2021 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Cadillac XT4

Cadillac's 2020 XT4 employed a "Y" trim level strategy, starting with the standard Luxury trim and offering upgrades to Premium Luxury or Sport trims. The test vehicle featured the Premium Luxury trim, which emphasized comfort over sportiness. It came with front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a navigation system, a Bose premium audio system, and several option packages, totaling $45,660. The XT4's exterior was visually appealing, especially with the 20-inch wheels, and its interior used competitive quality materials, though some elements like the plain black trim around the power window controls felt out of place in a luxury vehicle.

The 2021 Ford Explorer followed a "small, medium, large, XL" approach to SUV production, with a family resemblance across models. The Explorer's exterior was sporty with raked belt lines and distinctive visages. It offered six trim levels, from the base model to the Platinum, with prices ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. The interior featured three rows of seats, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dash was clean, with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and large knobs and buttons for the audio system and climate controls. The Explorer's center console housed a rotary gearshift, freeing up space for storage.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, available from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel or all-wheel drive options. The EPA estimated a fuel economy of 26 mpg for the FWD model, though the test vehicle returned 24.8 mpg. The XT4's torque provided a lively driving experience, but the FWD model experienced front-wheel slip and torque steer. The nine-speed automatic transmission offered smooth shifts but was hesitant to downshift in Tour mode, a problem that persisted, though less frequently, in Sport mode. The XT4's interior needed better isolation from engine and road noise, and the suspension struggled with speed humps and smaller bumps, though the oversized wheels provided impressive grip.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. All trims had a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with the sport-oriented ST trim offering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine, though it was not exceptional in its class.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4's interior offered comfort for the driver and front passenger, with soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The rear seats were heated and had air conditioning vents, with ample legroom but a flat cushion. The XT4's air conditioning system was highly effective, quickly cooling the interior during a heatwave. The climate controls were elegantly arranged, and the cabin had plenty of storage space. However, the XT4's cargo space was limited, with 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. A hands-free power liftgate was available.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base trim, with captain's chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing capacity to six. The second row provided 39 inches of legroom, competitive with other SUVs in its class. With the third row deployed, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, but the total cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, putting it in competition with smaller SUVs.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured the latest version of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, which was easier to use than previous versions. The test vehicle included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, Cadillac Connected Access services, and near-field communication pairing to Bluetooth. The 8-inch display was a touchscreen, with intuitive controls on the center console and steering wheel, and a voice-recognition system. However, the screen could be larger, and the climate system was not integrated into the voice-recognition system. The optional 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround audio system provided a satisfying listening experience.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim included an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. The Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio, with higher trims offering a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. The Explorer had two USB ports in the center console and five 12-volt power points, with the ST trim replacing one with a 110-volt AC power outlet.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 added forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and the Safety Alert Seat system to its standard equipment. Premium Luxury and Sport trims included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-change warning systems. The Driver Awareness Package added automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a following-distance indicator. Adaptive cruise control was available in the Driver Assist Package, along with high-speed automatic emergency braking and reverse automatic braking. The XT4 received a 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for moderate-overlap frontal-impact and side-impact protection.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" scores on all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer's base trim included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, with auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and alert, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. The Limited trim and higher offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, with adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, rain-sensing wipers, and speed sign recognition.