As Cadillac tries to flog smaller SUVs like the XT4 and XT5, and small unremarkable sedans like CT4 and CT5, none represent what buyers truly perceive to be a Cadillac, at least if sales are to be believed. That honor belongs to Cadillac’s bestseller, the Escalade, which possesses the attributes most consumers attribute to the brand. And while the 2024 Cadillac XT4 is good, it’s no baby Escalade.
Certainly the 2024 Cadillac XT4 has its requisite share of design panache — at least on the outside. For 2024, it gets a fresh face that recalls the new all-electric Cadillac Lyriq, along with tweaks to lighting, wheels and rear design elements. It’s a welcome change to the six-year-old design, which has aged well. Its overall shape and size remain unchanged at 180.9 inches long and 76.6 inches wide, making it the ideal size for urban environs.
And there’s some flair inside. For 2024, the XT4 gets a revised instrument panel that incorporates the Lyriq’s incredible 33-inch, 9K-resolution LED screen that incorporates the instrument cluster and infotainment controls. It's stunning. Using Google's Android Automotive software, it has a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot and can be fitted with an impressive AKG 13-speaker audio system. It sounds like a great set-up. Yet Cadillac’s system didn’t automatically recognize my iPhone, forcing me to manually select the phone each time the XT4 started. Once connected, it didn’t activate my iPhone’s wireless Apple CarPlay despite specifications stating otherwise. So text messages weren’t audibly read aloud or responded to using voice commands. It might have worked with a cord, but I didn’t have one with me.
So, I used the imbedded navigation system, which was riddled with errors. Driving in Ocean Ridge, Florida, the map told me I was in Boynton Beach, which is across the water and is another town entirely. Then there are the smaller issues that seem helpful, but aren’t. While I was on my way to an after-hours event at the Rubell Museum in Miami, the navigation system reminded me that the museum was closed every time it gave a direction. As I neared the museum, it instructed me to take an exit that doesn’t exist. This renders the navigation positively useless.
As for the cabin itself, its design is easy to operate and functional, and filled with padded, soft-touch surfaces. The seats prove comfortable and supportive, and are far better than most in this class. The same is true of the excellent automatic climate control, as well as the windshield wipers. That’s a small item, perhaps, but they worked well and didn’t streak or make noise. That said, the XT4 never feels as opulent as its competitors, as the layout and all-black color mitigate any panache it might possess.
The 2024 XT4 shares its corporate E2 platform and mechanical bits with the Buick Envision, which starts at $3,190 less. They share the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic with a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. However, the XT4 is rated at 235 horsepower, seven more than the Envision. Both require 91 octane fuel, with the XT4 returning an EPA-rated 25 mpg with all-wheel drive, 26 mpg with front-wheel drive. It comes with a MacPherson strut suspension up front and a five-link independent set-up in the rear. An Active Sport Suspension with Continuous Damping Control is optional on Sport trims. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard; 20s are optional.
This explains its fairly good dynamics, as the engine provides lively acceleration with fairly quick steering. Braking is excellent, and body lean is well-controlled. That said, the XT4 always reverts to front-wheel drive upon start-up, requiring the driver to engage all-wheel drive.
The XT4’s ride is firm, which expertly controls unwanted body lean and excessive body motions, although large bumps are noticeable. Regrettably, the power plant is far too unrefined for this buggy, being buzzy on start-up and vocal when pushed. While not as quick as some competitors, the XT4 exhibits far less turbo lag, which is always appreciated. Still, this is an entry-level Cadillac, so road noise is intrusive at highway speed, forcing you to turn up the volume on any music. This is a faux pas for a Cadillac.
We tested a Sport, the top trim level in a lineup that includes base Luxury and mid-level Premium Luxury models. That said, our Sport was a Sport in name only, and we longed for a little bit more of the Escalade’s luxury and attitude, which seemed to be missing here. It just didn’t feel special enough, despite performance that’s fairly good but not class leading. It felt like a GM corporate product, not a Cadillac.
However, it would make for a decent Buick.
Oh wait. It is.
2024 Cadillac XT4
Base price: $39,090-$43,190
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder
Horsepower/Torque: 235/258 pound-feet
EPA rating (combined city/highway): 25 mpg
Fuel required: 91 octane
Length/Width/Height: 180.9/76.6/64.1 inches
Ground clearance: 6.7 inches
Payload: 1,300 pounds
Cargo capacity: 22.5-48.9 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds (with Towing Package)
Larry Printz is an automotive journalist based in South Florida. Readers may send him email at TheDrivingPrintz@gmail.com.
