Cadillac’s XT4 small crossover utility returns for 2003 with only minor changes and a starting price of $36,295 (plus $1,195 freight) for the base front-wheel drive model.
At the center of the lineup is the Premium Luxury model with front-wheel drive for $40,195, followed by the Sport model for $40,795 with front-wheel drive.
Four-wheel drive is available on all three models for an additional $2,500. Our tester for this report was the all-wheel-drive Sport version, which cost $43,295 but came with a long list of extras that pushed the final sticker price up to $57,510.
New for 2023 are two exterior colors, Argent Silver Metallic and Radiant Red Tintcoat ($1,225 extra). Our tester had the Argent Silver Metallic paint, which came at no extra cost.
Also new for 2023 is the addition of Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, along with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert as standard features.
The XT4 is the smallest crossover in the Cadillac range, and even with the base model it comes with a premium interior, sporty performance and plenty of safety, convenience, infotainment and connectivity technology.
While the cabin is surprisingly comfortable, with room for up to five people, the rear seat is best for two rather than three.
We made several trips with four adults on board, and no one complained about their seating. The generous legroom in the rear is one of the advantages of the XT4.
Under the hood of all three trim levels is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque.
It is mated to a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission and there are three driver-selectable drive modes – Tour, Sport and Snow/Ice – allowing the XT4 to adapt to different road conditions and driver preferences.
Power was more than adequate for routine driving and the turbocharger kicked in with quick boosts of power with no noticeable lag.
While leather is standard on the mid-range Premium Luxury model, it costs extra on our XT4 Sport. It was included in the Comfort and Convenience Package ($2,350), which brought the leather seating surfaces and an eight-way power front passenger seat. The driver’s seat comes standard with eight-way power seats and both front seats have two-way power lumbar support.
Standard features included heated/electric folding door mirrors with turn signals; driver seat memory; a hands-free power tailgate with programmable height; passive access, with keyless start button and adaptive remote start; LED headlights and taillights; 60/40 folding rear backrest with folding center armrest with two cup holders; universal remote control for home; a rain-sensitive windshield wipers.
Other high-tech safety features include a forward collision warning, front pedestrian braking, a high-definition rear view camera, a safety warning seat and a teen driving feature.
The Driver Assist package ($1,100) gave us automatic reverse braking, improved automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
Sport models have additional seat reinforcement, but the sporty features are mostly cosmetic. They include a gloss black mesh grille inspired by Cadillac’s high-performance V Series models, gloss black window trims and specific Sport alloy wheels.
To aid the sporty image, our vehicle came with the Onyx Package ($2,795, dealer installed), which featured a black mesh grille surround, 20-inch gloss black wheels fitted with P245/45R all-season tires, and black and white Cadillac decals.
All models feature advanced LED lighting technology, front and rear, with LED dipped and high beam headlights at the front and an LED illuminated light bar for the daytime running lights.
Also included in our vehicle was the Enhanced Visibility Package ($1,500) which included a rear-view mirror with washer, automatic parking assist with brakes, rear pedestrian warning, and HD surround vision with multiple cameras around the vehicle, including bird’s-eye view.
The rear view mirror projects an image onto the rear view mirror (if selected) for a wider, less obstructed view; allows zoom and vertical tilt adjustments; and with diverted washer fluid removes mud, dust, snow, ice and moisture from the rear view camera lens.
Automatic parking assist with brakes assists with finding and maneuvering in parking spaces (parallel or perpendicular), accelerating, steering and braking, while the driver selects gears and lifts and brakes as needed.
When reversing, the rear pedestrian warning sounds an alarm when a pedestrian is detected behind or behind the car.
Standard features included IntelliBeam automatic high beam, distance-following indicator and lane-keeping assistant with lane-keeping warning.
Dramatic vertical signature LED headlights flanked the shield-shaped, black mesh grille with the familiar Cadillac shield logo and arc to follow the top of the fender.
At the rear, the vertical LED taillights emphasized the C-pillar and protruded from the tailgate under a subtle crease. The underside of the tailgate spoiler was glossy black and merged into the rear window.
Our tester also came with a two-panel electric sunroof ($1,550) and a Cold Weather Package ($850), which added heated front and outboard rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
The included Adaptive Remote Start can be used to start the vehicle up to 100 meters away. After this, the engine will run for 10 minutes and the automatic climate control will operate at the same setting as when the vehicle was turned off.
The test vehicle had the Jet Black interior with Cinnamon accents.
Storage was adequate, with door pocket/bottle holders; four cup holders, two front/two rear; a center console with two additional sockets, a 12-volt socket and an SD card reader; and a center console bin with two additional power outlets, a 12-volt outlet and an SD card reader, removable tray and angled phone holder.
Front doors had mini umbrella holders above the door pockets, recessed into the door. Rear passengers had two additional power outlets on the back of the console, below adjustable vents.
The rear seat backs were folded 60/40, almost flat, opening up the already large cargo area to carry long, wide items like plywood. Tie-down straps and a 12-volt outlet made the cargo area more versatile.
Under the floor, instead of a spare tire, our XT4 had a seal-and-inflate kit. The space under the floor can be used for tools or other valuables.
The Cadillac User Experience with Built-in Navigation ($1,500) brought real-time traffic information (discover faster, alternate routes; reroute routes along the way), and the Bose Performance Series audio system with 13 speakers and Centerpoint surround sound was added to the standard CUE, including AM/ FM stereo with 8-inch color screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.
OnStar with an SOS button is standard, as are SiriusXM radio, 4G LTE Wi-Fi and Cadillac Connected Apps. Connected apps include talk radio, news, sports, music (e.g. Pandora and Spotify), weather, and more.
On-screen functions are accessed via a next-generation dial with new jog functionality to complement conventional buttons, and touchscreen duplication for more ways to interact.
Our vehicle also came with the Technology Pack ($1,400), which brought an 8-inch color meter cluster, air ionizer, head-up display, wireless phone charging, and electrically tilt/telescopic steering column.
The Safety Alert Seat vibrates to alert the driver of concerns such as accidental lane departure, along with flashing lights in the driver information display. The safety warning seat can be selected instead of audio warnings.
The Teen Driver feature monitors driving, prevents safety features such as stability control from being disabled, and allows parents/guardians to limit the stereo volume and set different limits for speed, distance and curfew time.
Our XT4’s ride was firm and a little bumpy hitting even minor road mistakes. But I suppose that’s part of its ‘Sport’ personality, which has given the XT4 decent handling overall.
Published estimates of fuel economy are 24 mpg city/30 highway/26 combined with front-wheel drive, and 22/29/24 with all-wheel drive. We averaged 23.2 mpg with about 60/40 local/highway driving.
With $13,020 worth of options and the $1,195 freight cost, our 2023 Cadillac XT4 Sport AWD had a total sticker price of $57,510.
G. Chambers Williams III’s automotive columns have appeared regularly in the Express News since 2000. Contact him at chambers@auto-writer.com or on Twitter @gchambers3. His riding partner Emma Jayne Williams contributed to this report.
2023 Cadillac XT4
The package: Subcompact, five-passenger, five-door, front- or four-wheel drive, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline-powered crossover utility vehicle.
Highlights: Cadillac’s smallest crossover arrived for 2019. It has bold styling, plenty of standard and optional amenities, and available four-wheel drive.
Cons: Rear seat best suited for two adults.
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol.
Transmission: nine-speed automatic.
Power/Torque: 235 hp/258 foot-pounds.
Brakes, front/rear: disc/disc, anti-lock.
Length: 181.1 inches.
Empty weight base: 3,660.
Cargo volume: 22.5 cubic feet (behind rear seat); 48.9 cubic feet (rear seats folded).
Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds (with trailer package).
EPA fuel economy: 24 mpg city/30 highway/26 combined (2WD); 22/29/24 (AWD).
Fuel Capacity/Type: 15.9 gallons (2WD)/16.3 gallons (AWD), normally unleaded.
Base price range: $36,295-$43,295, plus $1,195 freight.
Price as tested: $57,510, including freight and $13,020 in options (2023 Sport model).
On the Road score: 8.3 (out of a possible 10).
Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices; actual retail price may vary.