Volt's 380-mile combined range. A 120-volt travel charger will restore the ELR's battery in about 15 hours, while a 240-volt charging station will do the same task in about five hours. Cadillac estimates fuel economy at 33 miles per gallon combined, and 82 MPGe in EV mode.

The suspension offers continuously variable real-time damping with several driver-selectable modes.

With regards to the other mechanical bits, the engineering team has chosen GM's HiPer Strut for the front suspension and a simpler beam axle with Watts linkage in the rear. The suspension offers continuously variable real-time damping with several driver-selectable modes that also alter steering and powertrain response. The steering is electrically assisted rack-and-pinion, and the 20-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in 245/40R20 all-season Bridgestone tires, with a custom rubber compound.

As mentioned, the ELR offers four different driving modes: Tour, Sport, Mountain and Hold. Tour mode is the default setting, and it provides the greatest powertrain efficiently and softest damping. Sport mode improves throttle response, and improves feedback with more aggressive steering and suspension settings. Mountain mode is engineered to provide more power in mountainous environments by sustaining a sufficient state of charge in the battery so its power is always available. Lastly, Hold mode allows the driver to direct the power system to preserve the battery power for later use (e.g., the driver wants to drive in EV mode at the end of a long highway trip). Lastly, the engineers have put paddles on the back of the steering wheel for the ELR's unique "Regen on Demand" feature. Both paddles are held to activate aggressive regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle and simultaneously sends charging power back to the battery.

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With the drive mode left in its default Tour setting, the Cadillac will operate as an EV until its battery is fully discharged. The ELR has more power than the Volt, but it also lugs around an additional 300 pounds of mass. Even so, acceleration off the line is spirited, with a sprint to 60 miles per hour taking about eight seconds (one second quicker than the Volt) under battery power and slightly quicker when the combustion engine is running. Mid-range power is good too; credit goes to the electric motor's abundant reserve of torque.

Under pure battery power, the driving experience was serene, majestic and relaxing.

The ELR makes a wondrous EV. During combustion-free operation, there is no sound or even an electric whine emanating from the engine compartment. Thanks to active noise cancelling from the standard premium Bose 10-channel audio system, the only audible annoyances permeating the cabin are from the wind rushing around the mirrors and the softened patter of the tires against broken pavement. Under pure battery power, the driving experience was serene, majestic and relaxing.

My driving evaluation began with turning the Cadillac north and pointing its nose up one of Southern California's famed canyon roads. The ELR handled the sweeping corners with confidence, its wide track and low stance contributing to its stability. The steering was light, but felt stable and the tires were easy to place. Only when pushed into corners far faster than what any sane owner would attempt with a 4,000-plus-pound hybrid did the tires squeal in protest, their tread blocks rebelling with understeer.

2015 Cadillac ELR

Unfortunately, after 28 miles had passed beneath the ELR's nearly flush belly pan, the lithium-ion battery pack was exhausted and the combustion engine fired up. The ensuing racket shattered the silence.

The soundtrack from the gasoline-fed four was hurried, anxious and unrefined.

With the ELR now in Mountain mode and the battery pack showing zero range, the Cadillac climbed the road up into the Santa Monica Mountains with the 1.4-liter EcoFlex racing away on the other side of the firewall. While the power under my right foot hadn't noticeably changed, the soundtrack from the gasoline-fed four was hurried, anxious and unrefined, especially when I pushed the coupe harder up the canyon. After several minutes of an admittedly strenuous climb, the engine seemed to be holding noisily at about 4,500 rpm (there is no tachometer, so this is an estimate). The unpleasant noise flooded the passenger compartment.

The engine droned annoyingly for the next hour as I played on the famed Mulholland Highway, going up and down the windy canyons like a slot car. I put the ELR through its paces, testing the effective brakes and really enjoying the surprisingly useful Regen on Demand feature. Overall, the ELR was fun to drive, but I couldn't shake the bothersome combustion clatter. Only when the road flattened out did the engine's pace subside to a bearable level, and some tranquility was restored. I turned on the audio system, which drowned it out even more, and headed back with the flowing traffic.

2015 Cadillac ELR

In the end, the Cadillac ELR left me frustrated and disheartened.

Even though we had started on a good note, in the end, the Cadillac ELR left me frustrated and disheartened. While its sleek sheetmetal and luxurious appointments had my heart racing, its lack of innovation where eyes don't peer is inexcusable in the premium segment.

There are many impressive pure electric and hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles on the market today (the Tesla Model S and Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, for instance), and just around the corner (the Audi A3 e-tron comes immediately to mind), but the ELR isn't one of them. GM's misstep is that the company is peddling the Chevrolet Volt's five-year-old E-REV technology in its brand-new 2014 Cadillac ELR, and then asking $75,995 for the privilege. The company is clearly hoping the coupe's exquisite styling will overshadow its uninspired powertrain, but in this case, its beauty is only skin deep.

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    • 1 Second Ago
      • 1 Year Ago
      If GM had done the ELR first five years ago for $75k it might have been viewed more favorably. But now it is looked upon as a $40k surcharge to the Volt. And I honestly don't see where the $40k went.
        • 1 Year Ago
        I agree, back then it might have made some sense at this price. Now, the Tesla Model S reset the playing field and this just won't work at that price...
        • 1 Year Ago
        Bingo. Moreover, they could have charged more for the Volt, banking on the pedigree of the ELR.
        • 1 Year Ago
        I still think the Volt's only mistep was that it wasn't a "4 door" Cadillac ELR at a price point of $42k instead of $35k for the volt. Then it wouldn't be compared to the Lexus HS250 which was a disaster sales wise, but had credible buyers at that price point similar to how the ES300h is doing today.
      • 1 Year Ago
      Mike - if I read this correctly, you didn't engage Mountain Mode until the battery was already drained. I've done this in the Volt before, the engine immediately starts working to pump an extra ~10 miles worth of energy back into the battery. Normally, if you engage mountain mode in advance of draining the batteries and hitting the mountains, the car simply holds onto those extra 10 miles so that the engine doesn't need to work so hard to keep up on the climb. I tried both methods within two days going up a 2700ft steep climb, the first day only engaging mountain mode at the last minute, the second time turning it on in advance. The first day had the engine racing as you described it, an unpleasant experience, but the next day the car handled the climb beautifully, without sounding like it was working particularly hard at all. Unfortunately, until we get some really clever nav system integration, there's no way for the car to handle this situation without some foresight on the part of the driver, but I think you would have had a much better impression of the car had you had a little more training around this feature.
        Michael Harley
        • 1 Year Ago
        You are correct. I didn't engage "Mountain Mode" until the battery was dead (in my defense, Cadillac never suggested to anyone that we hit the button before climbing the hill). It would make sense that the GPS/Altimeter realize that the ELR/Volt is climbing and automatically switch modes... that would have made a difference. Even so, the ELR's hybrid powertrain is outdated. That was my big issue. - Mike
          • 1 Year Ago
          @Michael Harley
          Thanks for the response. It might have even been better if you had just stayed out of Mountain Mode entirely. As soon as you turned it on, not only was the engine trying to keep up with the climbing, but it was also scrambling to try to cram that 10 mile buffer back into the battery at the same time.
      • 1 Year Ago
      In hindsight, this is probably the reason that GM should've come out with the ELR before the Volt. You release the ELR first and the thinking is, "it's $70k because it's new technology and the price will come down eventually." Then once the Volt comes out they can impress a lot more people with its $35k price tag. Tesla got this idea right, and GM would've been wise to do it as well.
        • 1 Year Ago
        I think in a different economic situation, that plan would be great. But in the aftershocks of a recession and GM's bailout, could you imagine the political fallout of tax credits for rich people buying $75k Cadillacs?
      • 1 Year Ago
      This should have started at $45,000. The price of this being $76K is laughable, you really could almost buy a current CTS Coupe and a Volt for the same money. Huge mistake by GM.
      • 1 Year Ago
      I just don't get what they are thinking with the price. If it was in the 60-65K range, the rough powertrain would still be an issue, but the cost would seem a somewhat reasonable and more honest proposition for the style it has. At 75K it borders on scam, especially with Tesla around.
      • 1 Year Ago
      I just can't believe they would price this car like this. It's insane. They could have priced this around $50k after rebate and stolen tons of sales from cars like the BMW 4 series and Audi A5. This could have been hugely popular in Los Angeles at the right price. At this price it's destined to meet the same fate as the XLR.
      Cameron Huntsucker
      • 1 Year Ago
      As a Volt owner, I am TRULY shocked they didn't apply some effort to quieting down the Engine. I rarely have to turn on the engine, but whenever it goes into Mountain Mode it's horribly obnoxious. "hold" mode isn't as noisy, as it's a constantly lower-RPM hum and start-stops at lights, but Mountain Mode is all about recharging NOW, so the engine revs high constantly and the generator goes on high-resistance, so the engine is working HARD, even at stop lights. It absolutely should have been insulated accordingly for the Cadillac, preferrably mechanically smoothed out. Perhaps Cadillac is confident that it's owners are short-trippers and the engine won't be a concern. Or, that the engine won't go into "mountain mode" on the test drive. I'm very worried about the success of this beautiful product.
        • 1 Year Ago
        @Cameron Huntsucker
        The main problem with mountain mode is people turn it on AFTER they go into the mountains. AB did it, my friend did it, and possibly you did it too. The idea of mountain mode is to hold a larger power reserve going in. If you engage it after the battery is already low you will ensure the engine runs at higher RPM even when stopped. If you engage it earlier, then there is a decent chance the engine will be able to spend some time at lower revs, only going to high revs when you are actually climbing.
          • 1 Year Ago
          That makes sense. That said, obviously GM has an education problem on its hands here. If all of their customers do it wrong then they are doing something wrong.
      • 1 Year Ago
      The summary I got for this car from the reviews is. Positives: Looks great Great interior (quality/fit/finish) Better performance than Volt while offering similar electric range (although given it's purely software changes, they can easily make a sportier version of the Volt just by changing the software) Neutral (somewhat expected in this segment): Rear seat suitable only for kids Less practical trunk (no hatchback and a small opening) Poor rear visibility Negatives: Price Noisy engine Unsophisticated rear suspension (torsion beam when you can get IRS in an ATS) Same technology as Volt (rather than updated)
        • 1 Year Ago
      Eta Carinae
      • 1 Year Ago
      I see the reason why people are saying cadillac should have released the ELR before the volt but lets look at that situation..........5 years ago in an era where GM was still getting it things together post bankruptcy and cadillac didn't have anything to offer beside the newly released 08' CTS........if the ELR would have came out at this time it would have been ridiculed for GM still playing by its old handbook and probably would have been talked badly more then to its release that cadillac has its foundation solidified (ATS, CTS) and has a better brand image now the ELR might have a slim chance at sucess which would be slim to none in the past.......hopefully the next gen. ELR will be longer, wider and more sportier or at least have a hell of a refresh....because the product at hand, even though it is drop dead gorgeous doesn't warrent that price tag....
      • 1 Year Ago
      This car is what it is. But it's price point will kill it. Forget about comparisons to Tesla and Porsche. Just look around the Cadillac showroom. This is the most expensive car in their lineup. Is it the best? No. Some might say it's even the worst. The pricing makes no sense. At all.
        • 1 Year Ago
        Price it between the the ATS and CTS and you might see some sales.
      • 1 Year Ago
      It is a very nice car and grossly over priced.... I think it would sell well in the $50-60K range, but $76K is insane. Anyone serious about a plug in car is going to pick the Model S for about the same price. They might sell a few hundred out of the gate, but it will quickly drop well below 100 monthly sales after the first month or to... The irony is that if GM had released this car when they released the Volt it would have probably have sold well even at this inflated price, but trying to compete with the Tesla Model S on price in this market is not a good idea. Tesla has altered the market and the Volt has set the price...
      • 1 Year Ago
      I have to admit that this car looks great... both inside and out. Looking forward to seeing it in person to confirm my initial impressions. But the $75k price tag is a little difficult to swallow. A loaded Volt will cost about $42k before any tax refunds, so my expectation for a Cadillac version is to cost no more than $15-20k. Start at $57k and top at $62k (with $5k worth of options).
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