Cadillac XT4

XT4 at a glance

Why Cadillac needed a small crossover

By 2018 BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz all sold compact luxury crossovers such as the X1, Q3 and GLA, while Cadillac had nothing below the mid-size XT5. The XT4 filled that gap and gave the brand an entry point for buyers new to Cadillac. GM even teased it during the Academy Awards broadcast on 4 March 2018, three weeks before the official New York debut.

Exterior design was led by Therese Pinazzo. The XT4 kept Cadillac's vertical light signature and crest grille in a smaller body, with rear lights that the company itself likened to a dragon's eye.

Engines: one turbo petrol, and a diesel for Europe

The LSY petrol engine has direct injection, variable valve lift and Active Fuel Management, which can shut down cylinders under light load, plus start-stop. The old version of this page quoted about 8.7 l/100 km for the petrol and 6.7 l/100 km for the diesel, with 0–100 km/h in 8.6 to 10.6 seconds depending on version. We keep those as an indication.

All-wheel-drive cars use a rear drive module with two electronically controlled clutches, according to the old version of this page, which lets the system disconnect the rear axle to save fuel. The Sport trim added adaptive dampers.

By our calculation the petrol engine gives about 89 kW per litre and the front-wheel-drive car carries about 9.4 kg per kW. Our fuel cost calculator converts the consumption figures into a yearly cost for your mileage.

Cabin, technology and the 2024 update

The first XT4 had an 8-inch touchscreen controlled by touch or a rotary dial on the console, analogue gauges and optional features such as a head-up display, a camera-based rear-view mirror and Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates on the left or right side to warn the driver. The old page listed a Bose audio system, four USB ports and a boot of 637 litres, rising to 1,385 litres with the rear seats folded, measured to US standards.

The update announced in 2023 for the 2024 model year changed the car more than a usual facelift. It brought a new front end, a 33-inch curved LED display that combines instruments and infotainment, an optional 13-speaker AKG audio system and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot. Our size comparison tool shows how the 4.6-metre XT4 compares with other compact SUVs.

Sales in the US and China

By our sum, Cadillac sold 151,768 XT4s in the US and 242,282 in China over these eight years. China was the bigger market until 2022, when sales there began to fall sharply. The 2025 US figure mostly reflects stock built before production ended.

End of production and the Optiq

GM first planned only a pause at Fairfax to prepare the plant for the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV, with the XT4 to return later. In late 2024 that plan changed, and the XT4 ended production there in January 2025 after a single generation. Cadillac named no direct replacement, but the electric Cadillac Optiq, launched in 2025 as the brand's smallest and least expensive electric crossover, took over its role in the range.

In China the XT4 continued after the US car ended, built by SAIC-GM in Shanghai.

XT4 timeline

What to check on a used XT4

1. Service records showing oil changes on time; the turbo petrol engine relies on clean oil.
2. Software updates for the infotainment system, especially on 2024–2025 cars with the large screen.
3. Gearbox behaviour: the nine-speed automatic should shift smoothly when cold and under light throttle.
4. All-wheel drive: on AWD cars, check that the system engages without warnings on a test drive.
5. Open recalls: ask a Cadillac dealer to check the VIN for any outstanding recall work.

Price and rivals

In the US the 2019 XT4 started at 35,790 US dollars at launch in 2018, about €30,500 at the time. Cadillac's European prices varied by country and are not listed here.