2019 Cadillac XT4 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCarlos LagoCarlos Lago has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. Along with an extensive background in performance testing and evaluation, he has produced hundreds of car-related articles and videos.

　　

What's new

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is an all-new vehiclePart of the first Cadillac XT4 generation introduced for 2019

　　The 2019 Cadillac XT4 makes for an affordable entry point into the world of compact luxury SUVs, offering a fuel-efficient engine and plenty of rear legroom. We also like its new technology interface, which is superior to older Cadillac systems by a wide margin. And unlike the bland styling found on many other crossovers, you won't mistake the XT4's distinctive design for anything but a Cadillac.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Cadillac XT4 Luxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$177/mo  for XT4 Luxury

　　XT4 Luxury

　　Luxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $34,795 MSRPLuxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $37,295 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $39,295 MSRPPremium Luxury 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $41,795 MSRPSport 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $39,295 MSRPSport 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $41,795 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The XT4, however, misses the mark in several key areas. It's not much fun to drive due to lackluster handling and an engine that is a little underpowered by class standards. For a luxury vehicle, it's also surprisingly unrefined. The engine constantly makes a diesel-like chattering sound, and the ride quality is unnecessarily firm. Rivals are similarly priced and triumph where the XT4 falters.

　　Overall, the new XT4 is a mixed bag. It's worth a look if space and style are priorities for you. Otherwise, we think you might be happier checking out rival crossover SUVs such as Acura's RDX or BMW's X1 or X3.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

6.9 / 10

　　The 2019 Cadillac XT4 makes for an affordable entry point into the world of compact luxury SUVs. It offers a fuel-efficient engine and plenty of rear legroom. Also, you won't mistake its subdued design for anything but a Cadillac.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Cadillac XT4 Sport (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 9-speed automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	6.9 / 10
Driving	6.5
Comfort	6.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

6.5

　　From a performance standpoint, the XT4 comes up a bit short due to a distinct lack of steering feel and a sometimes slow-witted transmission. Cadillac's rivals do almost everything else better in every category.

　　

Acceleration

7.5

　　The turbocharged engine provides sufficient power for quick passing maneuvers. However, it takes a bit of time to get going from a stop. We recorded a 0-60 mph time of 7.6 seconds, making the XT4 a bit slower than rival SUVs with base-level engines. Acceleration wanes noticeably at higher speeds, too.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　A firm, predictable pedal makes it easy to scrub off a little speed or bring the Cadillac to a smooth stop. In zzdcar' panic-braking test, our XT4 stopped from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is an average result. In one instance, our test vehicle unexpectedly displayed a brake temperature warning after a bit of spirited driving.

　　

Steering

6.0

　　Light steering effort can be beneficial in parking lots, but the XT4's effort is light at all speeds, even when you put the vehicle in its Sport mode. There's also a distinct lack of feel. The sensation is like driving in a video game since you don't have any idea what the front tires are up to.

　　

Handling

6.0

　　Faster bends are where this XT4 feels the most capable. Here, the all-wheel-drive system can put the rear wheels to work. In other environments, the front end feels heavy and cumbersome, making the XT4 seem much bigger than it actually is.

　　

Drivability

6.5

　　With a light foot, this Cadillac stays calm and is usually in the right gear. But more aggressive driving can catch the transmission out. It is either hesitant to downshift or downshifts too many gears at once. Other transmissions in rival SUVs are more refined in their shifting overall.

　　

Comfort

6.0

　　With a busy and sometimes unsophisticated ride plus a surprisingly noisy engine, the XT4 does not represent Cadillac's best effort. Thankfully, the seats are comfortable for a wide variety of body types. You'll need to use the powerful audio system to drown out everything else.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　The leather on both front and back seats is firm and of high quality. The front seats have quite a lot of built-in lumbar support but not much support for the upper back. Our tester featured heated and ventilated front seats, along with heated rear seats.

　　

Ride comfort

5.5

　　There's a lot to say about the ride. Unfortunately, not much of it is very good. Over less than perfect roads, there's a constant jitter from all four wheels. And over rougher roads, there's a never-ending stream of impacts. A luxury SUV should be smoother.

　　

Noise & vibration

5.0

　　The engine makes a clicking sound (like a baseball card in bicycle spokes) and is too vocal when accelerating. That's disappointing for any car, let alone a Cadillac. At highway speeds, there is a substantial amount of road noise from the cargo area, and the panoramic sunroof buffets and booms when fully open.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　Air circulation is uniform and thorough, and rear-seat passengers get two low-mounted center vents. The control panel's comprehensive set of physical buttons is a welcome sight, though the buttons are small, similar looking and tightly packed. Cadillac also provides an on-screen climate control interface, but it's redundant and not readily accessible.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The XT4 makes a strong initial impression with its stylish and modern interior. But some controls appear either unnecessary or overthought, making them difficult to use without errors and frustration. The clumsy multimedia control knob is the most glaring example but can thankfully be ignored.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　The controls on the dashboard, including the infotainment touchscreen, are easy to decipher and use. The steering wheel controls don't seem to follow any convention, and we found ourselves constantly pressing the wrong buttons. The multifunction control knob is unnecessary and frustrating to use — it can only scroll and won't work on certain menus.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　One of the selling points of a small SUV is the ease of getting in and out, and the XT4 is on the money. Front passengers will like the wide door openings. Getting in back is more difficult due to the narrowness of the bottom of the door opening.

　　

Driving position

7.5

　　It's quite easy to get comfortable. The ergonomics are generally sound, but taller drivers might find the dash and steering wheel to be a bit low. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is thick and comfortable, and it imparts a good sense of control.

　　

Roominess

7.5

　　Front passengers have ample room, and the cabin feels quite large and airy from there. Rear passengers have a solid amount of legroom, but headroom can be tight, especially if the XT4 has the optional panoramic sunroof. From a width standpoint, two adults can fit in the rear seats without issue.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　Thanks to the low dash, forward visibility is very good. The side windows narrow toward the rear, and the roof pillars are fairly wide, but the large side mirrors compensate for most of that. Rear visibility isn't great, but the many cameras make tight spaces much less stressful.

　　

Quality

7.5

　　The quality of the interior materials is a welcome step forward for Cadillac. The leather covering the seats, as well as parts of the dashboard, looks and feels expensive. The panel fit and the feel of the control knobs and switches are to a high standard, too. However, there are still a few areas of low-rent plastic.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　The XT4 is likely to be a buyer's primary vehicle, so the more practicality and versatility it has, the better. The Cadillac doesn't disappoint and fits right into a varied but competitive segment.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　From cupholders to cubbies, there's a decent amount of interior storage space for small personal items. Rear-seat passengers don't have nearly the same amount of space, but the door pockets are large enough for drink bottles.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　The XT4's 22.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity puts it about average for the class, in between the smaller Volvo XC40 (20.7 cubes) and more spacious BMW X1 (27.1 cubes). The split-folding rear seats add to the practicality. They are well-constructed and fold nearly flat.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.0

　　The LATCH are concealed behind leather upholstery, and the backs of the rear seats have sturdy, well-marked anchors as well. Larger car seats might require sliding a front seat slightly forward, but loading them in the back of the XT4 shouldn't be a problem.

　　

Towing

7.0

　　With the inexpensive optional tow package, the XT4 is rated to tow 3,500 pounds. That's about average for the class.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　In some ways, the XT4 is right at the leading edge of the compact luxury crossover segment. Its upgraded infotainment system is quick, sharp and easy to use, and the optional Bose audio system is impressive. But its unnecessary control knob is clumsy, and the optional driver aids are expensive.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.5

　　GM's new infotainment system is a big step forward in every way. The graphics are crisp and modern, and response times are very quick. The native navigation looks a little like Android Auto, which isn't a bad thing. The optional Bose audio system is strong and crisp, even at higher volumes.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.0

　　You can connect to the XT4 in a multitude of ways, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are chief among them. There are USB and USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers as well as a wireless charging pad under the center armrest. Bluetooth connectivity is also standard.

　　

Driver aids

6.5

　　The forward collision warning and adaptive cruise systems are calibrated well (i.e., they are not overly sensitive). However, Cadillac has chosen to bundle electronic driver aids into option packages that aren't available on the base trim level.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　The XT4's voice controls support natural spoken language, which enhances their effectiveness. Elevated speeds cause some missed commands due to the higher levels of road and wind noise.

　　

Which XT4 does zzdcar recommend?

　　Though attractively priced, the based Luxury trim is missing some features you'd expect. As such, we recommend starting out with the Premium Luxury, which comes with niceties such as leather upholstery, auto-dimming mirrors and a power liftgate. You'll still need to opt for the Technology package for a power-adjustable steering column, and the Comfort and Convenience package is worthwhile for its upgraded front seats — who doesn't like a massage on the commute?

　　

2019 Cadillac XT4 models

　　The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is available in three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. Though the base Luxury boasts solid entertainment and phone integration features, it's light on some features. The Premium Luxury and the Sport come with upgrades that match their names, such as leather for the former and additional seat bolstering for the latter. Regardless of trim level, the XT4 employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (237 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) and a nine-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.

　　The base Luxury trim level doesn't quite come with all the features you might expect, but nonetheless it's decently equipped. Feature highlights include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, remote start, and dual-zone climate control. Infotainment is handled by 8-inch touchscreen, Near Field Communications for easy Bluetooth connections, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB outlets (including one Type-C), and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

　　Stepping up to the Premium Luxury nets you automatic wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, a rear cargo shade, driver-seat memory settings, ambient interior lighting and added drive safety aids, including front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and a seat that vibrates to alert the driver.

　　The Sport is similarly equipped but dons black trim-specific details, LED turn signals, and front cornering lamps. The interior has simulated leather upholstery, a different style of steering wheel and sport front seats.

　　Additional options are available for the Premium Luxury and the Sport. The Comfort and Convenience package adds upgraded front seats with a massaging function, leather upholstery (for the Sport) and hands-free operation of the power liftgate. The Technology package includes a digital gauge cluster, head-up display, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and wireless device charging.

　　For added safety, the Driver Awareness package includes low-speed frontal collision mitigation, a following distance indicator and lane keeping assist. After ordering this package, you can also opt for adaptive cruise control and both front and rear automatic braking from the Driver Assist package. The Enhanced Visibility package adds a suite of additional cameras, including one that displays in the rearview mirror, as well as an automatic parking feature.

　　When equipped with the optional 20-inch wheels, the Sport can also be outfitted with an adaptive suspension. Other available options include a sunroof; a built-in navigation system; a Cold Weather package, which adds a heated steering wheel and heated front and outboard rear seats; and a Trailering package, which brings additional cooling, a 2-inch receiver and a wiring connector.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 XT4 articles

　　

2019 XT4 Highlights

Trim: LuxuryPremium LuxurySportLuxury

　　

Base MSRP	$34,795
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$177/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles