2020 Cadillac XT4 Review: For City-Slicking Families

Let's start off by stating that the Cadillac XT4 is a good car. It ticks most of the boxes you'd expect from a luxury compact crossover, and we think it offers a good all-round package. The only issue is its late arrival to the luxury compact crossover scene in the US. The market is currently flooded with similar looking and driving compact crossovers that all promise good interior and cargo space, with all the driving ability of their sedan counterparts, and some, such as the BMW X3, comes close. The XT4, on the other hand, feels like an SUV, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; its relaxed cruising style and good interior comfort makes it the perfect partner for city slicking families who aren't in a rush, mainly due to the 237 horsepower turbocharged four under the hood, that isn't exactly in a hurry. Standard features are good, but a lot is left to the options list, which will see the XT4's pricing significantly rising if you tick too many selections. The XT4 is a good car, but can it stand up to the Germans in a well-established market?

What's the Price of the Cadillac XT4 in 2020?

The 2020 Cadillac XT4's price is close to the likes of the 2020 Acura RDX, with a base price of $35,695 for the FWD Luxury model, excluding registration, tax, and a destination fee of $995. The AWD version of the same trim will set you back $38,195. Premium Luxury models go for just under $40k at $39,795 for the FWD model and $42,295 for the AWD car. Sport models go for the same price as the Premium Luxury model. Acura RDX models have an MSRP of $37,800, and top out at $47,900. The BMW X3 only starts at $41,950, adding AWD sees it rise to $43,950. Fully-kitted, the XT4 in Premium Luxury AWD configuration will cost close to $55,000.

2020 XT4 Exterior

Dimensions

2020 XT4 Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Unlike cars such as the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, which make use of the compact Delta architecture platform, the 2020 XT4 gets the first crossover specific variant of GM's mid-sized Epsilon architecture. This larger platform has not only given engineers more freedom in terms of exterior dimensions, but offers best in class torsional rigidity, and an improved suspension setup keeps unwanted body roll to a minimum. As with the engine setup in the XT4, the ride and handling are that of a more relaxed luxury cruiser than sporty crossover, and as long as the road is in good condition, the XT4 delivers a refined ride, but things get choppy as the road worsens, especially when fitted with those 20-inch rims. Steering feel is almost non-existent, which is a sore point for us, but we were impressed with the XT4's good brake feel and overall stopping power.

2020 XT4 Interior

2020 XT4 Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2020 Cadillac XT4 A Good car?

Despite being a latecomer to the market, the Cadillac XT4 is a luxury crossover SUV with a lot going for it. We think its distinctive Cadillac look, which is reminiscent of the iconic Escalade, makes it stand out from a crowd of crossovers that all look like they came out of the same cookie jar. Under the hood, the turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides enough go to get the XT4 going, and its refined nature adds to the overall relaxed feel of this compact Caddy. Inside the interior might not be up to German standards, and we don't appreciate the use of hard plastics in the lower regions of the cabin, but there is miles of interior space and a decent infotainment system on offer. Standard features on the base model are good, but some of the more premium features are left to the options list, even on the top-spec trims. On the road, the ride can get a bit busy at lower speeds, and road noise can get intrusive, but other than those small complaints, we think the XT4 offers a good all-round package.

What Cadillac XT4 Model Should I Buy?

The XT4 is well packaged from the base model upwards, and all trim levels share the same 2.0-liter turbocharged motor, nine-speed automatic transmission, and optional AWD system, so the decision as to which model you should buy will boil down to how many features you'd want. Seeing as the XT4 is a vehicle that will spend the overwhelming majority of its life on paved roads, we'd suggest saving some money and going for an FWD model, which will also save you on fuel costs. After that, we'd recommend going with the Premium Luxury model, purely based on the fact that it offers more standard driver assistance features. The Premium Luxury models add ambient interior lighting, a rearview auto-dimming mirror, front and rear park assist, as well as lane change alert with side blind zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert. In this specification, you can expect to pay $39,795, excluding destination charges. We would suggest going with the $1,100 Driver Assist Package for added safety.

2020 Cadillac XT4 Comparisons

2020 Cadillac XT4 vs Acura RDX

The 2020 RDX forms part of Acura's push to revitalize the brand's standing in the USA, which has been stuck in the doldrums for the past few years. The third-generation RDX was launched in 2019 and aims to compete in the luxury crossover segment. Its competitors include the BMW X3 and Lexus NX. We like its gutsy 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, significantly more than the XT4. Fuel economy is rated at 22/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined for the FWD model. The exterior of the RDX is attractive, which is good and well, but what matters most is its vast trunk space and improved infotainment system, which is a pleasure to use. On the road, the RDX is the more entertaining car to drive. We did find that the interior is still below German rivals but feels on par with the XT4. If you're looking for more performance and dynamic handling, then the RDX should suit you fine, and we'd recommend it over the XT4 because of that reason.

2020 Cadillac XT4 vs Cadillac XT5

The XT5 is a middle child struggling to find its place in the luxury SUV market; it's not exactly a compact like the XT4, but it's not a fully-fledged midsize car either. It competes against some seriously accomplished cars such as the Audi Q5, and its new 2.0-liter turbocharged 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque lack the punch offered by its competitors. Its 310-hp V6 offers good punch, but is thirstier. As with the XT4, the XT5 offers a good list of standard features and a spacious cabin with good cargo space, and the build quality and material choices are on par with the XT4. The XT5 is a surprisingly capable handler, and we also appreciate its intuitive infotainment system. The larger XT5 doesn't convince with the 2.0T engine, and its more traditional V6 didn't blow us away either, but it does move along the XT5 with more pace than the XT4 with its single option 2.0T. What hits the final nail in the coffin for the XT5 is its high starting price of $44,095 while the XT4's price starts at well under $40,000.