Cadillac has got to be a bit disheartened this year, for more reasons than one. Consumer Reports has released its review of the 2020 Cadillac XT4, and it’s not pretty. They may have nailed the reasons Cadillac XT4 sales have been so poor. 

Consumer Reports gives the Cadillac XT4 a thumbs down

The review team at Consumer Reports gave the XT4 a dismal score of 52. For reference, that’s No. 11 out of 12 in the luxury entry-level SUV category. What made them dislike the 2020 Cadillac XT4 so much? The basic things they had problems with were the ride, excessive engine noise, visibility, and a lack of standard safety features.

According to GoodCarBadCar, the Cadillac XT4 sales numbers reflect these problems. Sales fell from 7,026 units in the first quarter of 2019 to 5,163 in the first quarter of 2020. Granted, there are extenuating circumstances, but that is a drop of 26.5 percent.

What are the biggest cons?

On the test drive, reviewers of the 2020 Cadillac XT4 found the drive to be stiff and noisy. They definitely did not like the thin sound coming from the engine, which they found inappropriate for a luxury brand. The suspension didn’t deal very well with the bumps associated with everyday driving, and reviewers found the ride of the XT4 a bit jolting. 

They also did not appreciate the fact that some advanced safety features are not standard and have to be paid for through an options package. In their view, features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking should be standard for all luxury vehicles. In the Cadillac XT4, they aren’t even options on the base model 

Reliability was another area where the Cadillac XT4 really suffered. Consumer Reports only gave it a one out of five in predicted reliability. This is based on how models have performed in the past based on owner surveys.

A score of one is not something you see very often from a luxury brand.  When compared to other models on a percentage scale for reliability, the XT4 only got 9 percent, compared to the top vehicle in the category, the Lexus UX, which got a 96 percent.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4

Even with the low score, the 2020 Cadillac XT4 isn’t all bad. It’s equipped with an all-new, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The combination delivers smooth power without hesitation, and they found it nimble around the corners. It has confident acceleration, and it’s quite easy to park thanks to its compact dimensions.

Other things reviewers liked about the road test of the XT4 was the ease of use of the technology interphase. They felt it was an improvement for Cadillac, and they liked that there was the option to use a knob in the center console to control some features. They also enjoyed the front seats, which were comfortable and feature four-way lumbar support and adjustable side bolsters. There is even an optional massage feature for long journeys. 

A convenient exterior feature is the available hands-free power liftgate that uses a sensor to open the back. The 2020 Cadillac XT4 also has distinctive LED lights in the front and rear, available roof rails, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The SUV features a sport mesh grille in front and signature LED tail lamps in back. It comes in three trim levels — Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. 

If you really love the Cadillac brand, there are reasons to look at the XT4. But, according to Consumer Reports, there are at least 10 better choices in the luxury entry-level SUV category.