Automaker has solved one of the most annoying problems with modern cars

pulse

February 2, 2017 3:04 PM

Having driven a few Cadillacs in recent months, I noticed the New York-based luxury brand is doing some interesting stuff with phone storage.

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I dont feel like Im alone when I say my cellphone and I are inseparable. This also applies when Im commuting by car.

Although handheld phone use is against the law in many parts of the country, Bluetooth hands-free technology allows the driving public to make calls with fewer distractions.

But the problem is where to store those phones. As prevalent as mobile phones have become over the last decade and a half, carmakers have lagged in phone storage solutions.

Last May, I had a chance to check out Cadillac's new XT5 crossover SUV.

As I stepped into the XT5's well-appointed cabin, I immediately looked for somewhere to put my phone.

The natural first choice is to put the phone in the cup holders, but that greatly detracts from their utility.

Then I noticed a little slot under the center armrest.

Jackpot! It's a cellphone holder — as indicated by this instructional pictogram.

The slot is large enough to fit an iPhone 6S.

It also features a removable sleeve that expands the phone holder's capacity.

In the slot, the phone is out of the way and doesn't impede the car's operation. At the same time, the phone is also readily available when its presence is requested.

The phone can also be charged in the holder by connecting it to one of the USB or power plugs inside the center storage unit. Even better, the storage unit hides those unsightly cables.

The XT5 isn't the only Caddy with this feature — I also encountered the phone holder in Cadillac's new CT6 flagship sedan when I drove the car in July.

Here it is!

In early 2016, I drove Cadillac's ATS-V sports coupe. It was an absolute beast on the road. Powerful and composed, it's a world-class sports car.

Since the ATS coupe — which the ATS-V is based on — has been around for a few years, this car did not have a phone slot ...

... however, it had a hidden smuggler's box behind the infotainment screen that's designed to hold and wirelessly charge your phone. But the box can't really fit anything larger than an iPhone 6S sans case. Several other recent General Motors offerings have the box, too.

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