Read This Before Buying a Used Cadillac XT4

The Cadillac XT4 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV and the smallest vehicle produced by Cadillac at the moment. Despite its undeniable luxury credentials, the XT4 is actually very good value for money when new. But if you’re interested in an even more affordable way of owning a Cadillac XT4 and getting even better value for money, here’s what you need to look out for when buying a used Cadillac XT4.

2020 Cadillac XT4 Sport 2
2020 Cadillac XT4 Sport

Cadillac XT4 History

Caddy’s smallest and most affordable crossover SUV first went into production in 2018 as the 2019 Cadillac XT4, and it was the third model to adopt the automaker’s new alphanumeric naming convention.

The first anyone saw of the XT4 was a teaser aired during a telecast of the 90th Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, but it soon went on to make its official debut at the 2018 New York Auto Show just over three weeks later on March 27.

Cadillac opened the order book for the XT4 shortly after its New York Auto Show debut and it went on to sell very well in its first full year on sale in 2019. Sales then slumped quite dramatically in 2020, but that wasn’t the fault of Cadillac or the XT4 as the whole global auto industry went into a slump as the pandemic hit.

What sort of vehicle is the Cadillac XT4?

The XT4 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV with five doors and a seating capacity for five people. Front-wheel drive is standard with all three trim levels but all three are also available with the extra capability of all-wheel-drive, and the three trim levels are the Luxury, Premium Luxury, and the top-of-the-range Sport.

What’s the engine in the Cadillac XT4?

Under the hood of every Cadillac XT4 so far is a very likable 2.0-liter turbo-four that develops 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque which is pretty decent for a subcompact, and the XT4 was the first GM model to make use of it. That useful amount of power then gets sent to the front or all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Cadillac XT4 performance

The XT4’s performance is more than adequate, but it’s certainly not a sports car by any means. Luxury vehicles inevitably have a lot of features and luxuries on board and that means weight, and nothing dampens performance like weight does.

Getting from 0 to 60 mph takes a claimed 6.6 seconds, but real-world testing suggests something more like 7.8 seconds which is about a second and a half slower than something like the BMW X1, although the claimed top speed is a very satisfactory 137 mph.

The amount of turbo lag is kept to a minimum and the transmission shift from one gear to the next quickly and smoothly. The standard shocks on the Luxury and Premium Luxury versions deliver a soft, comfortable and controlled ride, but the best XT4 to have on the bumpiest Terrain is the range-topping Sport model with its adaptive dampers.

An electronic braking system is employed to reduce stress on the engine and help with fuel efficiency, but it doesn’t feel very responsive through the pedal and it can be a bit jerky when you are on the brakes a lot while navigating the urban jungle.

2020 Cadillac XT4 Sport
2020 Cadillac XT4 Sport

Is the Cadillac XT4 good off-road?

If you choose to go for a used Cadillac XT4 with all-wheel-drive you will enjoy the extra capability it gives you when the road gets wet, slushy, icy, or muddy, but don’t expect the system to turn the Cadillac into a luxury off-roader.

The XT4’s AWD is a part-time unit that can be kept in two-wheel drive to concentrate on fuel economy, but you’ll have to instigate a double-tap to put the system into all-weather mode. Unless you are fully concentrating it can be easy to forget to change mode until the front wheels lose traction, and the problem with that is it could be too late to save you by that point.

Sport mode sends a majority of the power to the rear wheels of the Cadillac XT4 Sport and that makes it feel more like a genuinely sporty rear-drive crossover. Unfortunately, if you have aspirations of negotiating shallow river beds, steep muddy inclines or remote mountain trails in your crossover, you might want to look elsewhere.

How luxurious is a used Cadillac XT4?

You’d have to be a pretty demanding customer to be disappointed with the quality, comfort and luxury on offer with any used Cadillac XT4. Even base models are impressive with their standard synthetic leather upholstery that’s quite convincing, but more durable than the real thing, so don’t discount the idea of an XT4 Luxury.

Although Cadillac claims the XT4 is a five-seat crossover, three adults will find it a tight squeeze in the rear seat, but there’s plenty of room back there so taller passengers won’t have to have their knees touching their chins if those in front of them are tall too.

The materials used throughout the range are of high quality and the whole interior is nicely put together, so the interior is definitely a match for the Caddy’s Japanese and German rivals.

2019 Cadillac XT4 010
2019 Cadillac XT4 interior

What problems to look for with a used Cadillac XT4

Despite its luxury status and high-quality interior, the XT4 isn’t without its problems. Fortunately, the most common problems are niggly faults with the electronics that are annoying rather than too worrying.

Quite a few people have reported issues such as phones unpairing, the reversing camera screen going blank, Apple CarPlay working intermittently, and the same thing with the air conditioning.

I’ve also seen reports of engine and transmission problems, even one where a transmission had to be replaced after just 5,000 miles. But what you have to keep in mind is the 2019 model year was the first year of the XT4 and all new vehicles have teething problems that get ironed out over time.

I haven’t seen any consistent reports of mechanical or electrical problems that would put me off buying a used XT4. Anyway, most of these problems will have been identified, diagnosed and fixed under warranty, so just keep a lookout for any of them during a test drive and remember to ask the seller if any recalls have been carried out.

The 2022 Cadillac XT4 has been given a predicted reliability score by J.D. Power of 81 out of 100, where 91-100 is considered the Best but 81-90 is still classified as Great.

What is the Cadillac XT4 comparable to?

The direct rivals of the Cadillac XT4 include the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Acura RDX, and the Mercedes-Benz GLB, but that’s only part of the story. Because the XT4 is quite affordable, especially at the entry level, it will also get shopped against the top trim levels of several mass-market models too.

Here’s a table comparing some key features and dimensions of the Cadillac XT4 with a cross-section of rivals you might want to shop it against.

2019 Cadillac XT4 Luxury2019 BMW X1 sDrive28i2019 Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI Premium
MSRP (new-from)$34,795$34,950$34,700
Engine2.0L turbo-four2.0L turbo-four2.0L turbo-four
Horsepower237 hp228 hp228 hp
Torque258 lb.-ft.258 lb.-ft.258 lb.-ft.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy)24/30 mpg23/32 mpg19/27 mpg
Base curb weight3,660 pounds3,543 pounds3,905 pounds
Overall length181.05 inches175.4 inches176.6 inches
Wheelbase109.4 inches105.1 inches105.5 inches
Second-row legroom39.53 inches37 inches36.1 inches
Cargo volume to seat 148.90 cu.-ft.58.7 cu.-ft.48 cu.-ft.
Turning diameter (curb to curb)38-feet37.4-feet38.4 feet
Cargo volume to seat 222.5 cu.-ft.27.1 cu.-ft.23.7 cu.-ft.
2019 Cadillac XT4 Premium
2019 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury

How much does a used Cadillac XT4 cost?

According to thecarconnection.com, which is one of the best places to go for new car reviews and to get free online, no-obligation quotes from dealers in your area, you should expect to pay between $29,490 – $49,997 for a used 2019 Cadillac XT4. For a used 2020 Cadillac XT4 you should expect to pay between $30,990 and $52,990.

However, I’ve been doing my own research and it appears those prices are a little high. Below is a table showing the current nationwide price ranges for used XT4s on Autotrader.

2019 $27,995 – $51,777

2020 $30,900 – $49,993

2021 $36,219 – $55,255

Should you buy a used Cadillac XT4?

As long as you are comfortable with the size you should definitely consider buying a used Cadillac XT4. Not only is it a serious contender against its BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz German rivals, it also makes a good case for itself against models costing similar money from Acura, Lexus, Volkswagen, Ford and Infiniti.

The first thing that’s going to attract buyers to the XT4 is the way it looks. While Cadillac’s Art & Science design language hasn’t been to everyone’s taste, it certainly stands out and I don’t think it’s as polarizing as the styling of Lexus. And in my humble opinion, Cadillac styling is monumentally more attractive than SUVs from Mercedes, BMW, and Audi.