The 2020 Cadillac XT4 gets a 2.0 L turbocharged inline 4 engine under the hood, churning out a healthy 237 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. For a compact 5- seater, the power should be sufficient, but practically the XT4 fails to deliver any enthusiasm. There is a considerable turbo lag in lower RPMs and there is a quite noticeable delay between putting your foot down and the car accelerating. Most of this is due to the 9-speed automatic, which is not very quick-shifting or precise. The gear shifts produce considerable jerks and head-nods.
Though the Caddy is lackluster in terms of performance on paper, still it manages to do 0-60 in 7.5 seconds which is pretty good in isolation. But the engine refinement is not quite top-notch and there is considerable engine noise and vibrations at higher RPMs. The XT4 gets two drive modes – Sport and Tour. In the Tour mode, the throttle response becomes very sluggish and takes its sweet time. In the sport mode, things get a little better, but the brakes become too sensitive.
Models
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2020 Cadillac XT4
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2020 BMW X1
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2020 Audi Q3
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2020 Volvo XC40
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MSRP
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$38,295
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$37,200
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$34,700
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$35,700
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Engine
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2.0L Turbo Inline-4
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2.0L Turbo Inline-4
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2.0L Turbo Inline-4
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2.0L Turbo Inline-4
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Drivetrain
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AWD
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AWD
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AWD
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AWD
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Transmission
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9-Speed Automatic w/OD
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8-Speed Automatic w/OD
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8-Speed Automatic w/OD
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8-Speed Automatic w/OD
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Power
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237hp @5,000rpm
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228hp @5,000rpm
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228hp @5,000rpm
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248hp @5,500rpm
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Torque
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258lb-ft @1,500rpm
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258lb-ft @1,450rpm
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258lb-ft @1,700rpm
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258lb-ft @1,800rpm
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0-60 MPH (sec)
|
7.5
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6.6
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7.0
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6.7
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Quarter mile (sec)
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N/A
|
14.1
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16.5
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15.1
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Top Speed (MPH)
|
126
|
137
|
130
|
130
|
With the T5 engine, the Volvo XC40 is the most powerful car on paper churning out a healthy 248 horses. However, rivals like Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 achieve peak torque at low rpm's. X1 is the fastest one to cover 0-60MPH runs in 6.6 seconds and the Caddy is not too much behind reaching 60mph at 7.5 seconds. Volvo XC40 has an underpowered T4 engine as the base; although this significantly reduces the cost of the vehicle, it is very sluggish.
How well does the 2020 Cadillac XT4 handle?
The Caddy XT4 is not as agile and spritely as one would expect considering the compact form factor. Though being considerably smaller than the XT6, the 2020 XT4 resembles the handling of the XT6. Going around corners at high speeds is something that you should not even think about while driving this crossover. The car feels unstable while cornering due to immense body roll. However, opting for the Sport trim should solve this problem.
Moreover, the traction control is intrusive, especially on the AWD variants. Straight-line acceleration is handled well, and the car remains stable on the freeway. But as you push through higher revs, the engine noise is excruciating. However, for better handling and driving dynamics, the Cadillac has equipped the XT4 with some of the sophisticated features like StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and traction control.
2020 Cadillac XT4 Braking Performance
The 2020 Cadillac XT4 comes with disc brakes on all four wheels. The brakes are hooked up to an ABS system and Automatic Emergency Braking comes as standard as well. Though the brakes have good bite and feedback, they will feel spongy with prolonged use. The braking progression is good and the Caddy might take a similar time to stop as its rivals owing to its lightweight body and structure.
Models
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2020 Cadillac XT4
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2020 BMW X1
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2020 Audi Q3
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2020 Volvo XC40
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Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
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N/A
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N/A
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13.4
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13.6
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Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
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N/A
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N/A
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12.2
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11.9
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Curb Weight (lbs.)
|
3660
|
3713
|
3905
|
3729
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60-0 MPH (feet)
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N/A
|
122
|
125
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N/A
|
The Audi is the heaviest car here, while the BMW is the lightest. And the brakes on the Audi and Volvo measure quite similarly with a microscopic difference. The Audi sports a 13.4 inches rotor in the front and 12.2 inches rotor in the rear. Whereas the Volvo gets a 13.6 inches rotor in the front and 11.9 inches rotor in the rear. Moreover, X1 stops the quickest from 60-0 MPH in just 122 feet while Q3 considerably takes more distance as it is heavy.