Though Cadillac does offer a Sport trim instead of my Premium Luxury model that has a continuously variable adaptive suspension that might fix both ride and handling. But it’s not going to encourage you to toss it into a corner. That stiff suspension limits body roll, and the twin-clutch all-wheel drive shifts power around to balance the nose. The XT4 is competent in the corners, though. For a vehicle that’s otherwise highly refined to the touch and ear, it’s a big out of place. Any bump or pothole of note sends a strong thunk through the cabin. You’re going to notice bumps, especially if you’ve optioned the 20-inch wheels. Leaving just 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which is on the small end of the segment. Similarly, while the Cadillac XT4 has a very striking sloping rear glass, it cuts into rear cargo space. If the back seat reclined just a touch, it would make a world of difference. So six-foot plus passengers might not be fans. In the back, it’s still roomy, but the location of the back of the panoramic roof frame and the place a tall person’s head would sit are one of the same. If you’re sitting up front, there’s plenty of room for head, leg, and width. It’s adjustable to hold different sized phones more securely and the end of the armrest location is very convenient. Look even further back and there’s a wireless charging spot hidden in the armrest. They’re right at hand, easy to operate, and are all-around better to use than touch-only options. There’s a rotary controller and a volume knob. There are also physical controls for the climate control and the surprise in this class of massaging seats.īelow the console gearshift is the biggest addition to the company’s infotainment. It’s quicker to respond and easier to use. The infotainment system uses an 8.0-inch touchscreen, but Cadillac is using a new system behind the scenes. They’ve also brought the company’s gorgeous peanut butter interior (it’s called Sedona if you check the options list) along. To fit the part, Cadillac has loaded it up with soft-touch plastics just about everywhere you’re likely to be putting your hands. On the inside, a premium crossover needs to, well, feel premium. Downshifts come quickly when you’re asking for more power and upshifts happen snappily enough to make sure you’re not at a higher RPM than you want to be. The gearbox is nearly seamless, especially by the often busy standard set by so many other seven and up-speed autos. Power is sent through a nine-speed automatic. It uses the speakers from the Bose stereo to cancel out the noise of the engine and roadway. That’s probably helped out by the active noise cancellation system that’s standard across the board. Even at wide throttle and high rpm, this one stays quiet. The engine is quiet and refined and delivers that torque as a smooth shove from 1,500 all the way to 4,000 rpm. Under the hood of the XT4 is a 2.0L four-cylinder, but this is a refined version compared with GM’s other double-litre engines. So it makes sense that it has a unique driveline, too. If you weren’t sure just how different it was, the filler neck is on the passenger side, not the driver side of most GM vehicles. It’s a more expensive and more premium platform than the Cruze-based bones of the others. This compact crossover takes its bones from the Buick Regal, which is itself an Opel Insignia. So how did they differentiate the Cadillac XT4 from the Terrain, Equinox, and Envision? Well, by putting it on a different platform, for a start. The key is to make your vehicles different where it matters. Like Lexus to Toyota, Lincoln to Ford, and Cadillac to Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC. Nearly every automaker does it, to some extent. There’s no problem with having multiple vehicles with a similar mission. So is the all-new XT4 just another rebadge, or is this a real advance in the revitalization of the storied brand? It’s also pitched as being the most luxurious. The Cadillac XT4 is the fourth compact crossover to arrive in the General’s 2019 lineup. Nearly half a dozen, barely different from each other other than the badge. A long time ago, in an economy (and automobile market) far, far away, GM offered a multitude of crossovers and SUVs.
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