Cadillac XT4 offers uptown luxury that won't break the bank (independent review)

You can really go to town in the Cadillac XT4. Literally.

While most small SUVs are all tricked-out and cladded-up, pretending to be off-road creatures, the XT4 is clearly more comfortable in an urban environment - perhaps in the hands of a valet.

Descriptors such as "sophisticated" and "elegant" spring to mind for this luxury hauler. During a photo shoot in downtown Chattanooga, the XT4 looked at home parked in the West Village and cruising past the brick row houses in the Aquarium District.

Despite its added ground clearance and available all-wheel drive, the XT4 is really just a town car in the shape of a tall station wagon. It's a premium crossover that shares GM's E2 platform with the excellent Buick TourX wagon.

My tester, provided for a one-week trial by Cadillac, slots below the brand's larger, Tennessee-made XT5 SUV and (new) 2020 XT6.

The XT4 was a brand-new model for 2019, and the 2020 version adds a couple of useful safety-tech features: forward collision warning and auto emergency braking, both designed to keep you out of the body shop.

What is it?

The XT4, assembled in Kansas City, Kansas, is a five-passenger compact SUV offered with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine that generates 237 horsepower. It sprints from zero to 60 mph in about seven seconds. It's available in front- and all-wheel drive.

How much does it cost?

In its most conservative trim, Luxury, the XT4 starts at $35,695. My tester was outfitted in Premium Luxury trim with a bottom line of $45,360. Included in that price were navigation ($1,500), 20-inch alloy wheels ($1,100) and an enhanced visibility package with automatic parking assist ($1,500).

What's to like?

The XT4 is a looker. In Silver Metallic paint it's especially fetching. The fascia, bracketed by LED headlights, is a work of art. The Light Platinum-colored interior I got to drive around in offers a nice break from the tyranny of black upholstery.

What needs improvement?

Notably absent on my tester were heated seats. In my view, any Cadillac, especially one billed as Premium Luxury, should have standard seat warmers. Alas, they are part of an optional $850 cold weather package.

What's the driving experience like?

The engine, while potent, has a reedy exhaust note. Call me old-school, but a four-cylinder Cadillac - even with a turbo-charger - seems a bit of a contradiction. That said, the nine-speed automatic transmission is silky smooth. When it comes to handling, the XT4 is confident but not cocky, smooth but not soft. That's really all most luxury SUV buyers want to know.

Bottom line?

The XT4 will appeal to Chattanooga-area buyers who like the angular design and cache of modern Cadillac SUVs but want a parkable model that can flit around a mall parking lot.