The XT4 is slightly smaller than its sibling, making it just that bit easier to move about the traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge in rush hour.
It is not that often I get into a car I am testing for DARPAN and feel right at home; well that is just what happened with the all new Cadillac XT4. I am sure that is the very reason many people I have talked to have really taken a shine to this new Cadillac.
Looking at the XT4 for the first time you might find it somewhat familiar, as it is very similar in design to Cadillac’s XT5. Like the name implies, the XT4 is slightly smaller than its sibling, making it just that bit easier to move about the traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge in rush hour. As you would expect from a Cadillac, it comes with all the amenities – my test car was the Premium Luxury version with all-wheel drive. It also came with a host of other options including, heated and cooled leather seats, rear camera, LED lighting inside and out, and front and rear distance warning systems to name a few.
Inside the XT4 you will find a nice interior with very comfortable seats, both front and rear. The driver’s seat warms quickly and has lots of adjustment to suit all types of people. All the controls are nicely arranged in the centre dash area with a few key controls on the steering wheel. One feature I really liked is the heated steering wheel. As I don’t like driving with gloves, this is a handy feature that is not only great but it also promotes better driving as both your hands are generally on the wheel when it is cold, which makes for better control in an emergency. One other feature I have come to really like is the head-up display showing your speed and safe distance to the car in front. Again this feature keeps your eyes for the most part on the road and not looking down at the gauges which for the most part are easy to read. Powering the new XT4 is a Double Overhead Cam 2.0-litre inline four cylinder with a turbo.
This configuration gives the vehicle 237 horsepower and a nice 258 lb-ft of torque. Combine this with its nine-speed electronic transmission and you have a great power to weight ratio giving this cross-over lots of power to pull you up most hills with ease. City driving was nice as the XT4 handles very well around corners and in traffic. Sitting up that little bit higher allows for just that much better view of the road. One thing worth noting is the smooth shifting electronic transmission which is second to none.
Due to the XT4s shorter wheelbase, the rear doors don’t look that easy to get in and out of, but surprisingly I had no problem with it. The back seat is surprisingly very roomy for two and can easily handle three people with a little squeeze. Due to its shorter wheelbase, the trunk is on the smaller side as the wheels encroach on the inner space of the cargo area. Since this vehicle is a hatchback it does allow you to pile things a little higher. As well, the back seats will fold down to basically double your cargo space.
If you live in hilly areas like West Vancouver, you will appreciate the hill-holding feature. This keeps the vehicle stationary on a hill so you don’t roll back allowing one to gently accelerate without any fear of hitting a tailgater. The XT4 has become a personal favourite for me and I really hated giving it back to the General Motors people who allowed me to test drive it.
The vehicle was the Premium Luxury AWD and lists for a base price of $46,300, and with a host of options as mine had it topped out at $62,000. When you consider the items you get for this amount it is well worth considering.
HIGHLIGHTS
MSRP: $62,000
Motor: 2.0-litre four cylinder double overhead cam turbo charged
Horsepower: 237 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft): 258 @ 1,500 rpm
Gearbox: Nine-speed automatic
Layout: All-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 10.9 L/100 km city 8.2 L/100 km highway
