For ride and handling impressions on the 2019 Cadillac XT4, click here.
Arguably more important than the way a premium car drives is the way it cocoons and comforts you from the outside world. A desirable little mobile fortress that somebody can call their own, and lay claim as master of their own domain. Everything needs to feel fortified, yet serene, and stylish. And it’s no small order to be the best at all of these things in the small luxury crossover market, though Cadillac has finally arrived with the XT4 as the latest contender.
All Cadillac XT4 during the launch drive event in Seattle were fully loaded Sport or Premium Luxury models, tipping the scales at roughly $20,000 over the base $36k MSRP. Does the interior appear $20,000 nicer? It’s hard to say, considering not having a base 2019 Cadillac XT4 available. Nevertheless, the interior is well put together, rather charming, and represents the most modern interpretation of the Cadillac design language thus far.
About the price. The 2019 Cadillac XT4 MSRP jumps significantly thanks to no shortage of optional equipment, even beyond the base model. Options like the $2,450 Comfort and Convenience Package, the $1,500 Enhanced Visibility Package, a $1,400 Technology Package, an $1,100 Driver Assist Package, and an oddly separate $770 Driver Awareness Package. Further add-ons include a $1,500 navigation package that also adds a 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system, and the panoramic sunroof is $1,700.
Visibility from the drivers seat bears no complaints, really. The rakish roofline may seem give way to the illusion that the belt line is too high, or that the A-pillars are too swept back, but really we never felt claustrophobic, nor short of sight. The myriad of sensors from the various packages also gives aid to drivers that may need it. The backup camera, which is available in a 360-degree overhead surround view now lines the anticipated wheel turning radius, so as to preemptively make the perfect input. The XT4 can’t park itself (yet), but with all of the visual low speed aids, there’s nobody that can’t correctly park this sporty crossover.
Some of the lowlights, however, are as follows. It would have been nice to see the plastic material switches and buttons nicely spread  throughout the 2019 Cadillac XT4 be swapped out with a more premium material – be it metal, carbon fiber, or wood. It would have been a serious eye opener for the segment, and a crucial detail that lets everybody know that Cadillac is serious about luxury. Perhaps we’ll see this manifest itself on a future Cadillac XT4 Platinum. The electronic shifter also seemed unintuitive. Reverse gear requires a forward selecting motion, which felt odd when the vehicle is about to go backwards. And the steering wheel felt annoyingly cheap. Be it either the feel of the leather wrap-around, or what feels to be a hollow construction, it’s far from the nicest thing in the cabin, yet is the one thing that the consumer will always be touching.
The highlights. Many people probably didn’t catch it – but there are available massaging front seats, which are part of the Comfort and Convenience Package. The controls are a bit cumbersome for a first impression, but anybody who commits to an XT4 will likely get the hang of it over a small amount of time. All of the touch points are perfectly soft, as well. Additionally, the new infotainment system is also lightning quick – and makes us easily forget the resentful CUE system of previous Cadillac products. And no longer are all of the controls confined to a touch screen, and now there’s a convenient rotary dial to help navigate the screen without having to touch it. Seriously – this system is sharp (though it better be, for the money). As a bonus, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 features NFC technology, which you can read more about here.
The next-generation camera mirror (part of the Enhanced Visibility Package) is also more crisp than before, and is far better in the low light scenarios. But we still find our eyes wandering to the traditional way with the flip of a toggle. To which, the mirror is of a sexy and frameless design, that also mimics the shape of the Cadillac crest. And thanks to the wide stance of the XT4 (and the utilization of a midsize vehicle architecture, derived from the E2xx platform), the cabin gives off an unrivaled spaciousness compared to similarly priced vehicles such as the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. Even compared to the Lexus NX, its most direct rival in terms of proportions and pricing, the 2019 Cadillac XT4 offers more headroom, more hip room, and far more rear legroom. And the sunroof is simply a must. Did we mention the cabin air ionizer? Did we mention the Heads Up Display? Did we mention the wireless phone charger? The ventilated seats?
Perhaps the $20,000 of additional content is reasonable, after all.
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Comments
I think cadillac did an amazing job with interior but they need more colors for God sake it a luxury after all.
I loved the dark green color that used to be available on the CT6.
Excellent review, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the overall fit & finish of the XT4’s interior?
Imo they did a good job with the interior, no more cheap looking piano black finishes or cheap plastics & the horizontal lines make it look spacious, But there’s still room for improvements & Cadillac still have ways to go.
They need to:
– Use real metal more throughout the cabin, a lot more.
– Take ambient lighting more seriously.
– Offer something other than the faux Carbon Fiber trim, that $#@! ran it course. The faux wood is not enough.
– Offer Alcantara inserts or diamond quilting, perhaps experiment with materials & come up with cool different stuff, like RR did with the Velar or the Escala itself.
– More interior colors, for the love everything holy in the world more interior colors!
If Audi & Volvo can do that, why can’t Cadillac?
Mods, feel free to delete this post. I apologise for the foul language.
Cadillac uses real wood, they also use real carbon fibre. This isn’t the old days. It’s all the actual stuff.
I agree on the diamond quilting etc.
I agree on more interior color choices. – Bring back Carbon Plum and extend the availability of Morello Red!!!
Excellent review, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the overall fit & finish of the XT4’s interior?
Imo they did a good job with the interior, no more cheap looking piano black finishes or cheap plastics & the horizontal lines make it look spacious, But there’s still room for improvements & Cadillac still have ways to go.
They need to:
– Use real metal more throughout the cabin, a lot more.
– Take ambient lighting more seriously.
– Offer something other than the faux Carbon Fiber trim, that $#@! ran it course. The faux wood is not enough.
– Offer Alcantara inserts or diamond quilting, perhaps experiment with materials & come up with cool different stuff, like RR did with the Velar or the Escala itself.
– More interior colors, for the love everything holy in the world more interior colors!
– Get rid of the GM parts pin Push-Start Button! That joke is not funny anymore.
I have long thought GM needs to develop a “style” for the interiors of their various brands and especially for their premier brand. A Cadillac, such as this one, has the same shapes, materials, and switchgear as a Chevrolet so that the “feel” is the same even if one is driving a Cadillac. They all feel like GM products only the Caddy has elevated material quality. For an example of what I am talking about, I would refer to BMW AG. The interior of their MINI brand has a very different look and vibe from the interior of a BMW-branded product and, likewise, a Rolls Royce interior looks, feels and smells nothing like a BMW. They accomplish this in spite of the fact that some of the systems and controls working behind the scenes are shared. A MINI is quirky, a BMW purposeful luxury, and the Rolls has a very old world English feel. The three are very distinct.
GM has done a good job of developing a signature look for Cadillacs on the outside. I would suggest they do the same for the inside.
Looks like it may need a sunshade for the screen.
They should drop the fully vinyl seats for cloth inserts or whole seat faces. But they don’t want to sell the Luxury trim, it’s just for advertising.
Where is it going to be made?
Here for North America:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-facilities/gm-usa-facilities/gm-fairfax-kansas-city-kansas-usa-plant/
Here for China:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-facilities/gm-china-facilities/gm-cadillac-jinqiao-pudong-shanghai-china-plant/
Interior Impressions? The dashboard looks to busy. Needs to be toned down.
You cannot make an assessment until It has been viewed in person.
COmfort and convenience package runs $1050 but also includes cold weather package ($850). It’s not $2,400+ as the article states.
What’s in the C&C but not the CW package doesn’t cost only $200. I wish you were right.
Someone at GMI posted a photo of an XT4 Sport on a car carrier, so they’re on they’re way to a Cadillac dealer near you.
on THEIR way
The C&C package includes leather seats on the Sport model ( which the P L has standard) so it will be more expensive for that trim.
I think it looks really good. If this is the future of Cadillac suv/trucks then its a good thing.