Cadillac’s very late entry into the premium compact SUV segment was without a doubt an incredibly poor decision management-wise. However, GM’s luxury arm finally has a presence in this highly-competitive slice of the market with the XT4.
Better late than never, right? The automaker has invited automotive journalists to a first drive event in North America so we can finally find out how Cadillac’s baby SUV stacks up against competitors like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus UX, and Volvo XC40.
Starting with the driving experience, the power delivery from the XT4’s 237-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four is very smooth and strong enough but not as sporty as some of its rivals. As for the variable steering system, it is precise but very little feedback gets sent through the wheel.
So while we’re not dealing with a sporty SUV, the ride quality is fine most of the time — although the 2019 XT4 bounces a bit on rough pavement. Well, at least the seats are really cushy. Practicality is not bad either, with the XT4 offering more legroom than many of its rivals as well as a decent amount of headroom.
Quality-wise, the XT4 is a very pleasant surprise thanks to a cool combination of materials and colors. Cadillac has applied soft-touch plastics in almost every area that passengers are likely to put their hands on, which is pretty cool.
There’s a lot more to say about the 2019 Cadillac XT4 but that’s what the following video reviews are for.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmw9hRGVXYCqcNjLPcwys8EAKa7MHXRe7