It has to be tough coming from a family of over-achievers. Take Cadillac. The Escalade does luxury SUV-ing so well it justifies a six-figure price sticker. The CT4- and CT5-V Blackwing sedans are credible competitors to BMW's M models.
And the CT5 V-Series ends up not being a watered-down Blackwing, but a legitimate sport sedan that makes a strong case for itself as a daily driver.
The XT4? Well, it's not flashy and sporty like the others, but it's Cadillac's entry in a very tough, very competitive market segment---the small luxury crossover, going up against the Lincoln Corsair, Lexus NX 350, Mercedes GLC 300 and BMW X3.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. With on 235 horsepower on tap, the XT4 is down on power compared to the NX 350 (275), Corsair (250), the GLC 300 (255) and the X3 (248), and it's noticeable. Sixty miles an hour from a standing start takes 7.5 seconds, a full second behind the Lexus and the Lincoln, and nearly a second and a half behind the Benz and the Bimmer.
Shifting is handled by a nine-speed automatic and the EPA fuel economy estimate is 25 mpg combined city/highway, which edges out all four competitors by a single mile per gallon.
While the XT4 has selectable drive modes, "Sport" really just induces harshness. Better to leave it in "Tour", which delivers the same level of handling---more than adequate---without affecting the ride.
The fact of the matter is that this is not a vehicle meant for hard charging. It's what the Lexus RX and NX were before F SPORT became a thing---a pleasant all-arounder.
In rear cargo space, the XT4 and the Lexus NX are in a virtual tie for third at 22.5 and 22.7 cubic feet respectively. Number two is the Corsair at 27.6 and the BMW is number one with 28.7. The GLC comes in last with 21.8. With the second row folded, the Cadillac trails all but the Lexus.
The Cadillac pulls ahead in second-row legroom at a generous 39.5 inches---considerably more than the Mercedes (37.4), Lincoln, (36.7) BMW (36.4) and Lexus (36.1).
Our tester was the top of the line XT4 AWD Premium Luxury. Base price $45,190 including destination.
That price brings with it as standard equipment Google Infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a SiriusXM trial subscription, adaptive remote start, leather seating surfaces, LED headlamps and taillamps, a hands-free power liftgate, driver memory settings, heated power-folding outside mirrors, passive entry and keyless start, eight-way driver and six-way front passenger power seats with four-way power lumbar, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, rain-sensing wipers and some, but not all of the active safety features that I'd recommend and that are standard equipment on cars with price tags starting in the $20,000s. This is a GM thing, not just Cadillac.
There was $9,925 in extra-cost options on our tester. Regular readers will know I think Cadillac should take a page from Hyundai/Genesis and just make it all standard for one price. It would ensure that all the vehicles are well-equipped and eliminate the impression that you have to spend money to make a Cadillac a "real" Cadillac.
Anyway, here's how that $9,925 breaks out: $1,825 for the Active Safety Package (adaptive cruise control, automatic speed limit assist, enhanced lane keep assist with lane departure warning, HD surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, side bicyclist alert, traffic sign recognition, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, intersection automatic emergency braking); $1,650 for the Technology Package (head-up display, rear camera mirror, rear camera mirror washer, power tilt & telescoping steering column, wireless phone charging); $1,550 for a power dual panel sunroof; $1,225 for the Crystal White Tricoat paint; $1,100 for 20-inch alloy wheels with diamond cut and medium android finish; $875 for an AKG Premium 14-speaker audio system; $850 for the Comfort and Convenience Package (massaging driver's and front passenger seat, upgrade to 8-way power adjustment for front passenger, ventilated front seats); $850 for the Cold Weather Package (heated seats front and rear and a heated steering wheel).
All of which brings the bottom line on the window sticker to $55,115.
My take, after a week? It's just different enough from the Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes and BMW that it's a matter of taste. If you have no sporting pretense and are simply looking for a comfortable small luxury SUV in which to cruise effortlessly from point A to point B, the Cadillac absolutely checks those boxes.
Comments