Compared: 2023 Cadillac XT4 vs. 2023 Cadillac XT5

In the compact and midsize SUV sectors, Cadillac's XT4 and XT5 offer comfort, size, decent economy, and good value.

Jim Resnick | 

Apr 10, 2024 | 3 min read

Cadillac | XT5 (top)

Cadillac's 2023 XT4 and XT5 play in two of the biggest, most competitive sandboxes in the automotive playground — those of the compact and midsize SUVs. And while neither is completely new, they both offer decent comfort, quietness, and good fuel efficiency for their sizes.

The XT4 is the smaller of the two, competing with BMW's X1 and Audi's Q3, while the larger XT5 takes on the Lincoln Nautilus, Lexus RX, and Genesis GV80.

Cadillac | XT4

The Larger 2023 Cadillac XT5 Comes at a Higher Price

The base Luxury-trim 2023 XT4 costs about $37,000 and is powered by a turbo four 2.0-liter making 235 horsepower. The same engine is offered across all trim levels, which ascend in price and standard features to the Premium Luxury for $41,000 and the Sport for $42,000. You can also opt for all-wheel drive (AWD) for an extra $2,500.

Though the XT4 Luxury version comes with modern basics such as power front seats, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and wireless smartphone integration, it isn't available with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking while reversing, or automatic parking assist.

Cadillac | XT5

The larger XT5 starts at about $46,000 and comes with the same 2.0-liter engine, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, multiple driving modes — Tour, Snow & Ice, and Sport — and a seven-speaker audio system. To choose the more powerful 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, opt for the Premium Luxury trim at around $51,000 or the Sport at about $58,000. The Sport also comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Cadillac | XT4

For More Tech, Opt for Extras in the XT4 and XT5

The XT4 and XT5 interiors have a sober, clean look, though the XT4 has a smorgasbord of buttons below the central display. Fewer of these functions are incorporated into the touchscreen of the XT4 than on the XT5.

There's ample space in the front seats and a better than average amount of space in the rear seat, though the XT5 is larger. Also, park assist, surround vision, rear pedestrian alert, wireless phone charging, a cargo shade, head-up display, and a reconfigurable gauge cluster are not available even as options on the base XT4 Luxury. For those, you must opt up to either the Premium Luxury or Sport trims.

Cadillac | XT5

Meanwhile, all XT5s have a full suite of tech and even come with four USB ports. Every XT5 also has leather as standard, though an optional semi-aniline leather requires the $7,800 Technology package, which also includes a head-up display, HD surround vision (depicting proximity to objects), rear pedestrian alert, and other interior trim upgrades.

The XT5 interior design has a clear layout and premium feeling, yet isn't overly ornate.

Cadillac | XT4

The 2023 XT4 Edges Out the XT5 in Fuel Economy

With just one 235-hp four-cylinder engine offered across the XT4 range, front-wheel-drive (FWD) versions return an EPA-estimated 23/30/26 mpg in city/highway/combined driving. Adding the optional AWD system drops that to 22/29/24 mpg.

Cadillac | XT5

Being larger and heavier, the XT5 loses a bit of efficiency to the XT4, netting 22/29/24 mpg for FWD and 21/27/23 mpg for AWD. Models powered by the 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine slide to 19/26/21 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Jim Resnick

From racing exotic sports cars, to ranking new cars, to peeling back layers of cover up in an exhaust emissions scandal, Jim has chronicled the automotive sector for decades. Jim has also worked inside the corporate headquarters of three carmakers, and therefore understands how the automotive sausage is really made. But Jim’s affinity for vehicles takes a back seat to finding the truth and the cultural implications of modern transportation. He has also lectured at universities to engineering and policy students and faculty on the industry’s relationship with legislation in the wake of the diesel exhaust emissions scandal several years ago. Put simply, Jim reports on autos, mobility, tech, car culture, and the traffic jam of topics within.