A common topic of interest for Cadillac vehicles are Platinum models. So, we decided to explain, in great detail, what Cadillac Platinum vehicles are all about, what they include, and how they’re configured.
What It Is
Simply put, Platinum Cadillac models are the most range-topping equipment groups available in Cadillac vehicles. In other words, a Platinum Cadillac is one that’s fully-loaded, with a price to match.
What It Was
In the past, Platinum was a standalone trim level, as was the case on the Cadillac XTS, CT6, Escalade (2015-2020), and XT5 (2017-2019). Recently, however, Cadillac has reconfigured Platinum to be a standalone package, as part of its recently-established and subsequently-revised Y trim level strategy.
That means that the Platinum Package is now a standalone option on either Premium Luxury or Sport models. Note that the package is not offered on base Luxury trim models. Offering Platinum as a package gives buyers more flexibility, since they can choose the vehicle persona (Luxury or Sport) that they like better, without being forced into a one or the other, which was the case when Platinum was a standalone trim level slotting above Premium Luxury models. As a reminder, Premium Luxury models feature more traditional chrome/bright accent work, while Sport models feature a more modern, blacked-out appearance.
The Cadillac Platinum package is not offered on all Caddy models, but rather on a few select vehicles. Below, we specify what vehicles offer the Platinum package, and their contents.
Cadillac CT4
The Platinum Package is not offered on the all-new Cadillac CT4. It would appear that Cadillac believes that there is not enough “space” to offer such a package on its entry-level sedan.
Cadillac CT5
On the Cadillac CT5, Platinum is available as an optional package on the Premium Luxury, Sport and CT5-V models, the Platinum Package on the new CT5 delivers the following features:
On CT5 Premium Luxury
- Navigation and Bose Premium Audio Package
- Climate Package
- Lighting Package
- Parking Package
- Semi-Aniline leather seats
- Sedona Sauvage with Jet Black accents interior
- Twenty-Two Carbon Fiber trim decor
- Driver power lumbar massage
- Front passenger power lumbar massage
- Driver power seatback bolster adjustment
- Front passenger power seatback bolster adjustment
- Driver manual cushion length adjustment
- Front passenger manual cushion length adjustment
- Alloy pedals
- UltraView dual pane sunroof
On CT5 Sport:
- Navigation and Bose Premium Audio Package
- Climate Package
- Lighting Package
- Parking Package
- Semi-Aniline leather seats
- Sedona Sauvage with Jet Black accents interior
- Twenty-Two Carbon Fiber trim decor
- UltraView dual pane sunroof
On CT5-V:
- Parking Package
- Semi-Aniline leather seats
- Sedona Sauvage with Jet Black accents interior
- Exclusive Carbon Fiber trim decor
- UltraView dual pane sunroof
Cadillac CT6
On the Cadillac CT6, Platinum was a full-fledged trim level that represented the luxury brand’s previous approach of offering Platinum as a trim instead of a standalone package. Highlights of the trim included:
- Either the atmospheric 3.6L V6 LGX engine, twin-turbo 3.0L V6 LGW engine or the twin-turbo 4.2L V8 Blackwing LTA engine (depending on model year)
- Active rear wheel steering
- Trim level-specific, 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with Manoogian finish and chrome inserts
- Semi-Aniline Leather Seats with Chevron perforated inserts in Very Light Cashmere with Maple Sugar accents
- Black trunk/cargo area carpet mat
Cadillac XT4
Much like its sedan counterpart, the Cadillac XT4 does not offer a Platinum Package.
Cadillac XT5
There’s a bit of a backstory surrounding the Cadillac Platinum package and the XT5 crossover. For the 2017, 2018 and 2019 models years, Platinum was a trim level – much like for the CT6. But for the 2020 model year, the Cadillac XT5 finally adopted the Y trim level structure, which means that Platinum is now a standalone package on Premium Luxury and Sport trim levels.
On XT5 Premium Luxury:
- Semi-Aniline leather seating for all rows
- Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and door trim
- Microfiber sueded headliner
- Illuminated front door sill plates
- Front and rear premium carpeted floor mats
- Real-time damping suspension chassis
- Performance suspension
On XT5 Sport:
- Semi-Aniline leather seating for all rows
- Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and door trim
- Microfiber sueded headliner
- Illuminated front door sill plates
- Front and rear premium carpeted floor mats
Cadillac XT6
On the Cadillac XT6, the Platinum Package offers very similar features and equipment as on the XT5.
On XT6 Premium Luxury
- Semi-Aniline leather seating for all rows
- Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and door trim
- Microfiber sueded headliner
- Front and rear premium carpeted floor mats
- Real-time damping suspension chassis
- Performance suspension
On XT6 Sport:
- Semi-Aniline leather seating for all rows
- Leather-wrapped instrument panel, console and door trim
- Microfiber sueded headliner
- Front and rear premium carpeted floor mats
Cadillac Escalade
When it comes to the Cadillac Platinum Package, the Escalade is in the same boat as the XT5. For the outgoing-generation (2015-2020 model years), Platinum was a full-fledged trim level that delivered a loaded vehicle. However, the all-new, 2021 Escalade introduces the Y trim level structure to the full-size luxury SUV, transforming it into a standalone package available on Premium Luxury and Sport trims.
The packages have the following content on both Premium Luxury and Sport models:
- Opus semi-aniline leather seating on first and second rows, Mulan leather for third row
- 16-way power front seats with massage function
- AKG Studio Reference 36-speaker audio system
- Soft-close doors
- Electronic limited-slip differential
- Magnetic Ride Control
- Four-corner air-ride adaptive suspension with selectable modes
- Trailering integration package, includes integrated brake controller, hitch assist guidelines, trailering app and camera
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
- Reverse Automatic Braking
- Automatic Safety Belt Tightening
Cadillac ATS
Platinum was never offered on the now-discontinued ATS, in either Sedan or Coupe body styles. The same holds true for the hot-to-trot ATS-V variants of both the ATS Sedan and ATS Coupe.
Cadillac CTS
Much like with the ATS, the now-discontinued, third-generation CTS did not offer a Platinum package. However, such a package was briefly available for the second-generation CTS, known as the CTS platinum edition package.
Cadillac XTS
The discontinued Cadillac XTS did offer Platinum, albeit as a trim level. The package included many features and options as standard.
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Comments
Platinum means super premium model that sits at the very top and given that the 2020 Chevrolet Surburaban Premier Plus with 6.2L V8 commands a price of $84K; paying $11K more for a Cadillac Escalade Premium isn’t insane as the Cadillac will have a lot of interesting toys that the Chevy will lack.
Unfortunately on the CT5 a platinum package means only have one choice of color for the interior. Brown.
I don’t remember this CTS Platinum. What year was that?
A loaded Premium Luxury CT5 350T (2.0T) is about $54k, about $4k less than the Platinum version. Just going on the configurator and fully pricing a CT4 350T (ugh), it’s about $48k. The only thing the Platinum trim adds to the fully loaded Premium Luxury trim is the nicer leather seats. Personally, if I were looking in that $55k range, I’d go a size up with the CT5.
No matter what kind of spin one wants to put on this, it is simply another change in direction for Cadillac. They honestly can’t stick to anything longer than five minutes. Now Platinum is an options package that can be attached to either a Sport or Luxury version of one of their dizzingly renamed products. I really don’t care honestly but at some point the folks running GM are going to have to make some commitments and stick to them.
Certainly, the Platinum level is a major step up in content and price. The biggest issue is marketing.
For most of the general public, as well as prospective buyers of top of the line vehicles, is that there’s no badging to let them (or their neighbors or passerbys) know that this is the “best”. (This has been true on pre-2020 versions…I can’t comment on all of the current versions.) The average Joe doesn’t necessarily notice a different grill or different wheel design, or changes to seat upholstery–only car buffs. But they’ll notice exterior and interior labels and plaques, even simple ones.
Isn’t part of driving “the best” letting everyone know you’ve got the taste and resources to acquire it? Europeans may remove badging to hide their vehicle’s rank, but that’s never been part of American luxury’s approach.
Publicly labeling the vehicles would help both increase brand awareness and enhance perceived luxury credentials for the vehicles. And, it may actually add a “halo effect” to subconsciously increase owner satisfaction with their vehicle choice.
Just another example of Cadillac thinking by adding a Crest to a vehicle you can charge more .
This sounds similar to Lincoln’s Black Label minus even more luxury attributes .
My 2020 CT6 Platinum had a higher MSRP than the 2020 CT6 V. The CT6 V build was just shy of $98,000. My 2020 CT6 Platinum was $103,000+.
The difference being Semi-analine leather, Super Cruise, and Appearance package (wheels and trunk lid wing)…….
The Blackwing engine is a new dimension for Cadillac. Two totally unique Cadillacs the likes of which you will never see again……the CT6 Blackwing, and the CTS-V.
Under Mary Bara GM Sucks.
Didn’t the Platinum Escalade showed up long before that, around the 2004 with the platinum edition?