This Lexus Is The Perfect Replacement For The Cadillac XT4

Drivers who prefer a luxury compact crossover have lost one of the popular choices when GM discontinued the Cadillac XT4 earlier this year. XT4 buyers were looking for premium style and features, a comfortable cabin, efficient powertrain, and practical cargo space, but at a reasonable price. The XT4 has all that, with the storied Cadillac nameplate thrown in. It would be difficult to find a replica of the XT4, but the Lexus NX meets these criteria, and in some cases, exceeds them

The Lexus RX would have fit the bill, but it is a bit bigger and comes at a higher price point than the XT4. The Lexus NX is probably the most logical vehicle to replace the XT4. It is certainly a premium vehicle, and the Lexus brand value is very strong in the US as well. The NX boasts a handsome and practical cabin, several powertrain options, and technology as good, if not better, than the Caddy. Lexus vehicles topped the J.D. Power ‘Dependability Index’, although Cadillac is near the top at number five. Lexus vehicles are always in the top tier for resale value as well.

Size, Features, And Everyday Usability: The Numbers That Matter

The Lexus NX and Cadillac XT4 are physically very similar, with both offering good passenger space and ample cargo volume. The Cadillac does not quite live up to its premium status, with hard plastic surfaces lower down on the doors, and knobs and controls that came from the same bin as GM’s more mass market offerings.

The Lexus NX has had a major interior revamp, using classy materials and with a modern look and feel. There are also several feature upgrades, either on the higher trims or as optional extras. These range from a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, ambient lighting, open-pore wood, to quilted leather upholstery.

Infotainment And Sound

The Caddy has a nice 33-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. A Wi-Fi hotspot is standard. Sound is via a seven-speaker system, with a 13-speaker AKG setup as an option. The base level NX models have a 9.8-inch touchscreen, while the higher trims have a 14.0-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Wireless charging and a head-up display are optional. Sound is via a 10-speaker system, while a 17-speaker Mark Levinson setup is optional for the top trims.

Dimensions Are Fairly Similar

Both these vehicles are compact crossovers, so they will fit into a standard car garage and offer car-like nimbleness in traffic. At 183.5 inches, the Lexus is about three inches longer than the Caddy. The Lexus has 92 cubic feet of passenger space, while the Cadillac has 105. Cargo space behind the rear seats is identical at around 23 cubic feet. The Cadillac has the same curb weight as the gas Lexus, while the hybrid Lexus is about 100 pounds heavier, and the PHEV, with its big battery, is almost 500 pounds heavier.

Powertrain And Driving Character

Neither the Cadillac nor the Lexus are outright performance cars, but both offer very drivable power. The Cadillac XT4 range all come with the same engine, a 2.0-liter inline four turbo that produces 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Lexus NX comes with a range of powertrain options. The gas model has a 2.4-liter inline four turbo that makes 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid that makes a combined 240 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, while the plug-in hybrid makes a combined 304 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque.

Efficiency And Performance

The Caddy has one engine option, and it is a very popular one. The Lexus has a more flexible range, and buyers can choose more affordable pure gas power, the efficient hybrid, or the most expensive, most powerful, and most versatile PHEV option. The PHEV has a range of 37 miles on battery alone, after which it functions like a normal hybrid.

Cadillac XT4 And Lexus NX Performance Specs

Luxury Ride Quality From Both Models

The 2025 Cadillac XT4, according to reviews, is more of a boulevard cruiser than a sporty SUV, with a smooth suspension on normal roads, but it can get bumpy on rough roads. The steering also lacks road feel. Reviewers noted that the Lexus had softer suspension and handling common to the brand, and that the F Sport trim has an adaptive suspension that firms up the ride and delivers more poise.

This utility vehicle’s suspension does a superb job filtering out roadway harshness and large suspension inputs, all without flopping around in turns. The cabin also remains impressively quiet at speed…

– Craig Cole for TopSpeed (Lexus NX)

Ownership, Value, And Strategic Argument For Replacement

The fact that General Motors is phasing out the XT4 places a damper on ownership. Popular and practical as it is, when a model ends production, it casts a shadow on owning one. GM will certainly keep supporting the XT4 with parts and service for the logical lifespan of the current models. The Lexus NX is a different proposition. Lexus has no plans to discontinue this model and has, in fact, just upgraded it. This, with the variety of powertrains and trim levels available, provides a clearer roadmap for long-term ownership, as well as resale value.

Ownership And Reliability

While the focus of this piece is to look for an alternative to the popular Cadillac XT4, it is worth noting the J.D. Power scores for the two vehicles. J.D. Power scores are out of a hundred and are based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of verified owners. The Cadillac XT4 scores an 80/100 for reliability, a 76/100 for resale, and an overall 79/100, while the Lexus NX clocks an 85/100 for quality and reliability, an 81/100 for resale, and an overall 83/100.

Depreciation Leans More In Lexus’ Favor

The Lexus keeps its value better than the Cadillac on average over five years, even though the Lexus, with its different powertrain options, can show some variance. A 2025 Cadillac XT4 will depreciate by 49 percent over five years, with an average value of $22,436. A 2025 Lexus NX will depreciate by 47 percent over the same time, with an average resale value of $29,125.

The Lexus NX Is More Than A Like-For-Like Replacement

The Cadillac XT4 is a popular vehicle because it is a compact crossover — the most popular vehicle shape in the US. It offers a premium experience at a very good price, and while it is not a performance vehicle, it is lively enough for most drivers. The Lexus NX ticks all these boxes as well, plus a few more.

The Lexus Offers More Options

The Cadillac XT4 has one powertrain option and is available in two trim levels, Premium Luxury and Sport. The Lexus has three powertrain options and is available in 15 trim levels, giving the buyer a far greater choice.

Brand Value Impacts Both Manufacturers

Cadillac, as a brand, is very strong, and the brand has a long history. Its high-profile exploits in motor racing, including entering a team in Formula 1 in 2026, will only add to its brand appeal. Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota, one of the most trusted brands in the US, although the Lexus brand has solid value in its own right. If Cadillac had not decided to discontinue the XT4, choosing between it and Lexus would have been a coin toss. As it is, the Lexus NX is a perfect replacement for the Caddy.

Sources: Cadillac, Lexus, J.D. Power, the Department of Energy.