READY TO MAKE ITS MARK
All-new XT4 has the goods to establish itself in the subcompact luxury sport-ute segment
SEATTLE From its first single-cylinder model for 1903, Cadillac was a powerhouse for its first seven decades for its innovations and luxury. But then it stumbled badly, until in 1998, it took the wraps off the massive new Escalade. The company that had only ever made cars was ultimately saved by an SUV.
And that’s the plan today. The rollout of its 2019 XT4, its first compact sport-ute, is the beginning of a three-year plan to pare down its sedans, and instead add a model into every size segment of the sport-utility market.
One of the company’s major mistakes in days gone by was its tendency to add luxury features to lesser models and badge these as Cadillacs (yes, Cavalier-based Cimarron, I’m glaring at you), but it’s seemed to have learned its lesson. This isn’t a Chevy Equinox with fancier trim, but a model all its own. The XT4 is all new from roof to rims, including its platform and new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with fuelsaving technologies that are starting to make their way across some of GM’s other offerings.
The little engine cranks out 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, mated to a new nine-speed automatic transmission. Depending on how you’re driving, the camshaft slides to operate the engine’s valves at different levels: Lifting them high when you want maximum power, lower for efficiency at cruising speeds and shutting off the two middle cylinders when very little power is required.
In front-wheel-drive form, the XT4 achieves a published 8.9 L/100 kilometres in combined driving, while all-wheel-drive models average 9.7.
The engine includes automatic start/stop technology, which shuts it off at idle, such as when you’re sitting at a light. Cadillac briefly added the feature to other vehicles without providing a way to disable it, but after getting an earful from customers who wanted some control over their cars, the XT4 includes a button that lets you keep the engine running at all times, should you prefer.
It’s in a segment that includes models like Audi’s Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA, but it’s larger than those and is actually a sizable model to be calling itself a compact. That said, its light and nimble demeanour makes it feel like a much smaller car to drive, but that larger footprint provides impressive interior space, including rear-seat legroom.
Pricing starts at $39,900 for the Luxury trim and from there, splits into Premium Luxury or Sport trim, both at $48,295.
Those are front-wheel prices; adding all-wheel drive bumps up each model by $3,395.
The differences between the Premium and Sport include exterior styling cues and available options, including active suspension damping on Sport models.
The XT4 is a well-rounded vehicle that checks pretty much all of the boxes. The engine pulls strong and smoothly up hills, and there’s virtually no turbo lag to mar the acceleration. The nine-speed is equally efficient and you barely feel the shifts. The all-wheel system primarily powers the front wheels, but can send all of its power to any of the four wheels as needed.
Sport mode is available and I like how it works: The vehicle feels tighter and responsive, but you don’t get the irritating engine drone as some other vehicles do.
I drove both the Premium Luxury and Sport models, and found both of them a good balance of a luxury ride with quick response and nimble handling. The electric power steering is tuned for good weight and sufficient feedback, and the vehicle feels solid and well planted on the highway.
My one complaint is with the brake pedal, which I thought was too high in relation to the throttle.
The exterior styling is about par for the course among crossovers —handsome overall, save for sharply hooked headlight surrounds that haven’t won me over and give the corners an odd, droopy look. The interior is stylish and well finished, with just enough wood and metal accents to freshen it up. I found the seats to be extremely comfortable, plush but still supportive, in both front and rear. Those back chairs are easily folded to provide a flat floor for extra cargo space.
I don’t like the electronic shifter — there’s no need to reinvent the PRNDL by making me push forward for Reverse or hit a button for Park — but the rest of the controls are fine.
The new infotainment system is easy to use; as with a few other automakers, Cadillac initially brought out an overly complicated version and then improved it by simplifying it to what it should have been in the first place.
As they should be, functions like the climate control and heated seats are handled by hard buttons.