With so many car models on the market, it can be overwhelming deciding on which car to purchase. Kam and I have been thinking of purchasing a new car for a while now and for the last two months, we had the opportunity to test drive the Cadillac XT4 which was kindly offered to us by the wonderful team at Roy Foss Cadillac Woodbridge. This is is the first standalone Cadillac dealership in Ontario, and you can expect every aspect of the customer experience to be unique. Finding the right car is very important, but it is just as important to find a dealership with staff that is knowledgeable and friendly. The sales staff at Roy Foss Cadillac Woodbridge was amazing to explain to us everything we needed to know about the XT4 and that alone added to the overall positive customer experience.
After driving the Cadillac XT4 for 2 months, I wanted to share my experience and what to look for when purchasing a car to ensure your new car is a good fit for you and your lifestyle. Here are some practical considerations to keep in mind:
Where Will You Be Driving The Car?
A big component of purchasing a new car is understanding where you live and where you plan to drive the car. Is it primarily city streets, country roads and/or highways? Kam and I drive mostly in the city, but we do have the occasional road trips. Our everyday routine is driving the car downtown over streetcar tracks, and of course, squeezing into tight parking spots. Even though at first I was skeptical about driving an SUV downtown, this crossover is actually the perfect choice and fit for my everyday life.
What Is Your Driving Style?
XT4 Ride and Engine Performance
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for choosing your driving style, but with the XT4 there is! If you are looking for a bit of driving excitement, but can’t commit to a sports car, the XT4 gives you 3 driving modes you can switch anytime while driving: All Wheel Drive, Tour (2 wheel drive) and Sports mode. I found this feature useful especially for different weather conditions. I was caught in a thunderstorm while driving on the highway a couple of times, and being able to switch to an all-wheel-drive for maximum traction was amazing.
XT4 is a pleasant and comfortable ride. Switching from a sedan to an SUV is quite the change, but it only took a couple of days to get used to driving. It has a light and easy steering (a feel-free feel) which makes it easy to maneuver through busy city streets and tight parking spots. With a turbocharged four-cylinder engine the Cadillac XT4 picked up speed quickly when I was merging on the highway, making lane changes or passing other cars on the highway. Another feature that makes being stuck in traffic manageable is that the seats up front have tons of adjustments with the eight-way power-adjustable front seats including heat, ventilation, and massage functions. Also, a must-have feature is the heated steering wheel for the cold months of winter so you can have a warm drive. Nothing I love more than a relaxing drive.
How Much Cargo Space And Passenger Capacity Do You Need?
XT4 Cargo Space and Passenger Capacity
The next step in determining what is the right car for you is to think about how much cargo and passenger capacity you need. I am always packing the trunk with items for my styled shoots and negotiating trunk space was not an option. The Cadillac XT4 was the perfect cargo space for me. Not too big, not too small – just right. The cargo has a wide opening making it easy to fit in bulky items like my sister’s baby stroller and small furniture. There is also the option to fold down the second row of seats to create a nearly flat floor that expands the space, or you can remove the privacy screen for taller items. A cool feature about the cargo is the hands-free power liftgate and the ability to only open it halfway if you are parking somewhere with low ceilings which came in handy many times.
The Cadillac XT4 seats five people and what stood out the most was the second-row legroom. WOW! I seriously can’t get over the amount of legroom in this car. There is tons of space for your passengers to stretch their feet in (especially if they are tall) and for Margot to have a comfy ride in the back. There are also two sets of latch connections in the rear seats for car seats. Overall, the Cadillac XT4 has a good balance between cargo capacity and passenger space comfort.
How Safe Do You Want To Feel In You Car?
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features of The Cadillac XT4
Not many people can say they have never had a car accident, and if you have been in one you know it is a scary experience to have to go through. Regardless of how careful you are, you can never predict the other drivers on the road. The active safety systems that maximize your safety while on the road will amaze you. These features make it easy to maneuver in congested city streets, park in tight spaces and just feel like your car is looking out for you. Here is the list of some of the features that will maximize your safety while on the road:
- Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. This is a MUST when looking for a new car. Blind-spot monitoring was life-changing.
- Safety alert seat (subtle vibrations of your seat)
- Parking sensors and surround-view parking camera
- Following distance indicator, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection
- Lane departure warning and lane-keep assist
- Front and reverse automatic emergency braking
- Automatic high beams and corner lights
- Adaptive cruise control
Do You Want Driving To Be An Experience?
XT4 Infotainment and Navigation
Driving your car should be an experience and the XT4 gives you just that. Especially if you go on long road trips or commute daily to work, you want your car drive to be smooth and enjoyable. The XT4 comes with a number of standard amenities and add-ins to make your drive fun. Your user experience infotainment system includes HD Radio, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, four USB ports (two at the front, two at the back), and a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot (my fave!). Our Premium Luxury model also had a Bose audio system which made our car ride so enjoyable to listen to our favourite tunes. The touchscreen interface of the infotainment system is easy to use with fast response times and crisp graphics. For easier operation, while driving, you can also control many of the car’s features from the console-mounted knob. We also loved the Navigation Kit our Premium Luxury model had which gave us access to real-time information for a less stressful drive that eliminates driving around aimlessly looking for a coffee shop.
Navigation Kit Features:
Enhanced Voice Recognition: The voice command system is fast to respond accurately to your commands
Real-Time Points-of-Interest (POI): Gives you up-to-date Point-of-Interest information like hours of operation, phone numbers of restaurants etc.
Real-Time Traffic: Use onscreen or voice command to access live traffic, search local fuel prices or find parking
Is the Cadillac XT4 a Good SUV?
Yes, the 2019 XT4 is an amazing luxury subcompact SUV. This was my first time driving a Cadillac and I was honestly amazed by how a car can completely change your overall process of being on the road. Driving shouldn’t be a chore. It should be a relaxing experience and the XT4 honestly made me want to drive to places all the time. The XT4 offers a comfortable ride, a beautiful user-friendly infotainment system, a good amount of cargo space, and tons of rear legroom.
This post was done in partnership with Roy Foss Cadillac Woodbridge, but all opinions and thoughts are my own.
