2019 Cadillac XT4 Review: Affordable Luxury for Young Buyers

One interesting entry in the compact luxury SUV segment is the Cadillac XT4. The XT4 combines the small size of the XT5 with the three-row placement of the XT6. You can see some features of the Escalade model. This new model will complement Cadillac's lineup of SUVs and crossovers. The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is offered at an attractive price. It can be bought with options, as an addition to the basic configuration. Buyers can order it with all-wheel drive, making it an all-weather crossover.

This review is based on the 2019 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury.

What's new in the 2019 Cadillac XT4?

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is an all-new youth-focused vehicle. Not surprisingly, a team of young GM designers were responsible for the overall design of the XT4. The car is built on a compact SUV with a new turbo engine. It is designed for 5 seats. Equipment levels include exclusive, premium luxury and sport options.

Equipment

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 AWD Premium Luxury ($41,795) comes with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, power-adjustable front seats. The basic package also includes faux leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, remote engine start. A nice addition would be dual-zone climate control.

A media system is installed in the cabin, which is controlled from an eight-inch touch screen. The Near Field Communications option is designed for convenient Bluetooth connectivity. There's also Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There are four USB outputs (including one Type-C) and a seven-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

The Premium Luxury version is equipped with automatic wipers, auto-dimming mirrors and a power liftgate. The cabin has a closing rear curtain. The kit includes settings for remembering the position of the driver's seat and interior lighting.

The Premium Luxury package also includes safety features such as parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and a risk-aware vibrating seat. The latter is known as a safety warning seat. It generates vibrating pulses on the left and/or right side of the lower roller to alert the driver to potential hazards. Real threats are alerted by vibration from the front and rear trigger pulses on the driver's seat.

Specifications

Premium luxury trim features the Comfort and Convenience package. With its help, the driver has access to the massage function for the front seats and hand-free power door control. The technology package includes a cluster of digital gauges, a Heads-Up display. The package also includes telescopic steering and wireless device charging, among other features.

The Driver Awareness package provides additional safety by reducing speed in frontal collisions. There is a follow indicator and lane keeping assistance. The Enhanced Visibility package offers a set of cameras. They provide a rear view mirror display and an automatic parking function.

Other equipment options include a sunroof and navigation. An interesting package is "Cold Weather", which added a heated steering wheel, front and rear seats.

Shipping price is $54,785. By comparison, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 starts at $35,790.

Interior

If you get inside the XT4, you will notice a very attractive cabin with quality materials. But the overall impression is somewhat smaller compared to other luxury brands.

Note that the driver's seat is equipped with an eight-way position adjustment. There are memory settings and a reversible lumbar compartment for extra support for the rider's back. The premium version comes with all the extra comfort features. They include heating, ventilation and massage. The latter function perfectly relieves stress on a long trip.

The package with a cluster of digital gauges, a display, wireless smartphone charging, front turning lights and an air ionizer in the cabin is worth the money. They will ask for 1,650 US dollars for it.

The eight-inch infotainment system comes with CUE Cillac software. The touch screen is slightly pressed against the dashboard and fits perfectly into it.

The rear seating area is quite roomy for a compact luxury SUV in this class, and the XT4's cargo area is very roomy. There is 22.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat of the 2019 Cadillac XT4. Folding the seats down gives you 48.9 cubic feet of space.

Engine characteristics and fuel consumption

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed automatic transmission makes driving pleasant and easy. Cadillac engineers designed the engine to have an almost flat torque curve for better machine response to driver input.

The tested car had a double clutch, four-wheel drive. This pack is ideal for use in cold climates.

Driving dynamics

The Premium Luxury version is equipped with a strut front suspension and an independent rear suspension for a smooth ride on the highway. With 20-inch carbon alloy wheels, off-road riding is likely to be a bit of a nuisance. Strong vibrations and sharp blows to the cab are felt. It was very interesting how the XT4 Sport trimmed with Active Sport Suspension and Continuous Damping Control handles driving on a similar road.

Unfortunately, we note that the suspension upgrade is not available in the Premium Luxury package.

However, for most urban roads this should not be a problem. On the open road, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 moves very smoothly, and the cabin is very quiet. This especially sets you in a good mood on a long trip.

The new Cadillac SUV has flaws. But in most road conditions, the XT4 offers a pleasant and comfortable driving experience. This quality is complemented by numerous security and communication functions. The cabin has built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi, works well and without interruptions. Built-in Wi-Fi will especially appreciate young buyers.

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is good in every way. It is adapted for driving on good trails, is very agile and delivers high power. If you want to save money, then you should stop at the front-wheel drive.

Conclusion

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 of compact luxury SUVs with plenty of options is considered by experts to be one of the best deals. XT4 with all-wheel drive is great for northern areas.

The review was compiled by Denis Flier. Follow him on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy

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