THE 2024 CADILLAC XT4
A Small SUV Packed With Technology
Cadillac, that venerable General Motors marquee that has been a luxury brand since 1909, knows it must move with the times. So, despite still being famous for its gigantic, ultra-luxurious Escalade SUV, the company is also manufacturing a full line of smaller, less-expensive sports utility vehicles—ones that still have that elevated opulence that defines it.
Sliding into the driver’s seat of the subcompact 2024 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury iteration, it wasn’t surprising to find comfortable, fully adjustable leather seats with the option of remembering different driver’s preferences at the touch of a programming button. Those seats will give you a massage, too, and heat, both welcome amenities on long drives and in cold weather. The XT4 is the smallest SUV Cadillac makes, but it still has its share of high-end features.
SELF-DRIVING FEATURES
Like other luxury-level SUVs in its class, the Cadillac XT4 is outfitted with numerous features that the car controls (rather than the driver). In some cases, those features are beneficial, while in others, incredibly annoying.
The fascinatingly helpful features include the “IntelliBeam” LED headlights, which automatically adjust from low to high as the car senses the available light, and the self-adjusting windshield wipers, which speed up or slow down depending on the rain/sleet/snow that is falling.
The side-mirror blind spot indicators of vehicles beside are invaluable, and the programmable, hands-free liftgate allows easy access to the back cargo area, which is usually 22.5 cubic feet (and expands to 49.8 when the three-person back seating is lowered). The rear backup camera is also useful, as is cruise control, of course.
But when the XT4 decides to vehemently buzz your driver’s seat butt and flash red lights in front of your face when there is no discernible danger anywhere in sight, that’s the moment you realize that some new self-driving helping hands (that’s the “Safety Alert Seat” feature) need to be turned off. And we’re not fans of the built-in “Speed Limit Assist” either, nor the “Automatic Braking” that happens going forward and in reverse, often when there’s no reason for it to engage.
A STATE-OF-THE-ART COCKPIT
The Cadillac XT4 cockpit is full of bells and whistles, beginning with the curved 33-inch, brilliantly hued touchscreen LED display that sweeps an astonishing design across the dashboard as you slide into the driver’s seat.
With a navigation map that makes it easy to see a wide swath of the route and AM/FM and Sirius XM radio stations belting out sound from the 14-speaker AKG sound system (upgrade to Bose technology for a top-of-the-line listening experience), it’s an inside experience that satisfies.
Add wireless device charging, four USB ports, and Cadillac’s signature OnStar safety and security system, which allows connection to a human being at the touch of a button whenever trouble happens, and the vehicle has just about anything you desire.
However, we’re not crazy about the gear-shifter handle, which unnecessarily complicates putting the SUV into Drive mode. The 2.0-liter twin-turbo I-4 engine is slow to accelerate, especially on freeway entrances. The gas mileage is 24mpg city/29 highway in a 15.9-gallon tank, so expect to fill up regularly, especially on an extended road trip.
A WORTHY CHOICE FOR A SMALL SUV
Overall, especially once you’ve turned off the bottom seat buzz and other features that may not be pleasing, the 2024 Cadillac XT4 offers a lot of driving and seating comfort, interior passenger space, cargo room, and stylish exterior design to the subcompact SUV category.
For more information about the 2024 Cadillac XT4, visit Cadillac.com/suvs/xt