2023 Cadillac XT4

Overview

One of the hottest segments in the car world at the moment is small luxury crossovers, and the 2023 XT4 is Cadillac's shot at capitalizing on that. It sports a dashing exterior design and a spacious interior. Many desirable features come standard, which makes the XT4 seem like a good value among rivals such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz GLA-class. But the Caddy crossover also suffers from some compromises. It's not as premium as those German-brand SUVs, with interior material quality resembling that of a Chevy rather than a Cadillac. Its upright driving position gives it a more SUV-like feel from behind the wheel than several others in this burgeoning class but its 235-hp turbocharged four-cylinder delivers only passable performance. If the brilliant CT4-V Blackwing sports sedan sitting at the opposite end of the Cadillac showroom has you expecting Olympic athleticism from the XT4, think again. Even the top-spec Sport trim fails to supply driving thrills. Ultimately, the XT4 is an expensive looking compact crossover with lots of room, mediocre furnishings, and merely average performance.

What's New for 2023?

Cadillac's smallest crossover now comes standard with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Two new colors are also available to spruce up the 2023 XT4's exterior: Radiant Red Tintcoat and Argent Silver Metallic.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Premium Luxury and Sport models both cost almost the same, but since the former doesn't live up to its name, and the latter is better to drive, we'd recommend the XT4 Sport. It has unique wheel designs, blacked-out exterior trim, and exclusive interior accents. The Sport model also has a suspension with adaptive dampers and better-bolstered front seats. To that, we'd add the Comfort and Convenience package (leather interior, ventilated and massaging front seats and more ) and choose the Active Sport suspension (adaptive dampers) to avoid the ride-quality-reducing 20-inch wheels that are required with the Sport Dynamics package.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Under the hood of all XT4s is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 235 horsepower. It pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive. The 2019 XT4 Sport we tested sashayed its way to 60 mph in a lackluster 7.8 seconds—1.5 seconds behind the X1. Despite the difference, the XT4 felt spry around town and when merging onto the highway. Ignore Cadillac's assertion of sportiness with the XT4. It's more of a boulevard cruiser than a sports car. The ride is okay, so long as the road is relatively smooth. Rough stretches of asphalt translate plenty of vibrations and sharp impacts into the cabin, especially when riding on the optional 20-inch wheels. The steering is similarly disappointing and is neither feelsome nor direct in its action. The XT4's only decisive controls are its brakes, which hauled our test car down from 70 mph in our emergency-stopping test in 172 feet with one of the firmest brake pedals we've encountered.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Despite its fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation capability, the XT4 earns wholly average EPA fuel-economy estimates, with front-wheel-drive variants reaching 30 mpg on the highway. In our real-world highway fuel-economy test, our all-wheel-drive test vehicle managed just 27 of its EPA-rated 29 mpg. For more information about the XT4's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The XT4's interior, while comfortable and spacious, isn't as high-class as we expect in this premium segment. The dashboard and upper door panels are covered in a stitched, faux-leather wrap, but lower on the doors and center console, cheaper, sharp-edged plastic persists. The buttons and switches look and feel as though they're likely to be shared with less expensive offerings in the General Motors portfolio. Space is great for the front-seat occupants and decent in the back seat, too. As with its passenger compartment, the XT4's cargo room is spacious. Behind the XT4's rear seat we fit six of our carry-on suitcases, and with the seatbacks folded flat, we managed to fit 18—slightly more than smaller rivals such as the Mini Cooper Countryman. If you're looking for a small SUV that can haul cargo like a larger one, the Volvo XC40—which held 23 carry-on suitcases—is worth a look.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

All XT4 models come with an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Cadillac's CUE software. The touchscreen looks crisp and is tucked slightly into the dashboard. The interface is reasonably easy to use, too, and in addition to touching the screen, the user can also interact via a console-mounted knob. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and a seven-speaker audio system are all standard; navigation is optional, as is a 13-speaker Bose audio system. Selecting the available Technology package (Premium Luxury and Sport models only) adds a digital gauge cluster, a head-up display, and a wireless smartphone-charging pad.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Cadillac does offer the XT4 with a plethora of driver-assistance features, but not all of them are standard fare. For more information about the XT4's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Cadillac warranty outdoes several of its rivals with powertrain coverage that lasts six years or 70,000 miles. Cadillac offers one free maintenance visit with the purchase of any 2023 model.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for one year or 12,000 miles

More Features and Specs