The percentage of mid-size luxury SUVs with four-cylinder gasoline turbo engines has doubled in the last five years in the U.S. automotive industry. That’s according to data shared by General Motors during a recent presentation to dealers, seen by GM Authority.
GM is no stranger to this development, as it has begun to offer its turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY engine in more luxury SUVs (technically crossovers) than ever before.
In the past two years, the LSY has been added to the Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6 and second-generation GMC Acadia ranges, none of which were offered with it when they first went on sale.
The LSY became available as an alternative to the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX engine in the 2020 GMC Acadia Denali as part of that model’s refresh / mid cycle enhancement. At 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque as fitted to the Acadia, the LGX is more powerful, but versions fitted with the LSY have a slightly lower MSRP, as GM Authority exclusively reported earlier this month.
The LSY was also added to the 2020 Cadillac XT5, and is now the base engine in the Luxury and Premium Luxury trim levels. The LGX is an option only the Premium Luxury model, while being standard on the Sport trim level.
There is a similar story with the XT6, though the change took place a year later. In its first model year, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 was available only with the LGX engine, but the 2021 Cadillac XT6 acquired a new base trim level called Luxury, as per Cadillac’s Y trim level strategy. The Luxury trim is available exclusively with the LSY turbo engine, though the LGX remains the only engine fitted to models in the more expensive Premium Luxury and Sport trim levels.
Vehicle/Engine | Peak Power (hp) | Peak Torque (lb-ft) |
---|---|---|
Cadillac XT5 2.0L LSY | 235 | 258 |
Cadillac XT5 3.6L LGX | 310 | 271 |
Cadillac XT6 2.0L LSY | 235 | 258 |
Cadillac XT6 3.6L LGX | 310 | 271 |
GMC Acadia 2.0L LSY | 228 | 258 |
GMC Acadia 3.6L LGX | 310 | 271 |
It’s worth noting that the XT5 and XT6 situation applies only to North American markets. In China, the LSY engine is standard on both models through the trim range.
In addition to the vehicles mentioned above, the LSY is also standard or available in the Buick Envision, Cadillac XT4 and Chevy Blazer crossovers, and in the Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5 luxury sedans. It made its debut in the 2019 Cadillac XT4 and has replaced the last-gen 2.0L I4 LTG in all models but two: the Chevy Malibu (where it serves as the up-level engine) and Camaro (where it serves as the base engine).
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Comments
And it is not because they want to.
There’s a particular common theme among the majority of these owners: Feminine, Liberal, doesn’t research before buying/leasing, not car people, and will throw money at every thing if someone ask them to buy something.
If you told me you bought a BMW X5/Audi Q5/MB GLS/Cadillac XT6 and I find out it has a 4 cylinder….no need to explain to me your MO of faking it all the time
Mostly females buy these types of vehicles, which are mostly CUVs. With that said that does not mean they are feminine. As most western broads aren’t especially in the USA.
Lipstick:
Does your Wife/ Girlfriend know how much you hate women?
GMs 2.0 4 cylinder offers lackluster performance and below average fuel economy. By popular you mean “loyalists are not offered any other options so they accept it”, yes, you are correct.
The xt4, 5 and 6 are not really luxury when compared to the likes of BMW, Mercedes or even Lincoln anymore. Mazdas have a nicer interior.
I would take a 2.5t cx-30 over an XT4 and not even think twice about it.
Boy, you two have got to be smoking weed. I work with Mazda and there’s zero way the CX30 is in the same realm as those other brands. And although I’m not at all a fan of the XT4 and I do feel the Mazda’s have a nice interior, it’s NOT nicer than a Cadillac or Lincoln. Mazda only has a nice interior because everyone compared them to Toyota’s and Honda’s, both of which have junk interiors.
Look cut the crap here. These are not liberal women who are tree hugging cat owners.
Many of these buyers are the average buyer out there that are men, women conservative, independent and liberal.
People want a well optioned vehicle but they can’t afford a Escalade. They are willing to buy cheaper and with it come 4 cylinder Turbo models in the volume luxury models.
Most have good power for how they are used. MPG is also not bad and better than most in the market.
Automakers are forced into this with MPG standards and emissions. They don’t want it but they have no choice. Soon more 3 cylinders will arrive in smaller models.
BMW and Benz offer similar more basic models. I just saw a Benz advertised starting at $39k. Well $39k does not get you much luxury either. BMW also markets entry level luxury too.
With that said I do believe GM could have done better on their XT models too. I bought a GMC as it was not worth the extra money for the Cadillac version of the same thing.
One thing is all Cadillac versions should get a bump in power. Make them Premium fuel only and bump up the power. If you own a Cadillac you can buy the better fuel.
Too bad GM doesn’t have a decent 2.0L turbo. Even little Volvo has been able to justify investing in a solid 2.0L.
GM’s bigger problem is that all of their crossovers look the same, with the same proportions, the same cheap parts, the same underwhelming proportions, and the same problems.
If I am going to get a bland mobile I will at least get one that will last. Which means a Toyota, Lexus, or Acura….at least until Cadillac or Buick can provide an interesting, high quality alternative that I want to own.
This is another case where car enthusiasts missed the huge change in gas engines in the last decade: direct injection. They’re not “4 cylinder turbo” engines, they’re “4 cylinder direct injection” engines.
They’re half-diesels due to stratified charge, and one important thing with stratified charge is you want less cylinders for efficiency. Semi truck engines are all inline 6s for this reason. You always put a turbo on it, like a diesel.
You don’t compare diesel cylinders and liters directly, you don’t compare homogeneous charge and stratified charge gas engines directly.
Sam there are some Stratified Charged engine like the Mazda that use compression ignition. But just being direct injection does not mean it is compression ignition.
GM has a Compression ignition engine but it never went production.
Now the DI Turbo 4 at GM uses the the fuel to cool the cylinder in this case to run more compression and boost but it still relays on the plug to ignite it.
My 2.0 was 9.5 to one compression and I had it boosted to 23 psi boost. The direct injected fuel just cools the cylinder and the oil sprayer inder the piston cools the piston to prevent preignition.
Uh, you’re confused. I never said anything about compression ignition. Stratified charge and compression ignition are independent and are different concepts. There exist engines in all 4 combinations of stratified/homogeneous charge, and spark/compression ignition.
I laugh I am a woman, however I know better than to buy one of these, Turbos yes have come along way they are more efficient but there are still issues because of the nature of a turbo the heat being one that the lifespan is not that great. I grew up in a family that owned car modification shops, when I was a kid my families shop was full of F bodies being modified and we also had a variety of automakers, I remember that if anyone had upgrades on Turbo they sighned a disclaimer acknowledging they are aware of the wear and tear on turbos, we noticed that the turbo verses a normally aspirated engine had alot more issues, alot more maintenance.But like member 12 wrote if you want turbo get a Japanese make.I spent alot of time in the shops I had to learn quite a bit abput all aspects of cars, and yes I was trained in several areas so that I could help out in the business.
I would never purchase a CUV, I find them nauseating, unappealing, and they are not practical in many cases, and they are made to be disposable, buy it than replace it as soon as it wears out. I have many friends who think there CUV is made for off roading hard trails, while I am taking my 2001 SIlverado having no problems they are having to turn back. Or if I am around town I have a 2010 CTS Wagon with a 3.6 very durable engine. I will drive my cars as long as I can, I am sick about the future with 1.3 litre engines, and electric vehicles. ANd know I would never consider an Audi, Mercedes BMW or Volkswagen.
Oh and I myself am very Conservative. ANd consider myself a gear head. My daily drivers, a 2001 Chevy Silverado, 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon. 2013 C6 Corvette Z06, and a 2007 Pontiac Vibe.
Front wheel drive based vehicles aren’t luxury to me!!
Agreed there is nothing luxury about any XT vehicle from Cadillac let alone the other GM brands. Currently there is no GM crossover that I would even consider buying with the 2.0L or 3.6L engine.
As many may know, I work at a dealership with Mazda and Volvo. Neither of them offer anything but 4 cyl engines and Volvo is only 2.0 turbo’s. On top of that, I currently own two sedans: 2020 Cadillac CT4 and lease a 2021 Volvo S60 T8 (plug-in hybrid) Inscription. My opinion only: The CT4 2.0 turbo is way less HP than the Volvo’s but it’s light years better on MPG. The only saving grace with the T8 Volvo is if I can keep it charged enough to use only electric as much as I can. Both cars (engines) are way too noisy to me and both engines couldn’t hold a candle to the Northstar V8 I had in my 2006 Buick Lucerne before I got the CT4. There is just something that is so much more “luxury” with a quality V6 or nearly any V8. But to me, it’s the noise these two car engines make that is the least pleasing of all. What’s more, a V8 with the same basic HP as a much smaller 4 cyl will work less hard and MPG’s really aren’t that much different. Again, just my opinion.
The LSY is not a luxury car engine and needs work by GM to improve its sound quality. It also has no business in the larger heavier XT6 at its current low 235 HP levels.
Turbocharged I4 engines may be cheaper to run but their lifespan is much shorter because they have to work harder. My two previous GM vehicles and my present 2009 Chevy Equinox all have V6 engines that last much longer (up to 25 years before selling) and work less. I may not get better MPG but gasoline is much cheaper to waste than the cost of an engine overhaul or even a new vehicle. Hybrids are much better!
I agree with the criticism of how troublesome 4 cylinder turbocharged DI engines are currently and will be in the near future as automakers continue to try to pump out more end more power in these tiny motors for maximum HP and MPG’s at the expense of durability, smoothness, refinement, and longevity.
I mean you hear so many issues with these midget turbocharged motors having severe oil consumption issues, and cooling problems especially with Fords Ecoboost engines, BMW 4 cylinders, and others. You’d think these automakers would have fixed these problems long ago, but you can only engineer so much durability into a DI TC engine because the expense of using even higher quality metals and parts will make the engines too expensive to manufacture. This is why you see plastic thermostat housings, head gasket materials that can’t withstand the extreme high-temps, and plastic fittings for coolant lines, hoses, and connectors, plastic in almost every critical component which of course over a short period of time will become brittle, crack and leak everywhere. The oil consumption issues haven’t been resolved by any manufacturer really, the only way to prevent sludge and serious carbon coking on the valves is by changing the oil at 3,000 miles, not 5 or 7,500 miles like some of manufactures claim, or installing a catch can. The oil is already burnt and dirty as heck from all the blow-by at already around 2,000 miles this is how quickly DI engines get dirty, and when you add a Turbo on the engine, your just adding additional stress, and heat to the motor that accelerates wear even faster. Therefore, the oil needs to be changed far sooner than even 5,000 miles.
I always changed the oil on my 17 Impala with the 3.6L DI V6 every 3-4,000 miles tops. And every time I changed the oil, it was super dark black and stunk so bad. The oil smelled like excess fuel, and a heavy burnt smell. My past cars that I owned with NA engines, the oil never smelled so bad or looked so black in 3,000 miles like in my Impala.
I am a firm believer that a 4 cylinder engine simply does not belong in a SUV or a luxury vehicle period, they are rickety, tackity and sound like crap, plus GM’s 4 cylinder engines are garbage anyways. They lack the power of the competition and they build one of the most unrefined 4 cylinder engines on the market . This is why all the ultimate large luxury sedans from Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Lexus have all used a very powerful V8 that is RWD, because this is how you achieve the best performance and ride quality by having a proper suspension setup that only a RWD vehicle can offer.
A durable SLA front suspension with a lot more wheel travel, and wheel articulation is best at smoothing out the road beneath you from all the harsh pavement.
The tried and true method of this concept has been around pretty much forever. This is why the smoothest riding and performing luxury vehicles have all been V8 and RWD throughout history. Think 1970’s full-size Cadillac and Lincoln’s that were strong, plush riding and durable cars that lasted forever if it was maintained well.
FWD cars and crossovers will never ride as nice, and IMO, ride harsher over bumps, besides for Lexus ES’s which are smooth as butter to drive, so they are an exception since most FWD cars ride like crap over really bad roadways and potholes. They are fine driving on semi decent pavement and if you live in a city with good infrastructure, then you really won’t have to worry too much about ride quality, but for some of us that live in cities with horrible streets and freeways, it’s best if one owned a truck or a large SUV with tall sidewalk tires that will be able to absorb the broken pavement and rough roads out in California.
I’m not or ever be a fan of Front wheel drive cars I’ll pass on 4 cy unless it’s a Toyota Tacoma i still like in-line 6 or v8 rear wheel drive had to rent a car it was a rav 4 liked all the modern drive Stuff cargo space sun roof was nice
Sorry, but I think the LSY was a giant step backwards for GM. It is the reason I chose a Mazda CX-5 GSR over an Envision Avenir. I was expecting the level of refinement that I am enjoying in our 2014 Verano Premium (2l turbo) but found the application in the new Envision to be absolutely thrashy. Maybe it is the lack of acoustic isolation from the engine compartment but it ended up being a huge disappointment.
Bla bla bla little gm… Get your ase in gear and make the 3.6 turbocharged to compete with Ford, Audi, and other manufacturers. Shit can the N/A 1. whatever turbos and put the 2.0t in its place as the minimum and go up from there… I was ready to buy a Cruze Hatchback but the 2.0t never happened and little gm cancelled a competitive car to run against the Japanese.
Your little turbos will be your demise….
I will never own a vehicle powered with a gasoline turbo-charged engine. In every case gasoline turbo-charged engines have a shorter life because of temperature and cylinder pressure issues.
My ranch 2000 Silverado 5.3 liter V-8 has over 300,000 miles on the original drive train with no problems.
My other vehicles are a Tesla model X and a Honda Pilot. Both have been good vehicles but the Pilot is the best vehicle I have ever owned by far. Tesla still has quality problems .
That’s bull. I’ve had over a dozen force fed vehicles, and the engines have never been a problem. As long as you feed them good gas and keep detonation under control, they’ll last just as long as a NA one. In fact, I’ve blown up more NA motors than turbo ones, despite owning fewer.
My neighbor has owned a large highly rated independent repair shop for 20 years. He could show you statistics that demonstrate turbo-charged engines do require more repairs🤑. He says that turbo-chargers lead the repair list. He also remarked that recommended maintenance is more important for turbo-charged engines. So many his shop sees require repairs because of sub-standard maintenance by their owners☹.
I agree that MAYBE makers are improving these engines to increase durability but I am sure that not all manufacturers are equal. Sales are at an all- time high so owners will be finding out about durability in today’s new vehicles.
I still plan to have an EV and a normally aspirated ICE vehicle for the foreseeable future. Hopefully in the future an EV equal in quality to my current Honda Pilot.😀
I wouldn’t touch a 4 cylinder turbo in anything bigger than an Equinox. Even a natural aspirated 6 is pushing it. If your selling me a vehicle with any luxury pretentions, it better have 6 or 8 cylinders and a turbo or two. It also better have an 8 speed and a decent awd system. None of this push button shit.
I have to side with Mike_L. Owned a turbo with the direct injection and installed a catch can and changed oil sooner than N/A and did not have any issues. I ran the turbo harder, couldn’t keep my foot out off the pedal. I confess, it was 14 Malibu LTZ 2.0t and it was a blast. I was skeptical but I already knew how a turbo works and what it takes to maintain one too. The average buyer knows it an ICE and assumes it is maintained the same as an ICE not knowing how the turbo requires healthy oil. Plus, direct injection has a habit of throwing small amounts of oil back into the intake and can play havoc with the turbo and smog sensors. Adding the catch can eliminated that issue.
Nothing wrong with turbos or superchargers.
BTW, Honda has adopted the turbo and will probably integrate it in other lines of their vehicle’s, maybe your beloved Pilot line… My neighbor traded his for a Toyota. Didn’t ask why…