2022 Cadillac XT4 Road Test and Review

2019 Cadillac XT4 ・ Photo by Cadillac

The Cadillac XT4 is a compact, luxury SUV. It has seating for five people with a comfortable and well-equipped interior. This is a luxury brand, and it looks it from the minute you open the door. It delivers a premium experience at a price that’s lower than many of its competitors.

Seating is supportive and plush for all passengers, but the rear seats are a bit snug, which makes it less ideal for those who frequently plan to have friends along for the ride. If it’s kids, however, then they’ll be just fine. Those who live in more urban areas with narrow streets and tight parking spots will appreciate the smaller dimensions of the XT4. It lets you enjoy the benefits of a luxury SUV with city-friendly sizing. Let’s take a closer look at the 2022 Cadillac XT4 to see if it’s the right choice for you.

A Choice of Three Well-Priced Trims

Standard features including a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 18-inch wheels, 6-way power driver’s seat, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, and automatic emergency braking. The Premium Luxury, which is priced from $39,595, adds ambient interior lighting, a handsfree power liftgate, driver’s seat memory, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. It also adds lane change alert with side blind zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert.

Last is the Sport priced from $39,395. This trim adds 4-way power lumbar for the driver and front passenger, alloy sport pedals, power front seat bolsters, a sport grille, black roof rails and window surrounds, and unique 18-inch wheels. That sportier styling also comes with available sportier handling with the option for active sport suspension. It’s a small lineup but with a good range of options from luxury-focused to driver centric.

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A Single Powertrain for the Full Lineup

No matter which trim of the Cadillac XT4 you choose, power comes from the same setup. This includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 237 horsepower paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s a responsive engine that delivers smooth, even power in keeping with Cadillac’s luxury reputation. There’s nothing overly aggressive or harsh about this powertrain.

Even under hard acceleration, engine noise is kept well-muted, so it won’t disturb passengers. Getting up to highway speeds is accomplished with ease and there’s still enough power for high-speed passing of slower vehicles. Though strong, this isn’t a performance option. Instead, the Cadillac XT4 balances its power with civility so passenger and driver alike can enjoy the ride. Whether it’s a leisurely afternoon drive to nowhere in particular or the morning commute, this luxury suv makes the trip enjoyable.

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Luxury-Car Smooth

There are some things you simply expect in a luxury car, including a smooth, comfortable ride. The whole luxury part of the equation includes creating an atmosphere that lets everyone relax throughout the trip. The Cadillac XT4 accomplishes this goal with a roomy and quiet cabin with a minimal amount of road and wind noise. In harsh weather with heavy rain or high winds, the bulk of the sound is kept outside rather than creating a racket inside. Engine noise is equally muted.

In addition to being quiet, the XT4 has a refined ride. Rough road surfaces are well-managed by the suspension system, and even breaks in the pavement won’t cause the XT4 to lose its composure. This makes the ride better for passengers and the driver. Steering is crisp and controlled without the stiffness of a performance model. It makes long road trips less tiring for everyone.

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A Comfortable and Beautiful Interior

Another hallmark of a luxury car is the interior, and the XT4 meets this expectation. It’s the smallest SUV in the Cadillac lineup with comfortable seating for five. The front seats are supportive with good bolstering that holds you in place without becoming too tight. While there is room for three in the rear seats, this is where the compact dimensions of the XT4 may prove a challenge. Unless the trip is short, best keep it to two adults.

Standard features include an 8-way powers driver’s seat with 6-way power for the passenger, synthetic leather seating surfaces, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Options for the XT4 include heated and ventilated seats, driver power lumbar massage, and an 8-way power passenger seat. While the base XT4 is well-equipped, those seeking a more premium experience will want to move up to the Premium Luxury trim.

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Large Infotainment Touchscreen

The base infotainment system in the Cadillac XT4 includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen that helps make menus easy to navigate. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 7-speaker audio system. The system allows for personalized profiles for different drivers, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of resetting everything each time you get into the car after someone else. Upgrades include navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.

Standard features are solid, and it’s especially nice to have wireless smartphone connectivity to eliminate cable clutter. While the screen is large enough to make using it easy, this is still smaller than the standard screen sizes in comparable luxury suvs which offer screens anywhere from 9.0 to 10.0-inches. Overall, however, it’s an intuitive system with key features standard.

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Good Standard Safety Features

The 2022 Cadillac XT4 earned an overall five stars in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests. It has only been partially tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety where it earned the highest rating of Good in tests that were completed. Those solid ratings are backed up by a good range of standard and available safety features.

Standard features include forward collision alert, rear park assist, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, and safety alert seat. The list of optional features is larger. It includes reverse automatic braking, automatic parking assist with braking, rear cross-traffic alert, enhanced automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, and front and rear park assist. While most features are optional, key standard safety and high crash test ratings help set your mind at ease.

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Plenty of Room for Cargo

Though it’s not a large SUV, there’s still good room for cargo in the Cadillac XT4. There’s a total of 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats with 48.9 cubic feet of space if your fold those seats down. It can also tow up to 3,500 pounds properly equipped. The tailgate opening is large enough to accommodate bulky cargo with a standard power liftgate. There’s a handsfree liftgate as an available feature.

Cargo room isn’t as large as some of the competition, but it’s still more than ready for handling a family’s luggage or supplies for a weekend project. The rear seats also split fold 60/40 for added versatility and fold nearly flat. This makes it much easier to slide in longer items and keeps smaller items from wanting to slide toward the back during loading. Finally, the low load floor makes lifting heavier items less of a strain.

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Average Fuel Economy Ratings

The Cadillac XT4 gets good fuel economy, but it’s not exceptional for the class. The EPA estimates that models equipped with front wheel drive will get 24 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. Those numbers take a modest dip with all-wheel drive to 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined.

Those are ratings that make it easier to manage your budget when gas prices rise. They also make it easier when you’re planning a long-distance road trip. While not the best fuel economy you can get in the segment, the Cadillac XT4 still delivers good fuel economy figures for a luxury suv.

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Final Thoughts

The popularity of SUVs and crossovers means there’s a lot of competition in this segment. Even when you narrow it down to luxury cars, there are plenty of choices. The 2022 Cadillac XT4 is a compelling offering with a good starting price and a wide range of standard features. It gets high crash test ratings and has good standard safety. There’s also a fully featured infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity and the option for premium audio.

The interior is nicely appointed with comfortable front seats, although back seats get a little snug. It also only has one engine option which, although perfectly adequate, doesn’t offer the exhilarating response of more performance-oriented models. Overall, the 2022 Cadillac XT4 is a competitive offering in the luxury SUV space.

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