By: Joshua Lee
December 6, 2023
As winter is quickly approaching, we decided to make a quick trip to Los Angeles. There is a plethora of things to do in the entertainment capital of the world, but looking past the glitz and glamour, the scenic drives are what we’re after. To help us blend in with the crowd, General Motors offered us the refreshed 2024 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury for our trip.
Performance is unchanged from the current generation; the XT4 makes 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque from its 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While a twin-clutch all-wheel drive system is available, our tester is standard with front-wheel drive. During city and highway driving, the XT4 feels balanced and has ample power when we needed to accelerate. Taking in the views while cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway was relaxing thanks to its smooth ride.
Taking this compact SUV up Decker Road and the Angeles Crest Highway proves to be a different story, however. Now, the XT4 isn’t designed to take on mountain roads like a sports car, but it can keep up. As we climbed in elevation and consistently went around sharp turns, the nine-speed automatic transmission did struggle to find the perfect gear. What it does well though is how responsive the car feels when it’s in Sport Mode. The steering feel tightens up, which really helps on these roads, and the brakes performed well. The suspension is catered towards suburban settings, so body roll was more pronounced during spirited driving. If we had AWD and the XT4 Sport with its available active sport suspension, it might have performed better.
While we’re taking our breaks from driving, the XT4 is a very alluring SUV. The new model year receives a refreshed front-end with new LED headlights that make the XT4 look sharper than before. Our tester shines with its Crystal White Tricoat paint finish, satin aluminium roof rails and window trim, and 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. The Premium Luxury trim has illuminating door handles that add a special touch to the welcome lighting as we approach closer to the car. We must also mention the new grille; the gloss black look never disappoints, and we love the Cadillac chevron pattern that further enhances its poised appearance.
We see the biggest change on the inside. Like the Cadillac LYRIQ, the XT4 has a 33-inch LED colour touchscreen with 9K resolution. This curved display is not distracting to use; the digital gauge cluster is easy to read, and you’re able to get a full map view should you want to use the right screen for something else. The XT4 has Google built-in, so you can sign into your Google account for a more personalized experience. We appreciate that Cadillac has kept their physical climate control buttons, so there’s no need to search for them on the screen. Our XT4 is fitted with the Comfort and Convenience Package and Cold Weather Package, offering heated seats for both rows with massage and ventilation functionality for the front seats. A 14-speaker AKG sound system is available for a better audio experience. The optional panoramic sunroof lets in that gorgeous LA sun, which we missed upon our return to Toronto. There is 637L of cargo space behind the 60/40 rear seats that swallowed our three small carry-ons and three backpacks; 1384L is what you’ll get with the seats folded down.
The Cadillac XT4 comes standard with IntelliBeam, automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert, front pedestrian and bicyclist braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind zone steering assist, rear park assist, and a back-up camera.
Cadillac rates the fuel economy for the XT4 FWD as 24 MPG (10.0L/100KM) city, 29 MPG (8.1L/100KM) highway, for a combined 26 MPG (9.0L/100KM). Keep in mind, most of our driving consisted of canyon roads, so our 710KM trip reached a rating of 10.5L/100KM.
Our XT4 tester has a MSRP of $49,335 USD after the included options and destination charge. Back in Canada, the Premium Luxury trim has standard AWD and starts at $52,030 CAD. A similarly equipped model will cost $58,510 CAD.
The Cadillac XT4 receives a well-deserved update to stand out from its competitors and to reflect on Cadillac’s new styling. This modern crossover looks bold but maintains the softer, more luxurious side of Cadillac. The updated interior is comfortable and takes on a modern approach with its new 33-inch display. The automotive industry is just like the entertainment one; cutthroat and competitive. Pushing something to its limits will determine whether or not it can survive. The Cadillac XT4 can handle it surprisingly and then allow you to reap the rewards after all that stress. That’s exactly what we did; watching the sunset from Santa Monica Pier.
