Cadillac is best known for its luxury sedans; behemoths of the road which always get perfect scores in luxury and safety departments but struggle to compete when it comes to power and manoeuvrability. It’s understandable for Cadillac ask why they can’t have a piece of the luxury sport market, and their answer comes as the 2009 Cadillac XLR.

The ‘09 XLR returns to the ring for the sixth year since its inception, to compete with heavyweights like the Mercedes-Benz SL550, Jaguar XK and Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet. Can it beat these herculean models in a straight out engine battle? No, but the XLR’s got more to bring to this fight than pure guts.

As ever, Cadillac has outfitted the XLR with exceptional safety and luxury features: Heated seats and steering wheel, BOSE surround sound, satellite radio, OnStar, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control and a futuristic heads up display to name just a few. It’s also beautifully finished, with high quality fabrics and leather throughout. The XLR wins in the luxury category.

The 4.6-liter V8 and six-speed automatic creates a satisfying 320 hp of thrust, propelling the roadster up to 60mph in just under 6 seconds. While it’s certainly no slouch, the 2009 Cadillac XLR doesn’t eat up the corners like others in its class can, but it’s only mildly underperforming, and it’s easily arguable that the added value of the luxury features make it a good value purchase.