Introduction

The 2021 Cadillac XT4 rounds out GM's luxury lineup of utility vehicles. It's the smallest in a family that has grown to include an XT5 and XT6, all dwarfed by the massive Escalade. 

The XT4 gets only a few small revisions for 2021. The updates include wider availability of leather and safety gear as well as a few new standard features, including a power liftgate. 

The XT4's powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that makes 237 horsepower. It pairs with a 9-speed automatic transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive. The EPA rates front-drive versions for 24 mpg city, 30 highway, 26 combined. All-wheel-drive XT4s are less efficient, returning 22/29/24 mpg. 

Standard safety gear includes automatic emergency braking. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, automatic high-beams, and active lane control are all optional. For 2021, most of these extras have now been made available for the base model. 

The NHTSA gives the XT4 a five-star overall rating, but no IIHS scores are in. 

Lineup

Like other Cadillacs, the XT4 comes in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims. At $36,790, the base Luxury comes with goodies like an 8.0-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and LED lights. 

Moving into the Premium Luxury requires $40,790 and mixes in leather upholstery, heated seats and steering wheel, memory seats, and blind-spot monitors. You have to upgrade to this trim if you want to tack on massaging and cooled seats or adaptive cruise control. 

The Sport costs $40,990, and that extra $200 over the Premium Luxury buys 19-inch wheels, a performance-tuned suspension, and sportier exterior design elements. The interior gets adjustable bolsters and a sport steering wheel but is otherwise equipped like a Premium Luxury model. Adaptive dampers are a $700 option exclusive to the Sport. 

Walkaround

The XT4 strikes a fine balance between good proportions and impressive detailing. Taut lines and short overhangs mix with the defined body to suggest nimble lightness. 

The finer details also seem well thought-out. The grille is pleasingly wide-set; the taillights are attractive pieces that neatly frame the rear end. Our favorite detail is the small Cadillac crest on the fender, a subtle but effective allusion to heritage and history. 

Interior

At first glance the XT4 cabin is strikingly similar to the larger XT5 in design, but a bit more sleuthing uncovers some notable differences. More buttons and less detailing are the first things to be noticed, but considering the price point these cost-cutting measures don't come as a surprise. The meaty three-spoke steering wheel in the XT4 speaks to us more than the four-spoke unit in the XT5 and other Cadillacs. 

The 8.0-inch touchscreen that comes standard is a breeze to use. It gets standard smartphone compatibility and can be optioned up with navigation and wi-fi hotspot capability. Available wireless device charging can round out the techy setup. 

Despite being on the bottom of the Cadillac totem pole, the XT4 offers seats that are heated, cooled, and ready to massage. Memory functions are also on the menu, as are power lumbar and adjustable bolsters. Clearly, Cadillac wanted to offer Cadillac comfort in the XT4, and we say they succeeded. 

The back seat can't be equipped quite so elaborately, but it remains a pleasant and comfortable space for two riders-three is possible, but seriously pushing it due to the limited width. Leg room comes in around 40 inches, which is generous in this segment. 

The cargo area measures 22.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up. That expands to a competitive 50 cubes once the seatbacks are folded. 

Driving Impression

The XT4 delivers a comfortable driving experience. Base models have a composed ride, though that can be choppy when the available 20-inch wheels are fitted. 

The Sport trim gets a retuned suspension that puts more weight on driving dynamics than the base crossovers. These versions have a bit more verve, especially when equipped with optional adaptive dampers. With a few different drive modes and adjustable firmness, they give a XT4 a much wider breadth of personality, making cruising more comfortable and spirited driving more enjoyable. 

The XT4 sports a 237-hp turbo-4 with adequate power; 0-60 mph takes about eight seconds. Around town the XT4 feels sprightly and responsive, but a full load of passengers and cargo dulls its responses. 

The engine mates to a 9-speed automatic. That many gears might have some potential buyers worried about the transmission constantly shuffling gears, but this gearbox has no trouble finding the right gear without fuss. 

Summary

The 2021 XT4 is a convincing gateway into the Cadillac brand. It has plenty of what matters: good looks, a strong feature set, and a reasonable starting price. Choose the base Luxury edition for its value, but the best driving experience comes with the Sport model and the available adaptive dampers. 

 

-by Anthony Sophinos, with driving impressions from The Car Connection.