The Cadillac XT4, introduced for the 2019 model year, does away with the poorly received touchscreen controls that previous versions of the Cadillac User Experience infotainment system used .
Instead of relying on tedious and imprecise touchscreen controls, the Cadillac XT4 features a rotary dial in the center console, which is an easy-to-reach way to control the selected item in the CUE interface.
For 2020, General Motors is making the CUE interface in the Cadillac XT4 even easier to navigate, introducing the so-called “jog” function to the system.
Jog functionality allows the user to “click” the rotary wheel from side to side or forward and aft, making it easier to jump between different menu items within CUE. This allows the user to precisely select those items, rather than accidentally skipping over them if they turn the rotary dial too much.
The rotary dial gives users a tactile object to make inputs to CUE, making easier to select items while driving, as it does not require the precision of a touch system.
Our sister site Cadillac Society had the chance to sample the new rotary controller in the 2020 Cadillac XT4 recently, and found the jog capability felt more natural than the old spin-only inputs.
It’s also worth noting that the rotary knob in question is the larger dial located on the center console, rather than the smaller knob above it, which only controls the stereo volume.
Cadillac Society also reports that most 2020 model year and newer Cadillacs will feature rotary controllers with the jog capability, including all variants of the 2020 Cadillac XT4 as well as the 2020 model year XT5, XT6, CT4, and CT5. The CT6 is the only Cadillac product with a rotary controller without a jog functionality. In addition, the current Escalade is the only Cadillac model to offer the old touchscreen CUE interface, but is set to change once the next-generation Escalade arrives.
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Source: Cadillac Society
Comments
Very glad to hear Cadillac updated the Rotatry in the XT4.
Now if they can add some levers in the back to Drop the Rear Seats from the Cargo area would be even better.
How GM decided to leave that feature off the XT4 is almost Mind Blowing.
So, now it will have a functionality that BMW had 14 years ago?
David Cross
Cadillac CT6 alive; BMW 6 series dead.
Nothing wrong with emulating a good era of BMW. Now Bimmers have some of the worst interiors in the luxury segment.
What are you talking about?
Have you set in a new BMW lately?
Cadillac wishes that GM would allow them to have that level of sophistication and quality materials in their vehicles.
Yes I have; I encourage you to do the same. Tacked on tablet screen. Cheap as hell looking silver plastic all over the place; surrounded by the same glossy-bk fingerprint magnets people have complained about in Cadillacs for the last 10 years.
BMW is in a terrible design malaise. That’s what happens when you get too cozy making sales on nothing but badge prestige alone. It’s exactly what nearly killed Cadillac.
@Vorg
Are you being serious?
You think Cadillac interiors are superior to BMW?
You’re joking correct? Cadillac would give up a first born to be allowed to utilize the materials, craftsmanship, and Tech that BMW offers.
I have pretty much driven almost every single modern BMW and I honestly hope you’re kidding that Cadillac is even on the same level.
Name me one Cadillac interior that is even on Par with a the base version BMW right now.
X1 over XT4?
X3 over XT5?
X5 over XT6? I almost laughed out loud just typing that
XT7 over Escalade I guess?
1 Series over CT4?
3 Series over CT5?
5 Series over CT6?
7 Series over….Oh right, Cadillac is nowhere in that Market
8 Series over….Oh right, Cadillac is not in that Market as well.
Z4 over….Oh right, Cadillac is not in that Market as well.
BMW is a Tier One Luxury Auto Maker. Cadillac only dreams of one Day reaching that level.
I hope as a Cadillac fan that they will, but I have serious doubt GM will ever allow the Budget to make that happen.
My co-worker has a 2019 BMW X5. The interior is just OK. Same plastic on the lower side of doors and transmission tunnel that Cadillac gets hammered for. I’m not a fan of the wide and skinny screen. IMHO, it is no better than the newer Cadillacs. Styling is subjective, so I won’t comment on that.
I am not stating that your opinion is wrong. Everyone has different tastes.
I do not know of many who find the XT6 interior superior to the BMW X5.
I would assume if we could poll 100 people that know absolutely nothing about cars and specifically Brands. I bet you that most by a wide margin would Poll that the BMW interior if far more rich in Luxurious materials. Would really be interesting for a Company to do so. Wonder if Cadillac would ever do a study like this or do they really know the outcome before so why even bother.
I gotta ask because Ive seen many like you. If you are such a bmw fan, why the heck are you even on this website?
I wouldnt let doubt keep you down dude, anything could happen. Cadillac can change and maybe catch up.
Correct, David. But in Cadillac’s case, it works, and works well. In the BMWs, it never really truly worked. That’s the difference.
It doesn’t matter who is first. What matters much more is who does it better/best.
Exactly.
Let us know when Cadillac adds Touch Pad feature on their Scroll wheel that Mercedes, Audi, and BMW have had for years LOL
The touchpad is a forced UI element that doesn’t actually add much in the way of UI. In fact, it deters from it and is unnecessary if one has good voice control. BMW doesn’t have it. Oops! Your bad!
I disagree completely. It is quite quick and easy to use especially on the move to quickly find settings. Some people dislike it but others love it so if you are a Luxury maker why not offer it especially when your starting from scratch on an all new UI system that utilizes a scroll wheel?
And I am sure the reason that Cadillac does not offer this feature that has literally been around for years is not because people do not like it. It is because they won’t pay the R&D to provide it for their customers. Which is the main point here.
In my opinion, the only thing wrong with the Cadillac touch screens of the past is they were cheap screens.
If any of you use a surface or even just a newer phone you would know its not that the touch screen is the trouble, its the GM cheap small touchscreen that’s the trouble.
And lets remember looks are in the eye of the beholder.
Hey anyone here know how the Audi knobs work, asking for a friend. Ha
Anyway I bet those XT4s are just flying out of the showrooms, leader in there segment, and the only one in their segment.
Or are they still just offsetting the XT5 in sales to current Cadillac owners who do not try the competition.