The Cadillac XT4 has a decent rank in the small-luxury SUV segment. Its most appealing aspects are its spacious cabin with 22.5 cubic feet of space (with the rear seats up), sleek exterior, and striking interior. However, the XT4 is not as refined as its competition and doesn't offer the smoothest ride. Plus, it has a pretty noisy engine too.
With three variants to choose from, the XT4 has a starting price range of $36,790 to $40,990. Those trims being the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and the more athletic Sport model are available with FWD or AWD. The XT4 comes with a 2l turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 9-speed automatic transmission, and 237hp. 18" wheels are provided as standard with all three trims, although the Premium Luxury and Sport have optional 20" alloy wheels. The XT4 sees only minor changes for 2021, and it's mostly aesthetic.
While certainly not the most outstanding small-luxury SUV on the market, the XT4 benefits from its design and spacious interior. Despite its pitfalls, if you're looking to buy a compact SUV, then the XT4 has enough going for it to warrant a closer look.
Changes For 2021
The XT4 sees only minor alterations for the new model year. The Luxury variant gains a new rear liftgate as standard. This trim also receives optional leather upholstery, lane-keeping assistance, and the Driver Awareness package. New exterior mirrors that feature integrated turn signals are now available with both the Premium Luxury and Sport trims. Red-painted brake calipers are also added to the Sport. The XT4 has two new exterior color choices, namely, Wave Metallic and Infrared Tintcoat.
Slick Exterior But Underwhelming Performance
Each variant of the XT4 features a 2l turbocharged engine with 9-speed automatic transmission as standard. This four-cylinder engine offers 237hp and grants the XT4 power sufficient to achieve zero to 60mph in just under 8 seconds. Driving with this vehicle isn't always that smooth, unfortunately.
The standard exterior color of all XT4 trims, whether with FWD or AWD is Radiant Silver Metallic. There are several optional colors, costing either $625 or $1225, depending on your choice. Exterior shades such as Wave Metallic and Autumn Metallic match the former additional price tag, while colors such as Infrared Tintcoat are among the costlier options.
There are plenty of additional packages worth considering, including the Premium Luxury's Comfort And Technology Preferred Package for $2100 (current discount), which provides extras like driver power lumbar massage and 4-way power lumbar driver seat controls. The Luxury and Premium Luxury have a bright accent grille with galvano surround as standard. The Sport trim, on the other hand, comes with a more fitting, athletic grille.
The Luxury has 18" 10-spoke alloy wheels with Bright Silver Finish. The same wheel design but with Pearl Nickel Finish accompanies the Premium Luxury. The Sport variant features Diamond Cut/Argent Metallic Finish 18" wheels. 20" wheels are optional with the Premium Luxury and Sport. The NHTSA gave the XT4 a safety rating of five out of five stars. The XT4 can achieve up to 24MPG in the city and 30 on the highway.
What's Inside?
The XT4 interior is roomy but doesn't offer the premium quality that many customers may expect. Behind the second row of seats, you get 22.5 cubic feet of cargo space. This jumps to 48.9 cubic feet with all seats folded down. One criticism of the dashboard is that the buttons and controls which this SUV incorporates resemble that of an interface from a lower-quality vehicle.
You get the Cadillac User Experience with every trim, which is displayed via an 8" infotainment screen. This technology suite comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a message dictation feature. There is plenty of optional interior tech available with the Cadillac configurator. Among the interior options is the Bose Centerpoint surround sound audio system, all-weather floor mats, all-weather floor liner, and wireless phone charging.
The XT4 Vs Rivals
A popular alternative to the XT4 is the Acura RDX. Both SUVs have a single 2l turbocharged engine as standard, with FWD and AWD both available. The RDX offers an extra 35hp and +22lb-ft of torque when compared with the XT4. However, the Cadillac does provide better MPG in the city and on the highway. With a cross-variant price range of $38-48K, the RDX is noticeably dearer than the XT4. This and its mileage arguably gives the Cadillac XT4 the edge in this comparison.
Another vehicle worth mentioning is the Jaguar E-Pace. As with the RDX, the E-Pace costs more than its Cadillac rival. Though the XT4 does not perform as well as the E-Pace, it is arguably more reliable. Further, the Cadillac provides better mileage and more than double the trailering capacity as the E-Pace. Overall, the XT4 wins out for the same reasons here as to what gives it an advantage over the Acura RDX. However, the agility of the E-Pace makes it a close match. The BMW X1 is similar too. The X1 is a little cheaper, has better highway MPG, and larger cargo space. Overall, we'd prefer the X1. You can order the 2021 Cadillac XT4 today via the Cadillac website with the use of their configurator.