2024 Cadillac XT4 Review and Test Drive
With attractive styling and sporty driving characteristics, the small luxury SUV is an excellent introduction to the Cadillac brand.
Perry Stern
QuickTakes:
Cadillac offers a full range of luxury SUVs, and the 2024 XT4 is the most affordable in the lineup. Don't let its entry-level position fool you, however. The XT4 offers the style, features, and premium experience expected from General Motors' luxury brand.
Better yet, the 2024 Cadillac XT4 gets significant enhancements for the new model year, moving the compact SUV further upscale.
With its first significant update since its 2019 model-year introduction, the XT4 gets fresh exterior styling, keeping its look in line with the rest of the Cadillac SUV lineup. Further updates are inside, where the XT4 gets a new 33.0-inch curved high-resolution display, 5G Wi-Fi hot-spot connectivity, a new AKG premium sound system option, and a range of new interior decor choices.
Those updates should help the 2024 XT4 remain competitive in the small luxury SUV segment, which includes the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Jaguar E-Pace, Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLA and GLB, and Volvo XC40.
Perry Stern
2024 Cadillac XT4 Prices Are Appealing
Cadillac offers the 2024 XT4 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels. Base prices range from the high $30,000s to the mid-$40,000s, including the destination charge to ship this SUV from GM's assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, to your local dealership.
For this XT4 review, Cadillac provided a Premium Luxury version for testing in southeastern Michigan. Options included all-wheel drive and the Active Safety, Technology, Comfort and Convenience, and Cold Weather option packages. The manufacturer's suggested retail price was $54,515, including the $1,195 destination charge.
Perry Stern
Cadillac Styling Found Inside and Out
The 2024 Cadillac XT4 has fresh front styling that aligns it with the rest of the automaker's SUV lineup. Signature vertical LED running lights stand out day or night, while new LED headlights are recessed below, looking like part of the bodywork until they light up. The wide grille features an intricate pattern in deep gloss black with a large Cadillac logo at the center. The wheels also get a new design for the 2024 model year.
Inside the XT4, the dashboard has been completely redesigned. It showcases an elegant 33.0-inch high-resolution screen incorporating digital instrumentation, a touchscreen infotainment system, and a panel for configuring settings. The screen gently curves to better present data to the driver, looking like it rests on a carved-out section of the dashboard — a rather interesting design element. Brushed aluminum trim frames the dashboard, adding to the premium feel, while slim vents give the cabin a wide look.
Cadillac keeps the climate functions separate for easy access, using physical controls with a nice tactile feel. Meanwhile, a central controller on the center console surrounded by shortcut buttons offers a secondary method for interacting with the infotainment system. There are also static shortcuts to audio, navigation, communication, and home screens at the bottom of the display. I found those to be more intuitive than the buttons on the console.
Perry Stern
Seating for Four Is Attractive and Comfortable
The XT4's front seats, trimmed in soft leather with stylish stitching and bolsters, add to the SUV's premium look. I took the XT4 on a 400-mile road trip, and the seats were very comfortable, with nice padding and good support. With Michigan's winter refusing to end, the three-stage heated seats and a heated steering wheel were welcome additions. The seat heaters provide even warmth without hot spots, and with the automatic setting, they will turn on when starting the car on a cold day.
The rear seat looks small, but there's reasonable legroom and headroom so that two adults can sit back there comfortably. However, the middle seat is tight, with most of its legroom taken up by the center console. The test vehicle's heated outboard seats and rear dual USB ports added comfort and convenience.
Perry Stern
The XT4's Small Package Offers Practical Utility
For a compact crossover SUV, the XT4 makes good use of its available interior space. The storage compartment under the center armrest is ample, and there's additional space ahead of the gear selector. At the front of the armrest is a slot for a phone that also serves as a wireless charger, an excellent design that keeps the phone secure and out of the way. Large pockets in the doors can hold large water bottles.
Opening the power liftgate reveals a sizable cargo area that easily accommodates multiple small suitcases or plenty of groceries. There is 22.5 cubic-feet of space behind the rear seats, and the area increases to 48.9 cu-ft with the back seats folded down. A hard cargo cover keeps valuables out of sight, rising out of the way when the liftgate opens. If the need arises to carry more gear, the XT4 can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Perry Stern
XT4's Google Infotainment System Defines Seamless Functionality
Following a growing trend in the auto industry, Cadillac has adopted a Google-based infotainment system for a more intuitive and predictable user experience. Drivers can also sign in to their personal Google account, which integrates calendars, playlists, and favorite destinations.
Google Maps provides the navigation system; additional apps are available via the Google Play Store. The test vehicle also offered access to the Spotify music streaming service and Waze navigation.
While many automakers have created in-house digital voice assistants, Cadillac uses Google Assistant, one of the best ones available. Push the voice button on the steering wheel to activate it. Google Assistant can change the audio selection, adjust the temperature, make a phone call, or set a navigation destination. I never had to repeat myself because the system understood every request on the first try.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are also standard. While I could have just logged into my Google account through the touchscreen, I connected my Samsung Galaxy S23+ and ran Android Auto instead. The connection process proved seamless.
For the 2024 model year, Cadillac added 5G Wi-Fi hot-spot capability and a high-end AKG 14-speaker audio system that produced excellent sound quality, significantly improving my road trip.
Perry Stern
The 2024 XT4 Has a Beautiful Display — if You Can See It
One look inside the 2024 XT4 reveals the beautiful 33.0-inch display screen dominating the cabin. This screen adds a high-tech elegance and elevates the interior of this entry-level Cadillac. However, its placement is somewhat problematic.
From the driver's point of view, the screen is behind the steering wheel, making it impossible to see the entire display. I had to move my head back and forth to see information hidden by the steering wheel. I found this frustrating during my time in the XT4, and it would be annoying to live with on a permanent basis.
Kia solved this same issue with its large display by limiting the viewable area to just what can be seen through the wheel, while the newest Lincoln puts the large display higher on the dashboard so the wheel doesn't block the view.
Perry Stern
2024 Cadillac XT4's Safety Features Abound
Every 2024 XT4 comes with the Cadillac Smart System, a collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Unfortunately, several desirable safety features require the purchase of the optional Active Safety package. This added package is not available with the base-level Luxury trim.
My test vehicle had that upgrade, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic intersection emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, rear pedestrian alert, and side bicyclist alert. While Cadillac offers one of the most advanced hands-free ADAS you can buy, the company's Super Cruise technology is unavailable on the XT4.
Neither does the XT4 offer a lane-centering assist. Instead, my test vehicle had what Cadillac calls Enhanced Lane Keep Assist, but it doesn't keep the SUV centered in the lane.
Those omissions left me with the adaptive cruise control, which I used extensively on my road trip in the XT4. It works smoothly and almost unnoticeably. Also, after changing lanes to pass slower traffic, acceleration back up to the set speed was equally smooth.
Cadillac XT4 crash-test ratings are hard to come by. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published two results from older tests, each ranking the SUV as Good. However, these ratings do not reflect the more stringent testing the IIHS employs today.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says the XT4 provides five-star protection in a side-impact collision and boasts a four-star rollover resistance rating. However, it doesn't publish an overall rating or the results from frontal-impact tests.
Perry Stern
Turbocharged Power Comes Standard in the XT4
Cadillac offers the XT4 with one powertrain: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
All-wheel drive is an option, but ground clearance measures no more than 6.7 inches, so the XT4 is mainly suitable for paved roads and well-traveled gravel or dirt roads. It can also help to get you home during a moderate snowstorm.
Perry Stern
The XT4 Is Surprisingly Agile but a Little Stiff
The Cadillac XT4 is not powerful, but the small crossover supplies surprisingly spritely performance during the daily drive. While the engine gets noisy under hard acceleration, it doesn't sound overly buzzy. Performance improves slightly with Sport mode, which lets the revs climb higher before shifting and automatically puts the XT4 into AWD.
Driving the XT4 on my favorite backroads, I was pleasantly surprised by the small Cadillac. The handling is good with direct steering, and the XT4 feels agile in the corners with good grip and a firm suspension. While I enjoyed the taut ride on the winding country roads, it was not as pleasing on the freeway. The XT4 feels stiff, especially on Michigan's less-than-stellar surfaces, transmitting every imperfection to the cabin. Even when the roads were smooth, too much noise penetrated the cabin.
As for fuel economy, the EPA rates the 2024 Cadillac XT4 at 24/29/26 mpg in city/highway/combined driving with FWD. With AWD, the figures drop by 1 mile per gallon to 23/28/25 mpg. During my drive in the XT4 AWD, the trip computer indicated 25 mpg, perfectly aligning with the EPA estimates.
Perry Stern
Most AWD crossovers don't require any action by the driver to engage all four wheels. When the main drive wheels slip, the other wheels add grip. That isn't the case with the XT4, which defaults to FWD.
There is no specific switch for AWD. Instead, you press the drive-mode button once and AWD engages, indicated by a small icon in the driver display. Disengaging AWD requires cycling through all the drive modes. During my drive, a surprise Michigan snowstorm required AWD, and I would have preferred it to engage on its own when the roads were slick.
Perry Stern
The Entry-Level XT4 Is Still a Cadillac
Although it may not be as luxurious and refined as other Cadillac SUVs, the newly enhanced 2024 XT4 offers attractive styling, a quality interior, impressive tech, and practical utility. Beyond that, it looks and feels like a Cadillac SUV but has a fun personality and enjoyable driving dynamics.
Still, the compact XT4 faces tough competition against models from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. To improve its competitive edge, I think it needs another layer or two of refinement and a slightly softer ride quality.
