10 Top Things to Know About the 2019 Cadillac XT4

2019 Cadillac XT4 exterior front angle ・ Photo by Cadillac

SUVs are today’s automotive currency, and Cadillac is finally ready to pay out. Joining the full-size Escalade and compact XT5 (which replaced the SRX in 2016) is Caddy’s new entry-level crossover, the XT4. SUV momentum will continue through 2020, with at least one other model to help fill out Caddy’s portfolio and better compete with premium rivals.

Though late to the party, the XT4 is expected to rival or exceed the XT5 in sales volume, thanks to its attractive starting price and cutting-edge features. With the XT4, Cadillac has a proper entry point and poster car for its revitalized brand, and a direct competitor for vehicles like Mercedes-Benz’s GLA, BMW’s X1, Audi’s Q3, and Volvo’s XC40. In preparation for deliveries this Fall, here are 10 things to know about the 2019 Cadillac XT4.

10. It’s somewhere in between a subcompact and a compact SUV.

Though 8.4-inches shorter overall than the XT5 crossover, the XT4 is still a fair bit larger than subcompact rivals. For reference, the BMW X1 is about 6 inches shorter than the XT4, the Mercedes-Benz GLA is 7 inches shorter, and the Audi Q3 (redesigned for 2019) is 5 inches shorter. The XT4 may be oversized for a subcompact, but it also isn’t quite up to the footprint of compact premium SUVs like the BMW X3.

Cargo capacity tells a different story though, with the XT4 offering just 22.5 cu. ft. behind the second row and 48.9 cu. ft. total. In comparison, BMW’s smaller X1 has more storage, at 27.1 cu. ft., and with rear seats down, a substantial 58.7 cu. ft.

Where did all the XT4’s size go, then? Cadillac says rear seat legroom was of primary concern, and it shows when you review the competition. The previous best-in-class model, BMW’s X1, offers 37.0 inches for second-row riders. Cadillac’s XT4 now trumps that figure with 39.5 inches of space.

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9. It has best-in-class torsional rigidity.

Instead of porting and modifying one of GM’s front-drive or rear-drive platforms, Cadillac engineered the XT4’s architecture from scratch. The goal, Cadillac said, was to make the XT4 “robust, stiff, and comparatively lightweight,” with the use of high-strength steel, a solid mounted front cradle with lateral cross-brace, newly designed control arms, and a new electric power steering system. As a result, the XT4 has best-in-class torsional rigidity, feels as nimble as its German rivals, and permits minimal road vibrations to reach driver hands through the steering wheel.

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8. Its all-new powertrain features an industry-first tripower system.

At launch (and unless a high-performance version is in the works), the Cadillac XT4 will be offered exclusively with an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Replacing the 2-liter mill produced on the ATS sedan, this new powertrain develops 237hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The key to Caddy’s new engine is its “tripower” system, which optimizes performance and efficiency via three distinct operating modes, including high and low valve lift and active fuel management. At low speeds, the XT4 can run on just two cylinders, and the transition to full power is imperceptible. The use of a twin-scroll turbocharger allows peak torque from just 1,500 rpm all the way to 4,000 rpm (97 percent of available torque hangs on through 5,000 rpm).

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7. The only transmission available is a nine-speed automatic.

Paired to the turbo-4 is a nine-speed automatic transmission. Co-developed by Ford, this gearbox balances power and efficiency with impressive results. Regardless of drive mode (there are three available), the transmission always seems to find the right gear to dig into the XT4’s stellar torque curve. Apart from audible cues, shifts are nearly imperceptible; even plunges of the throttle don’t catch the transmission offbeat.

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6. A twin-clutch AWD system lets you drive with FWD efficiency.

Customers will have their choice of front-drive or all-wheel drive to go with the XT4’s standardized engine and transmission. Typically, automakers restrict AWD availability to higher spec versions of each model, but an extra $2,500 equips any XT4 trim with four driven wheels.

The system itself is pretty trick, too. The use of two clutch packs allows up to 100 percent of available torque to be sent to either the front or rear axle and between each of the rear wheels. In Touring mode, the rear axle is disconnected so the XT4 can operate as efficiently as possible. Other modes intelligently shuttle power to the wheel or wheels with the most traction.

Cadillac says front-drive versions of the XT4 achieve an EPA estimated 24 city, 30 highway, and 27 combined mpg. On paper, AWD versions take a small hit at 22 city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, but our time behind the wheel saw an impressive 27 combined mpg from a mix of city, highway, and back road driving.

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5. Cadillac’s CUE infotainment gets a major upgrade.

There’s no easy way to put this: the Cadillac User Experience infotainment system (CUE) has always been trouble. Response times, graphics, and controls have improved slowly since CUE was first introduced, but the module needed a complete overhaul. With the introduction of the XT4, that day has finally arrived.

Though CUE retains touchscreen functionality, the addition of a scroll wheel, quick select buttons, and other physical controls make the system infinitely more enjoyable to use. Additionally, an 8.0-inch high-resolution display parlays mapping, traffic, weather, music, and other information beautifully. Ultra-fast response and a more intuitive menu transform CUE into one of the best infotainment systems on the market. In addition to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4 USB ports, and a Wi-Fi hotspot, the XT4 is available with near-field communication (NFC) for compatible smartphones.

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4. Adaptive dampers trickle down to the XT4 Sport.

GM’s Magnetic Ride Control has been applied to a few different Cadillac models, though it’s typically reserved for more expensive or higher performance versions. With the introduction of the XT4, Cadillac brings its adaptive suspension tech to the $40K price point.

Available on Sport trim XT4s, the continuous dampers adjust at each wheel 500 times per second to improve ride quality and reduce cabin vibration. Paired with a set of comfortable seats, the XT4 offers a supple ride, but controls its body motion well through tight corners.

Every XT4 also features MacPherson strut front suspension with rebound springs and a five-link independent rear suspension. Base models ride on 18-inch wheels, but Sport and Premium Luxury grades upgrade to 20-inch wheels wrapped in Continental all-season tires.

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3. LED light signatures include etched glass details.

Perhaps the most intriguing detail of the 2019 Cadillac XT4 is its LED light signatures. At the front, LED low and high beams are paired with L-shaped daytime running lights. We’ve seen this DRL style on other Cadillac models, but the XT4 is distinguished by a raised “brow” at the upper right corner of each beam. Look closely, and you’ll also spot Cadillac’s crest etched into the glass of each headlight housing.

More impressive are the LED taillights, which merge the Escalade’s “light tower” design with a horizontal blade. Due to production regulations, Cadillac couldn’t use the thin taillight beams for all light indicators, so it added vertical blocks within each beam for brake light and turn signal duties. Additional glass etching is found along the side of each taillight.

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2. Cadillac’s new “Y” trim level strategy starts with the XT4.

To compliment Cadillac’s new, more streamlined nomenclature, the XT4 introduces a “Y” trim strategy that will soon be applied to every Cadillac model. At the base or entry point of the Y is a Luxury trim. From there, customers can upgrade to either Sport or Premium Luxury grades (the left and right branches of Cadillac’s Y diagram).

Though content will vary by model, Sport trims are typically distinguished by black gloss exterior accents, black mesh grilles, dark taillight housings, and body color-matching door handles. Premium Luxury trims, meanwhile, feature bright and satin chrome details.

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1. Prices start at $35,790 and go way, way up from there.

At $35,790 to start (including destination), the Cadillac XT4 is between $1,000-$2,000 more expensive than its rivals from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volvo. The XT4’s price premium does include features that aren’t typically standard on competitor models: LED headlights, parking sensors, remote start, keyless entry and ignition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts, to name a few.

However, like its German competitors, the Cadillac XT4 becomes frightfully expensive when options are introduced. For either the Sport or Premium Luxury’s styling and substance, Cadillac charges an extra $4,500. All-wheel drive is a $2,500 option. Driver aids like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and forward collision alerts are part of two packages totaling $1,870. Fully loaded, the XT4 can cost as much as $60,000.

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