The 2022 Cadillac XT4 is the smallest and cheapest luxury SUV from Cadillac. It debuted in 2019 and will continue into 2022 with no significant changes. Despite its small size compared to the Escalade, the XT4 is one of the roomier vehicles in its class, providing plenty of passenger and cargo space for the price. Another notable feature is the user-friendly infotainment system.
The XT4 is not without faults, though. The ride is harsh, and the engine sounds raucous and unrefined. We anticipate more refinement from a luxury SUV. Other extra-small SUVs with better characteristics include the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Volvo XC40. Learn more about the XT4’s strengths and limitations by reading our Expert Review.
Pricing
| FWD Luxury | $36,990 |
| FWD Sport | $40,590 |
| FWD Premium Luxury | $40,790 |
The 2022 XT4 is another year in which the only significant change is the addition of three new exterior colors—Galactic Gray, Latte, and Rosewood. The Sport model will have red-painted brake calipers, while the turbocharged four-cylinder engine now produces 235 horsepower rather than 237.
If a buyer adds Near Field Communications wireless phone-pairing capability to their XT4, they will no longer get standard carpeted floor mats as well as optional premium carpeted floor mats. The SUVs will not have access to the standard floor mats or include the Near Field Communications wireless phone-pairing function.
The XT4 Sport is adequate, but the Premium Luxury and Sports versions are almost identical in price. Because the former does not live up to its name, and the latter is even better to drive, we’d recommend the XT4 Sports. It has unique wheel designs, blacked-out exterior trim, and unique interior accents. The Sport model adds an adaptive suspension with dynamic dampers and beefier front seats.
We’ll also opt for the Active Sport suspension and Comfort and Convenience package (leather interior, ventilated and massaging front seats, etc.) to ensure that we don’t get the ride quality-reducing 20-inch wheels as part of the Sport Dynamics option.
Under the hood of every XT4 is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 235 horsepower. It’s powered by a nine-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. The 2019 XT4 Sport we tested managed to reach 60 mph in 7.8 seconds — 1.5 seconds slower than the X1. Despite the difference, the XT4 felt nimble around town and on the highway. Cadillac’s claim of sportiness with the XT4 is meaningless. It’s more of a boulevard cruiser than a sports vehicle.
The XUV’s ride is tolerable, as long as the road isn’t too bumpy. Rough sections of tarmac convey a lot of vibrations and sharp impacts into the cabin, especially while using the optional 20-inch wheels. The direction is likewise disappointing, with neither feeling substantial nor straightforward in operation. The XT4’s only decisive controls are its brakes, which brought our test vehicle down from 70 mph in our emergency-stop test in 172 feet and one of the stiffest brake pedals we’ve encountered.
The XT4’s cylinder-deactivation feature does nothing to improve its fuel efficiency. The vehicle gets relatively low EPA estimates, with front-wheel-drive models achieving 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Our all-wheel-drive test automobile achieved just 27 percent of its EPA advertised 29 mpg in our real-world highway fuel-economy test.
