While we await a brave new future of electric vehicles, crossover utility vehicles will continue to dominate, and ones like the 2022 Cadillac XT4 will remain to be a highly praised contender in such a competitive segment.
As a compact crossover, the Cadillac XT4 has done well to win over many people mostly due to its low entry price for a vehicle that offers several luxury features in a smallish package. This week takes me back to the same time last year when I spent some quality time with the Cadillac XT4 in the same trim as this week’s test vehicle only this time I get the all-wheel-drive variant.
See Also: 2020 Cadillac XT4 Sport Review & Test Drive
Featuring a decent powertrain in the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine sending power through a smooth-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission to power all four wheels, the XT4 is a commendable compact luxury crossover. Remaining unchanged from last year’s model, the XT4 keeps all that’s good about the Cadillac brand in offering what I believe to be entry-level luxury and a powertrain setup that can be used in a standard front-wheel-drive setup or all-wheel-drive for better stability.
The eager turbocharged 4-cylinder engine provides good power for its size, 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The power does come at a price of a buzzing sound that doesn’t sound as luxurious as you would expect out of a Cadillac. The suspension system can be a bit lofty and busy at times with the fixed-rate dampers, but the overall comfort is good and agreeable for long trips even with the stylish but larger 20-inch wheels. However, there’s a lot more to like about how the XT4 handles itself as a decent-driving crossover with a few other surprises.
The few other surprises in the new XT4 are in the form of its surprisingly spacious cabin for being a compact luxury crossover. There’s a good amount of front seat adjustability in the 8-way-power adjustable heated, ventilated, and massaging leather seats along with agreeable seating areas out back. Moreover, cargo volume is competitive, too.
There’s a nice layout of its cabin and dashboard with an easy-to-use infotainment system fed through an 8-inch touchscreen. There’s a redundancy of controls for using the system with physical buttons and a central control knob mounted behind the gear shifter along with the small volume knob. There’s also the use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that can be paired wirelessly or through a USB connection.
Fuel efficiency remains to be consistent at 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. Those figures get better if you opt for the front-wheel-drive model to get as much as 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.
The Cadillac XT4 has always been a decent contender during its four years of existence with a respectable starting price of $35,795 before any fees or options. Moving up through the trim levels is recommended as it will open the availability of many desirable luxury features and land at a price of around $55,420 for my nearly loaded-up Premium Luxury trim test vehicle.
