Today is the age of online shopping. However, we have all experienced those times when we don’t want a package left at the door – it may be a gift for someone in your family, it may be raining and you don’t want it to get wet, or you may just not want to have it sitting in the open all day. Well, I’m here to tell you that if you shop from Amazon, those days are long past. With Amazon’s Key In-Car Delivery service, you can now have your packages delivered directly to your vehicle no matter where you are. This new feature is only available with vehicles from certain manufacturers, but every model at your local Cadillac dealer is ready to securely receive your packages while you are at work.
What Is It?
Amazon’s Key In-Car Delivery service is actually a really simple concept. When you order from Amazon, your packages will be delivered discreetly and securely to your vehicle without any action needed on your part beyond telling them where your car will be. Your packages won’t be left out in the open to be stolen, and the recipients of your gifts will be none the wiser.
Oh, and did I mention that this service is free? The only catch is that you must be an Amazon Prime member to activate this delivery service and own a recent Cadillac or other compatible vehicle. If you meet those requirements, then you are all set to start shopping online and having your packages delivered directly to your vehicle.
Let’s Talk Cars
The Key In-Car Delivery service is available for all Cadillac models from the 2015 model year and newer. Your vehicle must also have a valid connected services plan like OnStar in order for it to be eligible. Connected services are required because they provide the remote access needed for the delivery service to place the package safely inside your vehicle without needing a key. If you are unsure if you have connected services, common features include smartphone locking and unlocking, smartphone remote start technology, a mobile app with vehicle diagnostics, an onboard WiFi hotspot, and OnStar emergency services. Connected services also enable you to activate the Key app on your smartphone and connect it to your vehicle.
If you own a new Cadillac, the Key app can be used to allow in-car deliveries once you link your Amazon Prime account to your vehicle’s Owner Center account. No extra bells or whistles are necessary, and there will be no added charges. If you don’t have an active connected services plan, you can get one either online or simply by pushing the blue OnStar button inside the cabin of your Cadillac.
Key In-Car Delivery Basics
You probably have some very pressing questions at this point. So, here’s how the Key In-Car Delivery service works. After you have finished setting up the Key app, you can shop on Amazon as normal. There’s no special online storefront for you to visit.
Next, you can add eligible items to your cart and checkout. When you get to delivery options, that is where the magic happens – simply select the option to receive your package in-car. You will be provided with an estimated time and date of delivery, and you will be all set to complete the purchase.
Then, you need to make sure that your vehicle is parked within two blocks of the delivery address. The parking area also needs to be publicly accessible. In other words, don’t park your Cadillac inside a gated or private garage, and expect to see boxes when you get off work. While the Amazon delivery workers can access your vehicle, they do not have access to any gates or garages protecting your vehicle.
On delivery day, there is typically a four-hour window for your package to be delivered. Generally, deliveries are made between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm for two-day shipping. As for same-day delivery, you can expect the package to be placed inside your vehicle between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm. You will be notified when your package is close by.
When the delivery driver is near your vehicle, Amazon will do a quick verification check and unlock your car. Your package will then be placed inside the vehicle, and the driver will request it to be locked again. You should then get a notification that the delivery is complete and your car is locked. Of course, you can always lock it yourself remotely through connected services just to be sure.
If you are still keeping up with me, you may remember that I said only eligible products could be delivered using this service. There is a limit to what you can do here. For example, large or heavy items that weigh over 50 pounds are not eligible at this time. While some Cadillac models like the Escalade ESV can easily handle much larger items, Amazon is playing it safe for now and sticking with items that will easily fit inside the trunk of a car.
How Many Boxes Will Fit?
Now that I’ve gone over the entire process of in-car deliveries, let’s look at just what will fit into the various new Cadillac models. However, remember that boxes come in a wide array of sizes, and different configurations will yield different results – especially if you already have any items in the truck of your car. Also, keep in mind that I will only be looking at the cargo area behind the last row of seating or in the trunk. Maximum cargo areas will not be taken into account this time.
First up is the 2021 Cadillac XT4 compact crossover. This entry-level luxury five-seater offers 22.5 cubic feet of space behind the second row of seats. For those of you who want a reference, a standard paper grocery bag is a bit smaller than one cubic foot. That means 22.5 cubic feet is a good size for a vehicle of this segment and is enough room for nearly a dozen average-size boxes.
Next, the 2021 Cadillac XT5 is a slightly larger compact crossover. Although it still seats five people, this model provides around 30.0 cubic feet of space in the back. That’s a good bump up from what the XT4 offers and should be enough to fit almost anything that you can order as long as it is empty when the delivery man shows up.
Moving on to the 2021 Cadillac XT6, this midsize SUV is quite a bit larger for passengers. However, it is somewhat lacking in the cargo room department because the third row of seats eats into the rear cargo area. With 12.6 cubic feet of cargo room in the back, Amazon may have trouble fitting the largest items in the back of an XT6, so think ahead before ordering and consider leaving the back seats folded down when you are expecting a package.
If you have a 2021 Cadillac Escalade, then cargo space will likely not be an issue. This full-size SUV provides 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space in its standard version or 41.5 cubic feet in the extended-length ESV variant. Either way, it will be able to fit all your birthday shopping or any larger items you decide to order.
If you are one of the people who still buys sedans instead of SUVs, then you will have to consider your shopping more carefully. The compact 2021 Cadillac CT4 offers a trunk with 10.7 cubic feet of room, which will probably only fit a handful of average-size boxes or one or two larger boxes. The midsize Cadillac CT5 is not much better, with only 11.4 cubic feet of room. Such is the tradeoff that comes with driving a fun sports sedan rather than a utilitarian SUV.
Drowning in Packages
No matter which model you choose at your local Cadillac dealer, Amazon Key In-Car Delivery will make your online shopping experience more convenient than ever before. Even if you have a small sedan or an SUV filled with sports equipment and can’t have large deliveries sent to your vehicle, the extra flexibility of not having to worry about valuable packages being left outside is still incredibly valuable. I can’t wait until more delivery services, and more automobile brands begin offering similar services to their customers.
