A successful luxury automaker now needs to have a full selection of crossovers and SUVs, as they make up the lion's share of the American market. Cadillac was lagging a decade ago with only the full-size Escalade and midsize SRX SUV. But that changed as the company revamped its naming scheme, introducing the XT5 as a replacement of the SRX in 2016. It was followed by the smaller XT4 and larger XT6, with the brand now fielding an entry in every size category except subcompact.

The five-passenger Cadillac XT4 debuted at the 2018 New York Auto Show and saw its best sales in its first full year on sale. They have waned by two-thirds through 2021, but have climbed back in 2022. What it continues to have is a little Cadillac charm that can't be replicated by other automakers, though the brand is a long way from the cushy land yachts of the past.

The 2022 Cadillac XT4 has both sport and luxury trims, though all come with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Base models are front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive is optional for $2,500. The 2022 XT4 starts at $37,490.

The Sport trim adds a gloss black mesh grille inspired by Cadillac's high-performance V-Series models, gloss black window moldings and special alloy wheel choices. A silver metallic color called Argent is standard, but the Sport offers blue, a selection of grays and a dark red for $625. Radiant Red and Crystal White are $1,225.

It does come with Cadillac levels of standard equipment including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power liftgate, remote start, dual-zone climate control, power seats and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, controlled by a single knob in the center of the console.

Compared to some of the competition, including less expensive crossovers, the screen is a little small. But the wireless CarPlay is easy to set up and the integration into the instrument panel is clean. The standard Bose sound system is excellent.

Wireless phone charging is part of the Technology Package for $1,400 that includes the digital instrument cluster, head-up display and power tilting steering wheel.

The Enhanced Visibility Package ($1,500) was also included on this tester. It comes with safety features like a rear camera mirror, automatic parking, rear pedestrian alert and a surround view camera, though this vehicle is small enough to maneuver in a parking lot without much effort.

The seats can be wrapped in a weathered-looking leather and are a good mix of comfort and support. The buttons and switches feel a little inexpensive for a Cadillac, but the ergonomics and feedback are perfect, except for the park button, which is hidden from the driver's eyeline by the gear selector. The door handle is perfectly rounded and in the perfect position to speedily exit the vehicle.

The back seats are a bit small for adults. Two would be fine, three would be tight. And it's a little cramped with two child seats in the back as well. The cargo area behind the seats is smaller than the competition from BMW, Audi and Acura, so if a lot of family travel is on the docket, buyers might want something bigger.

The turbocharged engine sounds surprisingly angry at high rpms for a luxury automaker, but the speed and acceleration are completely acceptable for this class of vehicle. It has enough oomph to merge with expressway traffic and enough to pass, as long as the driver puts the pedal to the floor. The nine-speed automatic transmission was flawless and can be shifted with paddles on the steering wheel.

The 2022 XT4 handles like modern crossover, sportier than the Cadillac's of yore, and the outside noise from the road and wind is kept to a minimum. Some bigger potholes do transmit to the cabin, but the tighter-than-average steering and suspension make for a more enjoyable drive.

A rear vision camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, rear park assist, pedestrian braking and Safety Alert Seat are standard. The latter of which tells the driver if they left a child in the car. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard on Premium Luxury and Sport. The Driver Assist Package is available on Premium Luxury and Sport (requires Driver Awareness Package) and includes adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking and reverse automatic braking.

The Cadillac's main competitors are the Acura RDX ($38,400), Audi Q3 ($36,400) and Volvo XC40 ($33,700). They all come with turbocharged four-cylinder engines but the Acura is the most powerful with 272 hp. The Volvo is the most efficient with a 32 mile per gallon rating on the highway. The Acura all-wheel drive system is particularly adept in the snow and it has the most cargo space out of the four.

The RDX would be a good first test drive, followed by the Cadillac. If neither of those suit a buyer, the Volvo and Audi Q3 are still good options. For a few thousand more the BMW X3 is also available.

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