2023 Cadillac XT4

Pros:

• The trunk and seats have a lot of room.
• The infotainment system works well and looks good.

Cons:

• The ride is crowded for a high-end SUV.
• A great deal of noise coming from the roadway as well as the engine
• There is a learning curve for some of the controls.
• Features of luxury that you might think are standard but aren’t

How does the XT4 move? Even though the XT4 has enough power to pass quickly, it is slow to get going (0-60 mph took 7.6 seconds in our tests) and gets tired at higher speeds. The XT4 claims to be a sporty car, but it doesn’t feel very sporty when you steer it, and the transmission is often slow to respond. Other things, like handling and stopping, are okay.

The XT4 stays calm and uses a light foot to remain in the right gear most of the time. But driving more aggressively, like trying not to downshift or downshift too many bags at once, can damage the transmission.

How comfortable is the XT4? The XT4 is not Cadillac’s best work because the ride is often choppy, and the engine is shockingly loud. All four wheels are constantly shaking and hitting the ground on roads that aren’t great. This design needs to be corrected for a high-end SUV.

The seats are good because they support the lower back and can fit many body types. Optional heating and cooling for the front seats help keep the temperature inside the car even. (There are also heated seats in the back.) But the XT4’s engine is loud and rough, and when combined with the car’s loud highway noise, it doesn’t look like a typical Cadillac.

What’s the inside like? The XT4 makes a strong impression thanks to its stylish and modern cabin. On the other hand, several of the controls seem too hard to use, pointless, and complicated. The multimedia knob and the buttons on the steering wheel are hard to use, but the rules on the dash are simple.

The XT4’s large front doors are easy to use. Even though the back door openings are smaller, there is plenty of room for legs. Even with the optional panoramic sunroof, the rear seat is spacious enough to accommodate two full-grown adults comfortably. The front of the car is comfortable and has a decent view. The car’s front feels open.

How are the tools? The infotainment system in the XT4 is quick, accurate, and easy to use. The built-in navigation system works like Android Auto, and the optional Bose audio system sounds great even when turned up loud. Along with USB and USB-C ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also built in as standard. If you want to cut the cord, there is now a wireless charging pad, and you can use both CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly. The main flaw is the multimedia control knob, which can only scroll and doesn’t work in some menus. It’s weird and not necessary.

Yes, that’s the answer. On the other hand, Cadillac has decided to put these computerized driver assistance systems in packages that aren’t available on the base trim level. That’s different from what I expected from a car like this.

How are things with the storage? The amount of space for cargo is about average for this class. The split back seats are more flexible because they fold almost flat. The front has several small storage areas for bottles and other items, but the back has fewer.

Car seat anchors under the leather upholstery make it easy to install child seats. Because the back seats are so big, taller drivers or front-seat passengers may need to move up. The XT4 can pull up to 3,500 pounds, which is about average for the class. This can be increased with a cheap towing package that can buy separately.

How well does it burn gasoline? The EPA says that the XT4 gets about the same gas mileage as other cars in its class. Even though we drove many miles on the highway during our tests, it was hard to match the EPA’s estimates. Like most cars, the XT4 needs more expensive premium gas.

Is the XT4 an excellent way to spend money? Most of the value in luxury cars comes from things that can’t be seen or touched, like the high-end experience they provide. Price isn’t as important. The XT4 is a luxury car that competes in a market where people expect their money to go a little further. The Cadillac doesn’t stand out in this case. The quality of the inside is all over the place. The leather upholstery feels rich and soft, but the plastic panels are cheap. This miniature Cadillac could cost almost as much as more luxurious SUVs like the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC when fully loaded.

Even though the average warranty coverage for cars in the same class is four years or 50,000 miles, the best warranty coverage for the powertrain is six years or 70,000 miles. Coverage for roadside help is also better than average.

The XT4 looks and feels like a small luxury SUV thanks to its striking design and modern interior. But compared to competitors from Europe and Asia that are quieter, ride smoother, and perform more dynamically, it falls short in terms of performance and refinement. Simply put, the XT4 doesn’t have enough solid evidence to support it. It’s a good choice for people who like to buy American products, but we’d consider a fully equipped Buick Encore at this price.

We recommend the middle-of-the-road Premium Luxury trim for the XT4. You get more safety features than you would with the base Luxury trim and a few helpful convenience features. Adaptive cruise control, part of the Driver Assistance package, would be added.

Cadillac XT4

2023 XT4’s three trim levels, Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport, are mostly the same as they were the year before. All three cars have a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission that makes 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.