2019 Cadillac XT4 Debuts: 4 Things You Should Know

The 2019 Cadillac XT4 has debuted at the 2018 New York Auto Show as the first compact crossover from GM’s luxury brand.

The XT4 is the first vehicle in a product offensive that will see a new Cadillac unveiled nearly every six months through to 2021. The brand’s crossover and SUV portfolio have been lacking with just the XT5 and Escalade, so this new entry is very late to the game but should help bolster its sales and market share.

Here’s what you need to know about this new luxury crossover:

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Cadillac is employing a lot of young designers in hopes that their designs will help lower the average age of the brand’s customers. The XT4 certainly has a clean and handsome design, but we can’t help but feel that it already looks pretty generic from some angles.

“The XT4 has a great presence that is confident and poised,” said Therese Pinazzo, exterior design manager, in a press release. “It exudes Cadillac’s DNA, but with a new boldness that speaks to the youthfulness of its team and its customers.”

Standout exterior design elements are unique LED lighting signatures in the front and rear, rear lights that go up the length of the C-pillar, and the new mesh grille.

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All XT4 models will be powered by a direct injected 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with cylinder deactivation, stop/start, and a nine-speed transmission. The engine outputs 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and is expected to get 25 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 27 combined. An available twin-clutch system allows the rear axle to decouple and save fuel.

An active sport suspension is also available with Continuous Damping Control that monitors the roads in real time and can make adjustments every two milliseconds. The XT4 is also the first Cadillac to have electro-hydraulic braking assist.

Inside, Cadillac is changing the user interface for the infotainment and is now using a rotary dial for the first time, much like its German competition, the BMW X3, Audi Q3, and Mercedes GLC. It also brings back physical buttons after a lot of negative feedback on the old CUE system, which used touch-sensitive panels. This setup looks much more intuitive and user-friendly.

The three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel is all new, and the seats, which are available with a massage function, are generously bolstered.

Tech features include NFC smartphone pairing compatibility, an available fast wireless charging pad, four USB ports, surround vision camera, and an updated rear camera mirror.

The XT4 will hold a maximum of 48.9 cubic feet (1,385 L) with the seats folded or 22.5 cu-ft in the trunk. A hands-free tailgate is also available and a little Cadillac logo is projected onto the ground where you should kick to activate it.