2021 Subaru Forester vs 2020 Cadillac XT4

The 2020 Cadillac XT4, with its Premium Luxury trim, presented a sophisticated yet sporty appearance. It featured front-wheel drive, Silver Radiant metallic paint, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, contributing to its visual appeal. The XT4's crisp, tailored styling was complemented by a navigation system, a Bose premium audio system, and several option packages, bringing the total cost to $45,660. Inside, the cabin was mostly pleasant, with competitive quality materials, though some areas, like the plain black trim around the power window controls, fell short of luxury expectations.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a classic, boxy shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The styling was simple yet functional, with distinctive cross-shaped taillights. The Forester Sport model, like the one tested, added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its visual appeal. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Forester shared its underpinnings with other Subaru models, maintaining a rugged SUV image. The interior was practical, with a no-nonsense mix of materials designed for durability, and the Sport trim added a splash of orange for a touch of flair.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a lively driving experience, with torque available from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. A nine-speed automatic transmission was standard, offering smooth shifts, though it hesitated to downshift in Tour mode. The XT4's ride and handling were mixed, with good steering effort in Tour mode but an artificially heavy sensation in Sport mode. The oversized wheels provided impressive grip, but the suspension struggled with speed humps and smaller bumps, affecting ride comfort.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While adequate for most situations, the engine lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was softly sprung, absorbing bumps but resulting in poor body control and noticeable body roll in corners. Standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode enhanced its off-road capabilities, with Dual X-Mode available on Sport models. The Forester's ground clearance of 8.7 inches allowed it to handle rough terrain better than many competitors.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 offered a comfortable interior for the driver and front passenger, with soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The rear passenger compartment was spacious, though the seat cushion lacked support. The XT4's air conditioning system was highly effective, quickly cooling the cabin during a heatwave. The interior featured a clean, minimalistic design with ample storage space, including umbrella holders and a wireless smartphone charger. However, cargo space was limited, with 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall roofline. This design also allowed for excellent outward visibility. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The interior featured practical storage solutions, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was not offered. The Forester's controls were user-friendly, but the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured the updated Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, which was more user-friendly than previous versions. It included an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth pairing. The system offered multiple interaction methods, including touchscreen, console controls, and voice recognition. However, the screen size was considered small for a luxury vehicle, and the climate system was not integrated with voice commands. The optional 13-speaker Bose audio system provided a satisfying listening experience, though some advanced features like a head-up display were not included in the test vehicle.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims added an 8-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon audio system, navigation, and additional USB ports. The system was easy to use, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also included a secondary screen on the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying information like fuel economy and tire pressure, though the setup felt overly complex.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 came with standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-change warning systems. The Driver Awareness Package offered additional features like automatic high-beam headlights and lane-keeping assistance. The XT4 received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not completed all testing.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, unique among mainstream brands. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking. EyeSight's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs were jerky.