2019 Cadillac XT4: Yet Another Compact Crossover, But This One's a Caddy

Full disclosure, right up front: While I am in New York City for the auto show, neither myself or anyone from the TTAC team was invited to the XT4 unveiling the night before the show’s first media day.

I only mention this to point out that I can’t, as of this writing, judge the newest luxury compact crossover in the flesh, although I will likely see it 12 hours or so after I type this.

Hot takes aside, it’s common knowledge by now that crossovers are hot and just about every brand feels it needs to cover the subcompact, compact, and midsize classes. Cadillac has the midsize class covered with the XT5, so naturally, it’s time to go one smaller.

Like so many other cars and crossovers on the road, the XT4 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four. This one has two types of valve lift (high and low) and cylinder deactivation for extra fuel savings, and it pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Cadillac has it slated to make 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

It will be available in three trims – base Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport – as part of Cadillac’s new “Y” trim strategy, which uses specific content and styling distinctions to make it easy for observers to tell the trims apart at a glance.

Pricing will start at $35,790 before fees, and the XT4 will be available with a twin-clutch all-wheel drive system, an available sport suspension with something dubbed “electro-hydraulic brake assist” (the system essentially replaces the more conventional vacuum assist to reduce weight) and a new rotary controller for the CUE infotainment system.

LED headlights and taillights will be standard, and key standard/available features include near-field communication, wireless charging, rearview-mirror camera, and 360-degree camera. A quick scan of the media materials also shows that the usual driver-assistance systems are available, along with a sunroof, navigation, premium audio, a cold-weather package, and 20-inch wheels.

Par for the course, of course, in the compact luxury crossover class. I can say without even seeing the thing that Cadillac probably has a hit on its hands, just by default, since crossovers are so hot. Yes, the XT4 could suck to drive – we won’t know about that for a while – but provided it’s even reasonably well built, Cadillac is gonna move a bunch.

[Images: Cadillac]