Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Impressive Cadillac XT4 has carved a niche for itself
It arrived late to the luxury-compact party just two years ago, but the 2021 Cadillac XT4 already has no problem attracting attention. It is one of the sharpest looking SUVs in this extremely competitive segment, featuring unique vertical LED lights up front, a bulging hood and a broad, black hexagonal grille.
L-shaped LED lights follow the shape of the rear, while dual exhausts, a rear lip spoiler and 10-spoke alloy wheels with nickelpainted finish complete its sporty look.
All XT4s are equipped with an aluminum block 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection. The four-banger makes 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That may not sound like much, but it’s fast enough from the stoplight — and has some growl too. It gets to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, which isn’t bad for the segment but is a full second behind class-leader BMW X1.
At 20 pounds shy of two tons, this is not a nimble machine. The suspension is stiff, which helps with body roll on corners but also accentuates some bumps and holes around town. The steering is nicely weighted but soft on feedback.
Fuel economy is decent, with some credit going to a cylinder-deactivation system. EPA estimates 24 mpg around town, 30 on the highway for a combined figure of 26 mpg.
The XT4 is wider and longer than most foes, and that translates to more cabin space for five occupants and their stuff. Head, shoulder and leg room is plentiful up front, though more cramped in the rear. Front seats have 8-way power plus up to 4-way lumbar adjustments for driver and passenger, making longer trips a comfortable experience.
It also has 22.5 cubic feet of cargo space — sufficient for bags for five folks on a long weekend. Flipping down the 60/ 40 rear seat backs opens up nearly 49 cubic feet, and access is easy with a hands-free power lift gate.
The elegant feel of the cabin comes from leathertrimmed seats with accent stitching and aluminum or carbon fiber-like trim. Behind a thick leatherwrapped steering wheel are analog dials with a digital data center in the middle.
An 8-inch touch screen accommodates Cadillac’s CUE infotainment, which can be controlled by touch or a rotary knob on the center console. It’s a manageable system but scrolling through some menus can get tedious. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Standard safety features include forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking, front and rear park assist, and lane change alert.
In a segment that is crowded and competitive, the relative newcomer XT4 has its work cut out for it. But it has a unique exterior style and an interior that’s laden with standard features and built as well as its peers from Europe, Japan and Sweden. So move over, fellas.