The Cadillac XT4 Sport AWD is a comfortable, more-than-adept handler for slippery driving conditions in the big city. Spacious cabin, sleek, we loved it, during a week where the Toronto area saw some of the most intense snowy conditions this winter.
Related: Five reasons why the 2022 BMW X3 M40I SUV is a great winter vehicle
U.S. News recently released their Best Luxury Subcompact SUVs for 2022 and the Cadillac XT4 was No. 5 on the list. The 2022 Cadillac XT4 is priced at just over $50,000 at Budds’ Cadillac, just outside Toronto. We drove the 2021 model a few weeks back.
Cadillac XT4: Luxury touchpoints, meets affordability and functionality
No. 1 on that list? The 2022 BMW X1. Priced in the same neighbourhood as the Cadillac, the authors of that list claim the Cadillac doesn’t meet the power and luxury of its rivals, including the BMW.
On the flip side, Consumer Reports had the Cadillac XT4 on a list of 10 least satisfying cars. Me, I was looking for practicality, with lots of cargo room behind the rear seats, for example. It was the holiday season, so there was a lot of visiting, Christmas presents, food stock-ups.
Cadillac XT4: Seats five comfortably
The SUV delivered, for me. This isn’t a Porsche Macan. Maybe you don’t need six-figure prestige. Perhaps you want affordability and functionality with a subcompact SUVs combined with just enough luxury touchpoints.
Maybe you live downtown. You walk a lot. You don’t need to blow your brains out with the pocketbook. But you want a brand that has panache, which Cadillac provides. And you want something that gets the job done when you need it.
The Cadillac XT4 seats five comfortably. AWD, 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, 235 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque. It has a little less pep than its luxury midsize XT5 SUV brethren (and around $8,000 less in price). So the acceleration doesn’t knock your shoes off.
Bose audio system
We liked the interior. Leather upholstery and power-adjustable front seats, with heating and massage functions.
The infotainment system had a ton of features – 8-inch touchscreen, Bose audio system, wireless device charging, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, four USB ports. There’s an expansive sunroof. And like I said, plenty of cargo space – 22.5 cubic feet behind that second row of seats.
And what about the ride? The 4-wheel independent suspension, with McPherson struts up front and 5-ling independent rear suspension means a smoother trip. All in all, for us, the Cadillac XT4 is a more-than-enjoyable driving experience.
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com
