Road Test: 2024 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury FWD

Cadillac’s Subcompact SUV

The 2024 Cadillac XT4 is smack dab in the heat of the subcompact premium/luxury SUV category. It is the third best-selling SUV for Cadillac, coming in behind the larger Escalade and XT5, but ahead of the XT6 and Lyriq EV. All of them outsell the Cadillac luxury sedans. But how does it stack-up against a highly competitive field?

It’s a bare-knuckle fight, but the XT4 has got some weapons. Let’s take a look.

Three Models

The 2024 Cadillac XT4 comes in three models—Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport. All come with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that puts out 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque (on premium gasoline), driving either the front or all-four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Comfortable Cruising

The XT4 has three driver-selectable drive modes—Tour, Sport and Snow/Ice on the front-wheel drive model; the all-wheel drive model adds all-wheel drive and off-road modes. The engine ran smooth, but there was hesitation on launch; when powering up a hill or flooring it, there was significant engine noise. Zero-to-60 times of right around 7.3 seconds were plenty peppy for freeway onramp merging.

Clean Fleet Report spent a week exploring Southern California in a front-wheel drive XT4 Premium Luxury. The fuel economy, which is best in Touring mode, is rated by the EPA at 24 mpg city/29 highway/26 combined mpg. In 365 miles of mostly freeway driving we averaged 26.1 mpg, same as the EPA.

Our best efficiency was over a 110-mile all-freeway run with the adaptive cruise control set at 65 mph, earning us 32.5 mpg. We were pleased to cross the 30 mpg mark and surpass the EPA 29 mpg rating by so much. The Active Fuel Management system helps reduce fuel consumption by temporarily deactivating some of the engine’s cylinders in certain driving conditions. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience using the dash gauge computer. Your numbers may differ.

The ride was comfortable and quiet. Though not marketed as a sport SUV, the handling was solid, aided by the four-wheel independent suspension and the C ontinental ProContact 245/45 all-season tires, mounted on 20-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels that were diamond cut and had an attractive android finish. These wheels are a $1,100 option.

Braking is through four-wheel discs with electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and traction control. The XT4 has a 3,500-pound tow rating. Most road imperfections were handled with ease, little harshness or road noise was transferred to the cabin. The XT4 handling is not sporty, but is predictable and could be a good road trip experience for a family of four.

To challenge consumers in a curious way, Cadillac has placed a “350T” badge on the rear power lift gate. The first thought is this references a 3.5-liter engine or 350 horsepower, but no, not even close. Cadillac has converted the torque from foot-pounds into newton-meters, which is the torque measurement used in many countries around the world, but not the U.S. Then they rounded it up to an even number. If for some reason you want to learn more about newton-meters, you can indulge here.

Accommodating Interior

Clean Fleet Report had plenty of seat time to get a feel for how the XT4 could easily handle four on a road trip. The supportive power driver and passenger seats were covered in leather, as was the second row. As part of the Cold Weather Package ($850), the XT4 gets driver and passenger heated seats, heated outboard rear seats and a heated, multi-function steering wheel. The Comfort and Convenience Package ($850) brings ventilation for the driver and passenger seats, which also get power lumbar and massage functions.

The XT4 Premium Luxury comes in five interior colors of solid Jet Black or Oxford Stone/Jet Black in leather, or leather with mini-perforated inserts. Depending on which color pallets are chosen, there will be Fineline Calico high-gloss genuine wood or Luminary Precision aluminum trim accents. There were both hard and soft surfaces throughout the cabin, but some of the hard plastic pieces fell a bit shy of a premium Cadillac standard.

The hands-free lift gate revealed a cargo area of 22.5 cubic-feet with the 60:40 rear seat upright, and 49.9 cubic-feet with it lowered. If taking a road trip with four adults is in your plans, the luggage should fit.

Standard equipment on the 2024 XT4 can be enhanced by available packages that add optional equipment and features. In addition to the Cold Weather and Comfort and Convenience Packages noted earlier, our XT4 Premium Luxury had the dual pane tilting and sliding sunroof for $1,550, Crystal White exterior paint at $1,225, and all-weather floor mats for $195.

Big Screen

The XT4 is dominated by its 33-inch (diagonal) LED color touchscreen with a sharp and beautiful 9K resolution. In comparison, most flat screen televisions are 4K. The display handles navigation and the AKG Studio audio system. Fourteen speakers pumped-out quality sound for AM/FM HD radio, SiriusXM and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Google Built-In is included to access updated apps in your vehicle, including Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play.

The Bluetooth for hands-free phone worked well, with multiple USB ports and power outlets completing the audio system. We would have appreciated a channel selection knob to accompany the volume knob which is located on the center console.

The controls are logically laid-out and within easy reach, including piano switches to operate the dual-zone climate control. The XT4 is well-equipped with convenience features including remote keyless entry with remote start, a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel with radio and telephone controls, wireless phone charging, an air ionizer, 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, tire pressure monitoring system, rain sensing windshield wipers, keyless push button on/off and OnStar.

A note regarding OnStar: a simple push of a button connects you with a friendly General Motors representative to handle emergencies, directions and general assistance to make your driving experience safer and more enjoyable. This is one area where GM is an industry leader, and after the initial service plan expires, it is well worth renewing.

Distinguished Design

The XT4 exterior has been redesigned for 2024 with an all-new front fascia with the reworked Cadillac chevron emblem being placed prominently in the new grille, all of which Cadillac says “advances its design standard.”

Clean Fleet Report was driving the XT4 Premium Luxury, where the narrow LED headlamps squint from the outer edges of the fenders, bordered by the signature vertical LED daytime running lights.

The tail continues with vertical LED tail lights, twin rectangular chrome-tipped exhaust ports, and the hands-free power lift gate. Something unique and very classy is how the rear window wiper tucks away under the roof spoiler and is not visible when using the rear view mirror.

Safety and Convenience

The 2024 Cadillac XT4 has front, seat-mounted side, knee, and head-curtain airbags for both front and rear seat passengers. The advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) included automatic collision braking conditions, forward collision alert, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic and blind spot alert, front pedestrian and bicycle braking, full-range adaptive cruise control with following distance indicator and automatic parking assist with braking. The XT4 has a smooth stop/start feature where the engine shuts off when coming to a stop and, when it’s time to go, engages automatically.

Other safety features included walk-up illumination, high-definition rear view camera, surround vision and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Pricing and Warranties

Clean Fleet Report’s 2024 XT4 Premium Luxury FWD had a base price of $41,495. With $6,645 in options and the mandatory $1,195 destination charge, the total MSRP came to $49,335.

The 2024 XT4 comes with these warranties:

Bumper-To-Bumper – Four years/50,000 miles
Powertrain – Six years/70,000 miles
Corrosion – Four years/50,000 miles
Rust-Through – Six years/Unlimited miles
Roadside Assistance – Six years/70,000 miles
Scheduled Service/Maintenance – 18 months/Unlimited miles

The private Insurance Institute for Highway safety (IIHS) has awarded the XT4 Good ratings on moderate front overlap and side crashes. The federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N H TSA) last tested the XT4 in 2023, which is the same as the 2024 XT4, where it received their highest overall Five Star rating.

Observations: 2024 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury FWD

Competition in the subcompact SUV category is a bare-knuckle fight. Cadillac is battling against the BMW X1/X2, Volvo XC40, Audi Q3, MBZ GLA, Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Evoque—among others. Some of these come as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or even an EV, so savvy customers will be scrutinizing the gas-only XT4 closely.

The 2024 Cadillac XT4, with a quiet and roomy interior, gets acceptable fuel economy if you drive conservatively, and the ride is comfortable and absorbs road imperfections. It shines when driven straight over long distances or around town running errands. It also has a base price advantage compared to some of its European competitors.

General Motors has announced a commitment to 30 new global electric vehicles by the year 2025. With crossover SUVs being the hottest sales category, it stands to reason the XT4, and the larger XT5 and larger XT6, will either be discontinued or completely reborn with some sort of electrification.

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Story and photos by John Faulkner.