Full Review: The 2023 Cadillac XT4 Has Never Been Better, But Is It Enough

A fun 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, gorgeous exterior, and loads of optional features, puts the 2023 Cadillac XT4 toward the top of a buyer’s list.

Cadillac is a brand that evolved from starring in AARP commercials to becoming the ride of choice in every 2000s rap video and MTV Cribs episode. Since their resurgence, Cadillac has been taking aim at the Germans and ending up back toward the top of buyers’ shopping lists for good reason.

The 2023 Cadillac XT-4 aims to continue that place in line as it goes head-to-head against other small but leather-clad subcompact SUVs like the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA.

At first glance, it has the style points to win, but looks aren’t everything. So we grabbed the keys to a fully loaded 2023 Cadillac XT4 AWD Sport to find out if the rest of the vehicle is worth our steep $57K price tag.

2023 Cadillac XT4

8.00 / 10

KEY FEATURES

Best-In-Class Rear Legroom
Turbocharged Engine
Modern Interior

SPECIFICATIONS

Trim: Sport
Model: XT4
Engine/Motor: 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Turbo
Horsepower: 235 hp
Torque: 258 lb-ft
Drivetrain: Front Engine FWD/AWD
Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic
MSRP: $39,990

PROS

Beautiful
Very Comfortable
Great Room For Rear Occupants
Fun To Drive
Amazing Options

CONS

Pricey Options
Smaller List Of Standard Features Than Some Competitors

The Cadillac XT4 Is Sharp, Stylish, With A Slick Exterior

The clear winner in the looks department between the 2023 Cadillac XT4 Sport and the aforementioned German competitors like the 2023 BMW X1, and the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA, is the Cadi. The XT4 comes in only three trims. It starts with the base Luxury (around $40K), then Premium Luxury (around $44K) , and finally, Sport (also around $45K). It does seem strange that the Sport is the top category for a luxury-oriented brand, but marketing does what marketing does.

Our 2023 Cadillac XT4 AWD Sport ($57,510 as tested) came wearing the new-for-2023 Argent Silver Metallic (they also introduced a Radiant Red Tincoat) which beautifully flaunted the angles on the hood, body and rear hatch. Between the three trims, Sport is our favorite as it swaps the chrome for black gloss. The roof rails, unique grill, and window surrounds all get that switch too, and we loved the way it turned out.

Our tester also has the optional Onyx Package ($2,795) which added a black mesh grill with blacked out surround, 20″ black gloss wheels, and the monochrome grey/silver Cadi logos. Those logos alone set this thing apart. If parked next to an X1 or Q3, it would certainly win the beauty pageant.

Regardless of trim, under the hood of the 2023 Cadillac XT4 is a 2.0-liter turbo mated to a nine-speed twin-clutch automatic. Sure it’s no CT4 V-Series Blackwing, but we loved the low-end torque off the line. It felt quick, agile, and handled well given the class. Cadillac claims 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds for the XT4; it’s not fast, but it is quick and sometimes that’s more fun.

Cadillac has been smart with a few engineering tricks such as cylinder deactivation to help improve fuel economy. When the car is cruising at highway speeds or down a long hill, it will shut off the unnecessary cylinders. This saves on gas, which is good because Cadillac claims the XT4 will get up to 29mpg highway and 22mpg city. Of course, we don’t drive for the EPA so our combined over a week of mixed driving (mostly city) was closer to 23mpg–a little disappointing. Another piece of impressive tech is the Adaptive Sport Suspension with Continuous Damping. This technology adjusts the chassis tuning at each wheel every two milliseconds. Insane. Sure, it’s not a new technology, but it’s still really cool and helps give the XT4 a more planted, controlled feel on backroads.

Luxurious SUV Interior… If You Add Options

All “car guys” want their car to be fun to drive, but most people looking at the XT4 expect luxury-level greatness on par with the badder big brother Escalade or the full-size XT6. The 2023 Cadillac XT4 AWD Sport delivers…for a price. As we opened the doors and sat on the comfortable leather heated front seats (extra $850 Cold Weather package), we found ourselves enjoying the seating position. Low but wrapped by the seats and the center console. The pano roof (extra $1,550), the wireless phone charger, head-up display (extra $1,400 Tech package), and Bose 13-speaker system with amp (extra $1,500) made things more comfortable as well.

We loved the interior in Jet Black with Cinnamon Accents and the real carbon fiber (thank you) trim. The styling is clean, and we liked the layout of the console buttons. But the steering wheel buttons were another story. They were like that friend of yours who just had a break-up and is all over social media being thirsty. It’s way too much. They crammed in buttons that didn’t need to be there and the ones you use frequently, like track forward and back, seemed like an afterthought. As if last minute they had to wedge them between the horn and the info control.

Something that caught our eye was how the standard 8-inch infotainment touchscreen was essentially smashed into the dash. We’ve seen alot of different displays in all the cars we drive, but that was a first. We neither hated nor loved it, but it was different. It was very responsive and sharp and sized right for the overall interior. Kudos to Cadillac for knowing you don’t need to design a giant iPad for this subcompact interior.

We did find a quirky head scratcher that we also see with other brands. Cadillac continues to offer a manual control for the touchscreen. They have a Rotary Infotainment Controller as a way to navigate the infotainment system. We think that area would be better spent as a storage space or a vertical wireless charging pad like on the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. Speaking of wireless, the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto played wondrously in the upgraded Bose system–13 speakers in a subcompact can make a lot of noise.

The back seats surprised us with best-in-class legroom. That’s another big win against the competition. Thanks to the $850 Cold Weather Package, we also had seat heaters for those passengers. This was a nice touch, but like a lot of the extra options on our tester, seems like something that should be standard in this level of vehicle. Another example of our “that’s not included” disappointment, Adaptive Cruise Control. That’s part of the $1,100 Driver Assist Package. With that tech standard on so many different vehicles these days, having it absent on the 2023 Cadillac XT4 stuck out.

Do You Or Do You Not Buy The 2023 Cadillac XT4

The 2023 Cadillac XT4 AWD Sport is a great choice. It offers style in a very boring (and pricey) category. The driver position, rear legroom, and quick engine will win over a lot of buyers. Unfortunately, to get the most out of it, you’ll need some extra room in the budget for the package upgrades. Ours had just over $13,000 in options bringing the total to $57,510. It might be worth looking at the brand new 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale at that point–it’s cheaper and has that “new kid in school” appeal. Or maybe consider the other side of the World with the 2023 Lexus NX.

We know the nickel and dimeing of the luxury car market is standard but, honestly, we didn’t feel like the XT4 had that level of luxury to justify the price. That said, opting for the base, and adding some of those packages in would be the smart way to go, same engine and same beautiful exterior. It won’t land you on MTV Cribs (we know that’s not around anymore) but you will find yourself looking at it after you park and walk away. A true test of an enthusiast car.