Cadillac’s XT4 Crossover – ELEVATING THE ENTRY-LEVEL

Cadillac’s XT4 Crossover – 

ELEVATING THE ENTRY-LEVEL

I’m someone who believes in buying just enough car for your current needs.  Gas is relatively cheap right now; as a result, new car buyers often get lured into buying something larger than they need.  For instance, if you don’t have kids at home, or don’t frequently go off-road or haul a lot of gear, then why consider a big SUV with a lift-kit and knobby tires?

That same logic can extend to tech features that you might rarely use, regardless of how cool they sound.  If you never have the need to parallel park, why buy a car that can park itself automatically. I haven’t lived in a city where I’ve parked on a crowded street in over twenty years so I’d rarely – if ever – need an automatic parking feature on a new car.

Think about what you really need in a new car/crossover/SUV.  When I worked at a Lincoln dealership, prospective customers would often bring in their golf bags to see if they would comfortably fit in the car or SUV they were considering.  It makes sense to cover all your bases before signing on the dotted line. 

I bring all this up because I recently drove a car that’s ideal for a young couple, or perhaps empty nesters looking for a luxury crossover with sharp design. It was great fun to drive and is just big enough for two, with a little extra room in case you have short friends. The vehicle is the 2021 Cadillac XT4 AWD Premium Luxury compact crossover that I played with for a week.  It came with a $51,435 MSRP and was powered by a 237 hp, 2.0 liter turbocharged inline four mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.  The car’s pretty light, so that 2.0 liter turbo was more than enough to get the XT4 moving fast.  Fuel economy with the AWD was 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.  

The exterior is distinguished by sharp angles in the sheet metal, giving the XT4 a distinctive presence.  The sloping roof imbues the crossover with a particularly sporty look.  This is a car that the neighbors will notice.  The interior design echoes the angular cues from the exterior.  According to a Cadillac press release, the XT4’s infotainment functionality “delivers intuitive, smartphone-like functionality and a dynamic platform that leverages the cloud to adjust personalization, navigation and other features over time to meet the changing needs of the owner.” This system is clearly designed for a younger buyer who enjoys interacting with the latest tech.

Overall, the XT4 was one of the most fun, entry-level luxury crossovers I’ve driven lately.  From the stylish exterior to the techy interior to the nimble driving experience, I came to really enjoy the short amount of time I got with the crossover.  It’s one I readily encourage new car buyers to test drive. (And take your golf bags…)