Review of the first disc of the 2019 Cadillac XT4: late to the party, but it's worth catching your eye

At a time when much of the auto industry was preparing to market more and more connections, Cadillac was focusing instead on sedans. This… did not exactly workleaving the XT5 to fend for yourself as the only Cadillac commercial vehicle offer, save the big Climbing SUV.

Enter the 2019 XT4, a compact luxury Cadillac crossover that does not arrive soon enough.

It's a beautiful thing, this XT4, which carries a design that looks younger, modern and sporty than the other Cadillac models. I love the LED light signatures, with distinctive daytime running lights at the front, and the clear taillight lenses of this test car, so you can see all the groups of internal lights.

The XT4 is based on its all-new platform and draws its power from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission – a powertrain that is, on the whole, consistent. The engine is 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, the latter reaches 1,500 rpm and remains solid up to around 4,000 rpm. This means that the XT4 is fast enough, but with enough power for fast acceleration. The transmission behaves well, with imperceptible changes, and always seems to be in good gear.

With its modest power and optimized transmission, Cadillac estimates that the 2019 XT4 will yield about 26 miles per gallon with front wheel drive or 24 mpg with AWD.

Cadillac introduces a new decomposition of the Y structured model with the XT4. This means that the $ 35,790 luxury trim serves as a base model (including $ 995 for the destination), and from there you go to sport or luxury luxury, both of which cost $ 39,395.

For this first ride, I'm in the sport, with a few driving modes that affect the optional all-wheel drive system, as well as a continuous damping system that can adjust the spring rate up to 500 times per second. The Touring mode dissociates the rear axle from the transmission, which means that front-wheel drive XT4 cruisers improve efficiency. An AWD mode will engage the rear axle as needed if a slip is detected, and if you turn off the car while you are in this mode, you will remember your setting when you turn the car back on. Finally, the Sport mode improves the steering and transmission response and can activate the all-wheel drive power depending on driving demand, not just slip.

Overall, the XT4 is perfectly fun to drive. On winding roads and forest roads outside of Seattle, I'd like a little more weight in the default direction, but the Sport mode adds weight. The XT4 is also the first Cadillac to receive a new electro-hydraulically controlled braking system, where an electric motor provides braking power when needed, giving a firm and inspiring pedal feel.

Without the ability to really push the XT4 into corners, it's hard to say if it can spoof other compact luxury crossovers from a dynamic standpoint. But from this first test, I would say that the Cadillac falls roughly in the middle of the list here.

In fact, the XT4 has a larger number of crossovers to compete with. It's a kind of size tweener – smaller than one Mercedes-Benz GLCfor example, but larger than the subcompact GLA. It's the same story with the BMW X1 / X3 and Volvo XC40 / XC60.

That said, the Cadillac has plenty of room on the inside, with a 39.5-inch legroom in the rear, which easily outperforms its slightly smaller rivals. The 48.9 cubic foot cargo area of ​​the XT4 is the best Volvo XC40 and Mercedes GLA, but is far from the BMW X1 and X2, as good as Audi Q3.

Otherwise, the XT4 has a quiet and comfortable cab, although the buzzing sound of the engine finds its way inside. There's tons of technology on board, with Cadillac's latest Cue infotainment system installed in an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen. The screen is very responsive with many shortcut buttons, and it can be controlled by a rotating dial in the center console. In fact, I like to use the dial better because it is less distracting while driving.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is NFC (Near Field Communication) pairing for Android devices. Just place your phone in the designated place on the dashboard and it will connect automatically via Bluetooth. NFC is not yet compatible with Apple devices, although this is not the fault of Cadillac. The XT4 even benefits from the integration of Amazon Key, which means that your essential online purchases can be delivered directly into your car.

A Wi-Fi access point can support up to seven devices and there are four USB ports and three 12-volt outlets spread throughout the cabin. Wireless charging is also available.

The XT4 also receives the Cadillac digital rearview mirror, which projects an image on the mirror for a wider, clearer view of what's on the back. It takes a while to train your eyes to refocus, but I love the extra lines of sight that this camera offers. If you have a cargo hold full of large items, your rear view is not obstructed.

As with other driving aids, you will need to come out for the Premium Luxury or Sport versions. Blind Spot monitoring is standard on all XT4s, but Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Full Speed ​​Cruise Control are part of the separate sets.

And here lies the biggest ride of the XT4: these additional options can be added quickly. Once I've added $ 2,500 for a all-wheel drive, $ 1,225 for a paint job, over $ 8,000 in packages and $ 4,000 for other options, the sports tester that you see here his student at $ 56,235. , not to mention the less expensive base model of $ 35,790.

Nevertheless, this places the XT4 just between the subcompacts and the compact crossovers of a wide range of luxury automakers. And with its great powertrain and beautiful appearance, the XT4 is a strong competitor in this increasingly crowded segment as it hits dealers this fall.

Editor's note: Roadshow accepts multi-day loans from manufacturers to provide editorial reviews. All the criticisms of marked vehicles are completed on our territory and according to our conditions. However, for this feature, the manufacturer has covered travel expenses. It is common in the automotive industry because it is much cheaper to ship reporters in cars than to ship cars to reporters.

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