First Drive: 2024 Cadillac XT4 launched in the UAE

by Marouf Hussain Chowdhury. June 20, 2024.

The Cadillac XT4 gets a refresh for 2024. This generation has been around since 2018 and has received very minor changes over the years, but this time around, the XT4 has updated its looks and received a significant upgrade to the interior technology.

Cadillac XT4 exterior design

The front fascia has been redesigned, with sharper and sleeker headlights flanking the big front grille featuring a bigger logo in the middle.

The hood design also gets some updates. New designs are available for the 18-inch and 20-inch wheels. The taillights remain the same, but since the lower lights are now vertical, this gives the rear bumper a nicer, cleaner look overall.

We got our hands on the XT4 Sport model, which featured some dark accents on the front, a more sporty-looking front grill, dark-finish roof rails, and clear-lens taillamps. The diamond-cut 20-inch wheels look good on it and definitely suit the overall design proportions better than the 18-inch alloys.

Cadillac XT4 interior updates

As for the inside, that is where the real magic happens with the massive new 33.3-inch screen with 9k resolution. It instantly greets you as you enter the car with a video playing across the entire screen. We haven’t seen another car yet with such clear and crisp graphics.

The infotainment system is now powered by Google, so you can use its voice-based Google Assistant features and install certain apps from the Google Play Store.

The screen is very responsive and easy to use, and pairing the phone was straightforward.

The A/C controls thankfully have physical buttons and worked well in our very hot afternoon test drive.

Since our test car was the Sport trim, it had a different steering wheel, some carbon-fibre decor and more sporty-looking leather seats.

We had the optional 14-speaker AKG sound system, which was decent. Speakers on the headrest also aid in noise cancellation and enhance the audio experience.

Engine specifications

There have been no changes under the hood. The XT4 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces about 237 hp and 350 Nm of torque, connected to a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Driving impressions

We always enjoyed driving Cadillacs with this engine, mainly because it doesn’t have that initial lag when accelerating, which we feel in some of its European competitors with similar engine specs.

Throttle response is instant, gear shifts are smooth, and the engine has enough kick to prevent you from mashing the accelerator every time you need to overtake.

The suspension is nicely damped, soaking up the bumps for a smooth ride. The cabin is fairly quiet, with just a hint of tyre noise.

A lot of safety tech has also become standard on the XT4. These include automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, blind spot monitor and steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, lane keep assist and departure warning, auto high beam assist, and second-row seat belt indicator.

Our Sport Trim had additional safety tech, such as a rear pedestrian alert, intersection automatic emergency braking, 360-degree camera, side bicyclist alert, and reverse auto braking.

Verdict

Overall, the Cadillac XT4 has addressed the main concern: the interior tech was starting to feel a bit dated. The new screen and safety upgrades have improved leaps while maintaining that comfortable ride.

With prices starting from a very competitive AED 167,500, it should definitely be a contender for anyone looking for a compact luxury SUV.