Cadillac XT4

When German luxury carmakers pooling in with their small crossover offerings in the likes of the BMW X1, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, and the Audi Q2, Cadillac's joining the compact luxury crossover caravan with their first ever XT4. Slotting below the XT5, Cadillac's smallest crossover shows that crossovers like these will always be around on the road whether you like it or not.

2019 Cadillac XT4

This is the brand new Cadillac XT4 and yes, this is just another luxury compact crossover that is about to flood the American metropolises like an outbreak of a certain diseases and unlike them, crossovers like this can't be contained because a lot of people like to get out and go with one of these.

2019 Cadillac XT4 interior

2019 Cadillac XT4 interior

The design is truly Cadillac inside and out and for a crossover of that size, it's not half bad to look at although the rear view can be easily mistaken for today's Honda CR-V if you squint your eyes further away. On the inside, it works like how a luxury compact crossover should be unless those Consumer Reports boys come crying over when the sat-nav's a bit of a fritz but as long as the sat-nav's functional, it's fine. While not bothering the sat-nav and stuck in traffic, good to know that the XT4 comes with an available front massage seats with heat and ventilation that helps you soothe yourselves before the lights go green. On the back, the XT4 has more room for three people and whether if you're planning to drive this car on the trip to the mall or at a heritage site or at the beach, it's not bad to get accommodated on it as long as you're in the sweet spot. The boot space is decent for that size as well.

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2019 Cadillac XT4

The XT4 maybe a small crossover but it drives pretty much like a hatchback, which is a win-win for the drivers looking for something that suits their lifestyle. Going for the Active Sport Suspension, the XT4 is a smooth crossover to drive from home to work as long as you're not like of the Consumer Reports men complaining about the way it handles. Under the hood, it's powered by a brand new 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 237HP of power and 258 lb-ft of torque while mated to a 9-speed automatic. With its active fuel management that shuts down half the cylinders for better efficiency, it delivers an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy rating of about 26mpg, which isn't half bad for a crossover that snugs to downtown Portland.

When the XT4 comes with the twin-clutch AWD system, it gains the convenience of decoupling entirely from the rear wheels when needed. Whether it can be used as an all-rounder for any weather update or sedan-like dynamics, this drivetrain's for you. Little did you know that this is the first Cadillac to feature electro-hydraulic braking assist, which supplants the traditional vacuum-assisted power braking system with an electro-hydraulic system. Good stuff, though, as long as you're happy with it.

Dynamics can be decent but for the journey home, the XT4 comes with a wide range of safety features. There's the available Rear Camera Mirror which checks out the rear view without having yourself obstructing the rear view, Surround Vision, and many others.

Should you buy it? The XT4 starts at 34,795 US Dollars MSRP, which is surprisingly less expensive than the Lexus NX, making it a smart buy unless the Consumer Reports folks got angry and warn the public not to buy for its reliability. Still, as the world's gone crossover mad, the XT4 is one of the sheer sign that they're not going anywhere. Love it or loathe it, the XT4 tries hard to please the new generation of Cadillac owners with its tech, dynamics, efficiency, and style worth noticing. Look forward to it.

Available Colors: Atlantic Metallic, Autumn Metallic, Crystal White Tricoat, Twilight Blue Metallic, Shadow Metallic, Red Horizon Tintcoat, Stellar Black Metallic and Radiant Silver Metallic.

Photo: General Motors