The 2018 New York Auto Show was a big one for Cadillac. It showed off the refreshed 2019 CT6, which now includes the V-Sport model, and more importantly, debuted the 2019 XT4 crossover.
The XT4 will do battle in the highly competitive compact crossover market, where Cadillac has been absent for much too long. After some time with the new CUV, here are five things we like.
The exterior design is sharp
Cadillac’s best differentiator is its exterior design, and the XT4 plays on this attribute. As cliche as it may sound, there really aren’t many vehicles that look like a Cadillac. Yes, the taillights pull heavily from Volvo, but the entire exterior design is mighty handsome in person. The front fascia is sculpted and comes to a fulfilling point when viewing from the side profile, and headlight treatment looks better than ever on the XT4. The XT4 Sport models’ clear taillights also look fresh. Overall, we think the exterior is a home run.
There are physical buttons inside
CUE’s touch and haptic feedback buttons are long gone and for the better. The physical buttons and a rotary dial helps simplify the interior and the user experience. While sitting inside the XT4, it’s easy to adjust the menus, change radio stations and operate the entire info system from the rotary dial, which also has supporting buttons flanking it. We’ll have to test it in the real world, but it’s already doing the XT4 a lot of favors.
The gauge cluster is mighty functional
Not only does the gauge cluster feature two easy-to-read analog gauges (that don’t wear the same boring font as the ATS), but a large screen on the debut models sits between them. Since the car wasn’t running, we’re not sure how much information the screen displays, but it was an attractive design. Cadillac gauge clusters have been rather uninspired as of recent.
The pricing
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is proportionately larger than some of the vehicles it compares to in price, and that’s absolutely on purpose. It’s a well-tested strategy that Cadillac has executed in the past with the CTS and SRX crossover. For the price of a sub-compact crossover, say the BMW X2 or Audi Q3, buyers are treated to dimensions similar to a BMW X3 or Audi Q5. That should draw buyers into the showroom alone with a $36,000 price tag.
Youth appeal
Design is subjective, but we do think the XT4 has a rather youthful spirit about it. We even believe it outdoes the XT5 in the design department with sharper creases and an Escala concept-inspired grille. Where the XT5 might still hold onto a few fuddy-duddy design traits, the XT4 just appears more vibrant. We like that a lot.
Comments
It’s a very well proportioned and designed vehicle. It should fit in well with the rest of the line. No one should knock them too much for the vertical taillights. It’s not like any one manufacturer holds license to vertical taillights. Many have used them before including Cadillac on the CTS wagon. I look forward to seeing it in person.
This car is getting a lot of hate and I don’t quite understand why. Lots of luxury automakers make cheaper entry level cars i.e MB CLA, BMW X1, Acura ILX I can go on.
I like it. I just think the mid level trim should be the standard trim.
Those “haters’ are acting like the fox in the Aesop’s “Sour Grapes” story: they complain against Cadillac for what they cannot buy for themselves. No other company or brand can offer what the XT4 has for any penny less! I wish the XT4 has a Hybrid or EREV version before buying, but I like everything else.
Benz, BMW and other luxury brands are wise to capture a wider chunk of the market place by moving down market in to the attainable luxury space.
In Europe, the luxury brands have hobbled brands like Opel, Pueguet and put pressure on Ford.
I could see Benz go further down market in the effort to cover even more segments aside from Mercedes, AMG and Maybach. Expect GM and other automakers to follow suit.
Cadillac must follow suit. It would be silly to refer these shoppers to Buick or Chevrolet in 2018 with Sloan’s Ladder broken and each brand out for itself. Avenir and Delani as trim levels demonstrate that GM wants three luxury-priced brands.
“Lots of luxury automakers make cheaper entry level cars i.e MB CLA, BMW X1, Acura ILX I can go on.”
And there it is. If the other guys do it, then it’s ok – or even mandatory – for Cadillac to do it also. Whatever happened to Cadillac being a leader, and actually meaning something as a brand? Seriously, what does Cadillac mean now? A vehicle for every application and every income level? An outright copier of other brands?
#WhatIsCadillac #MeTooBrand
Drew, for once, I agree with you.
Here’s another problem with Steve’s statement:
Those other brands he listed, as well as the rest of the (mainly European) brands have BRAND SNOBS, aka hype-beasts. Cadillac still has to prove themselves to the early adopters, CADILLAC HAS NO BRAND SNOBS. Woo the early adopters with good product, which will generate HYPE, and the brand snobs will follow.
There’s a reason why the X3/GLK(GLC) immediately followed the X5/ML(GLE), rather than the X1/GLA. It’s because the entry-level subcompacts are purely intended for hype-beasts/brand snobs with ample pockets, who don’t know any better.
The rear 3/4 shot is my favorite, especially with the Sport Trim. The black accents, big wheels, and clear tail lamps are all very youthful and athletic. I really want to see the Sport Trim in white, and some interior options other than all black. Overall, it’ll be a strong sales performer. My only concern is the engine, but we’ll have to wait to see what people think about that when they get behind the wheel.
David
iI am in agreement with you. I too wish I could see the interior with something other than the Black trim. Cadillac need to brighten up the interior of their vehicles. Other companies show interiors with light colors and Cadillac show vehicles with dark brown or black.
Take a look at the order guide and you’ll see that black isn’t the only interior option
Never said black was the only color. I said I would like to see pictures of Cadillac vehicles with lighter colors. Both the XT4 and the CT6 were shown with dark colors.
I like the intial details, but I wish for a Hybrid or EREV power train. So I will wait until Cadillac offers the XT4 PHEV.
In a video preview, I heard that the rear seats do not recline. Please tell me that is not true…
Do you believe that without proof? Go to the NYIAC and check for yourself.
Didn’t say I believed. Asking for confirmation.
Likewise. I also want to see visual confirmation that the screen tilts forward.
Unrelated observation: It’ll be interesting to see how the gas gauge indicator operates, as it looks like there is no independent needle for the gas gauge next to the speedometer.
As the article states, there’s a display between the two gauges…Lots of vehicles including the Camaro offer this as an option…
The XT4 looks good I like it. Give me more choices of interior colors. Don’t particularly care for the plastic on the exterior but I could live with it. I’d buy one.
Have you seen the plastic that Lexus puts on the front end of their $60,000 SUV’s?
I actually like the plastic. The plastic on the lower portion of the XT5 is about form over function, and function it does. In our 2017 there are zero paint chips from rocks on the sides by the wheels, and in the rear, the plastic was easily bent back into place when we were rear-ended.
Plus, Its a nice compliment to certain colors.
I will try one this fall when I sell my Jeep Cherokee.
The hate comes from those that are fixated with the “Brand Mentality”. Audi, BMW, Accura, Mercedes are “chic” and “sexy” names. Unfortunately, a lot of people are into image and Cadillac still has that “my grandpa” drove a Cadillac or Buick so it’s “uncool” to have that brand. Kinda like those that spend $4.50 for a cup of Starbucks because it’s “chic” to walk around holding a cup with the name Starbucks on the cup even though it’s no better than the $1.99 cup that you get at Dunkin Donuts
… wow did THAT analogy spin down the crapper…
McDonalds coffee is even cheaper and better than Starbucks sour stuff.
But Tim Horton’s is the best!!!!
Cadillac is aiming this vehicle at a younger crowd . In fact the lead designer said that the group of designers were all younger than normal for Cadillac . I don’t get all the haters of this vehicle from just looking at a few pictures , but i quess that was going to happen .
Cadillac listened to its customers and give the buttons they have been asking for with a new CUE-3 that sounds like its faster and more responsive than prior systems . The front end is definitely Cadillac and the rear is something different than most others in the class . It may have some Volvo cues but looks a bit more like Escalade IMO .
I believe there are 5 interior colors so that should help calm down the black haters even though black is a very popular color for alot of consumers .
Until people can actually get inside one and drive it , let alone see it in person , lets wait to judge it .
When will the xt4 be sold as a plug in?
Too complicated and too much weight
I like the looks. The exterior plastic is alright with me, especially around the wheel wells to stop paint chipping and rust. I also like the interior buttons its different, but I have no trouble with our ATS CUE. The 2.0T 9 speed concerns me just because of the 14, 15, and 17 models of GM we own now with poor low speed response, and shifting, but I will not comment until I drive this. And I’m not going to be told its continuously learning so it will get better, it better be better new than what we have now.
I’m surprised the analog gauge cluster would be called “mighty functional”. The analog speedometer appears to only have a small area which is actually useful to the likely drivers, as I don’t think too many are going to take this to 160 mph. Also I don’t think many of the likely drivers of the XT4 are going to use a tachometer. I realize that the small round dual analog gauges (tach and speedometer) are favored by race car drivers (and professional auto reviewers who fancy themselves as race car drivers), but for the people who are going to buy an XT4 and use it as a daily driver, I don’t see these as very functional.
On the GM website you can see the XT4 dashboard with the digital part lighted up, and it does have a small digital speedometer at the top. Given the small size of the analog speedometer, and the non-sporty nature of the XT4, I’m guessing that most drivers will be using the digital speedometer the most. Other Cadillacs and other GM cars appear to have larger digital speedometer readouts, so unless this is adjustable I don’t see great utility there either.
There are a few things to like about the vehicle, but to call this a Cadillac seems laughable to me. It might be ok as a Chevy, but then the price would have to be lower. For one thing it’s too small to be a real Cadillac, and they are getting further and further away from Cadillac styling (e.g. the rear taillights). But beyond that the execution seems very sub-luxury.
Even little things like having an always exposed dual plastic cupholder next to the gearshift, seems cheap and unluxury to me. And yes some other brands (such as Chevy and including the Lexus RX, I believe) do that cupholder thing the same way, but I’m tired of seeing “But they do it!” as a justification for cheap plastic tackiness on a “Cadillac”. Imagine “The Cadillac of cupholders” – is the XT4 cupholder what you imagined?
#HaveSomeStandards #MakeCadillacGreatAgain
I want to buy the XT4 WITH PLUG IN
I’m afraid the upcoming Q3’s interior will outclass this one. Or look at the cheapest Benz’s interior : the brand new A-class. Look at the Mbux infotainment system it offers. Thats how the game should be played if u want to win. This Caddy doesn’t even offer a fully digital dash. Sorry,but still far away from the main rivals. The worst thing is that Xt6 will get almost the same interior ,but with better materials.
Make the Malibu the new Volt, and we will buy it
The base price may be okay but the real question is where will most of these land with options or higher more popular trim levels. If the majority of these are in the 45-50K range then I say they are not really a great value especially with one of the weakest 2.0T engines in the industry, too much exterior black plastic and from the side view it looks too similar to the new Mitsubishi Eclipse thing. With that said I’m sure it will be Cadillac’s top seller in these weird times.