Acura MDX vs Cadillac XT4

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 showcased a sophisticated exterior design, employing a “Y” trim level strategy that began with the standard Luxury trim and could be upgraded to either the Premium Luxury or Sport trims. Our test vehicle featured the Premium Luxury trim, which prioritized comfort over sportiness. It flaunted front-wheel drive (FWD), Silver Radiant metallic paint—the sole no-cost option—20-inch aluminum wheels, and a plethora of option packages, including Comfort and Convenience, Cold Weather, and Driver Awareness packages. Comprised of these elements, the test car’s total price amounted to $45,660, factoring in the $995 destination charge.

Visually, the XT4 stood out as potentially the most attractive Cadillac crossover, especially with its 20-inch alloy wheels. The crisp, tailored styling gave the SUV proper proportions, although the front overhang was a bit excessive—a common issue for front-drive platforms. Inside, the Cadillac XT4 generally used materials that conveyed a competitive quality standard. However, minor missteps, such as the plain black trim around the power window controls, diminished the luxury feel. It was a common issue among small luxury SUVs offering quality shortcuts.

Contrarily, the 2020 Acura MDX, while good-looking, did not aim to be groundbreaking or breathtaking in its styling. It blended seamlessly into parking lots, without demanding special attention but also without shaming its driver. Acura's Jewel Eye LED headlights added a touch of sophistication and practicality to the front, with five LED elements per side arranged horizontally in a housing alongside the turn signals and running lamps. These headlights flanked a trapezoidal grille featuring a prominent Acura logo, anchoring the car's expressive face.

The MDX had a sleek and low-slung silhouette for a three-row SUV, adorned with chiseled details and a fast roofline. Its paint and chrome finishes were executed flawlessly—a consistent strength for Acura. Inside, the MDX presented a modern and simple aesthetic, devoid of the excessive padding and stitching seen in many luxury interiors. The center stack was a highlight, featuring twin infotainment screens: an 8.0-inch LED screen for navigation, positioned above an On Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) touchscreen with three rows of buttons and a prominent command wheel at the center. The MDX boasted high-quality materials and an excellent fit and finish, with satisfying actuation of knobs and switches that offered a rewarding tactile experience.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which felt stronger than its official ratings suggested. It produced 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with the latter available from 1,500 rpm to 4,000 rpm. Power was delivered through a nine-speed automatic transmission, channeling to either the front wheels or all four wheels, contingent on the drivetrain choice. According to the EPA, an FWD XT4 achieved a fuel economy of 26 mpg, with our test vehicle garnering 24.8 mpg. The Cadillac XT4’s driving character was enlivened by a fat band of torque, yet opting for the optional twin-clutch all-wheel-drive (AWD) system would mitigate front-wheel slip and torque steer, both issues with FWD.

The nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, yet hesitated to downshift under increased accelerator pressure, especially when exiting curves or corners. This hesitation was less prominent in the Sport drive mode but remained an occasional issue. Paddle shifters offered a solution, but their changes were almost imperceptible to the driver. Cadillac needed to work on isolating the XT4’s cabin from engine and road noise as the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine didn’t sound particularly refined, and the 20-inch wheels conveyed constant surface sizzle to the cabin—an unwelcome feature in a luxury SUV.

Regarding ride and handling, the XT4 was a mixed bag. Steering effort felt good in Tour mode but adopted a heavy, artificial sensation in Sport mode. The lack of an adaptive damping suspension in the Premium Luxury trim, which was available in the XT4 Sport, led to compromised ride quality. The standard suspension struggled with speed humps and allowed excess body movement on enthusiastic drives. Additionally, it failed to absorb smaller bumps, amplified by the large wheels and tires. Nevertheless, the oversized tires offered impressive grip, and minimal body roll made the XT4 enjoyable on smooth pavements, where the brakes also performed admirably.

Conversely, the 2020 Acura MDX offered two powertrain options. The primary choice was a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Alternatively, the MDX Sport Hybrid combined a 3.0-liter V6 with three electric motors, producing a combined 321 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and all-wheel drive.

Our review centered on a gasoline-only model equipped with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD). The MDX demonstrated impressive straight-line performance with enthusiastic takeoffs and accelerations. Paddle shifters allowed for sequential shifting, but the well-behaved transmission rendered manual intervention mostly unnecessary, as selecting the appropriate drive mode (Comfort or Sport) resulted in optimal shifts.

The MDX exhibited surprising nimbleness in corners and curves, particularly with SH-AWD’s torque-vectoring technology, which directed power to the outside wheel during cornering maneuvers. This enhanced handling, making the MDX easier to drive quickly around corners without drama or insecurity. The four-wheel independent suspension adeptly absorbed road bumps, offering a comfortable ride for long distances.

While the 2020 Cadillac XT4's suspension had room for improvement and allowed too much noise into the cabin, the driver and front passenger would find comfort in their positions. Our test vehicle featured soft leather upholstery, densely padded armrests, padded center console sides, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats for both the driver and front passenger. The slim steering wheel was also heated. The rear seats offered heating and rear air conditioning vents, contributing to a comfortable rear passenger compartment that felt roomier than many small SUVs. However, the rear seat cushion lacked adequate support.

The Cadillac XT4 excelled in air conditioning, swiftly cooling the interior even during a Southern California heatwave. The climate controls were arranged beneath the infotainment system screen, combining buttons and metallic piano key tabs. Inside, storage space was abundant—with features like umbrella holders in the front door panels and an innovative angled wireless smartphone charger—setting it apart from some competitors. Cargo space, though, was a bit more limited. Behind the rear seats, there was 22.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 48.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. A hands-free power liftgate was available.

In comparison, the 2020 Acura MDX, designed to accommodate families, replaced minivans and incorporated their functional innovations. The MDX's sliding and reclining second-row seats facilitated easier access to the third row and allowed legroom adjustments between rows. Headroom was adequate in all three rows. With 15.8 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row (which folded in a 50/50 split), expanding to 43.4 cubic feet, the MDX offered appreciable cargo capacity. Folding the second row (in a 60/40 split) expanded the cargo hold to 90.9 cubic feet.

Up front, the MDX featured a sizable glove box, an overhead sunglass pocket, a flexible center console with two large cupholders and a sliding armrest, and additional storage. Second-row passengers benefited from back-of-center-console cupholders, seat back pouches, and third-row passengers had outboard armrests with storage bins and cupholders. The MDX had tri-zone climate control, enabling separate climate settings for the driver, front passenger, and rear cabin positions.

The Cadillac XT4 sought to shed its previous reputation for cumbersome tech with its latest version of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system. Now much easier to use, our test XT4 included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, Cadillac Connected Access services, and near-field communication pairing. Multiple interaction methods included an 8-inch touchscreen, center console and steering wheel controls, and a capable voice-recognition system. However, some improvements were needed: a larger screen, voice recognition for the climate system, and better center console control reference points.

The optional 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround audio system provided a satisfying listening experience. Lacking in our test car, but available features included a head-up display (HUD) and a rear camera mirror with a 180-degree live video feed.

The 2020 Acura MDX simplified options into packages packed with technology. The base MDX came well-equipped with standard Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SMS/MMS text message and email capability, a CD/MP3 player, five USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an eight-speaker audio system. For advanced tech, the Technology Package added rain-sensing windshield wipers, LED puddle lights, parking sensors, navigation with Acura Real-Time Traffic, GPS-linked climate control, remote engine start, and an Acura/ELS Studio Premium Audio system with ten speakers.

Further upgrading to the Advance Package brought additional features like an Active Damper System suspension, LED fog lights, heated and ventilated seats, added lumbar support, rear outboard heated seats, a surround-view camera system, head-up warning, and third-row USB charge ports. The Entertainment Package, available for both Technology and Advance packages, added a DVD rear entertainment system, power outlets, wireless headphones, and—for the Advance Package—a 16.2-inch Ultra-Wide VGA screen with HDMI compatibility.

For the 2020 model year, Cadillac increased the XT4’s safety suite, adding forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and its unique vibrating Safety Alert Seat system to the standard list. These systems joined a rear-seat reminder, Teen Driver parental report card technology, and two years of automatic collision notification and emergency assistance service.

Premium Luxury or Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-change warning systems. The Driver Awareness Package included automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a following-distance indicator. The Driver Assist Package brought adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and reverse automatic braking. Optional for 2020, the rear pedestrian alert system was accessible via the Enhanced Visibility Package, which also bundled a rear-view camera mirror, surround-view camera system, and semi-autonomous parking assist system.

The XT4 received a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it Good ratings for moderate-overlap frontal-impact and side-impact protection, though testing was incomplete.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Acura MDX came equipped with standard AcuraWatch—a comprehensive suite of passive and active safety features and advanced driver assistance systems. This included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and the Advance Package included head-up warning.

Additional safety systems encompassed a rearview camera (upgraded to surround-view on the Advance Package), multiple airbags including a driver’s knee airbag, stability and traction control, Trailer Stability Assist on all-wheel-drive models, tire pressure monitoring, LATCH mounts, and a theft-deterrent system. Acura’s ACE Body Structure was designed to absorb crash impacts, transferring energy away from occupants.

The MDX received “good” ratings across all crash-test categories from the IIHS, an “acceptable” for headlights, “superior” for front crash prevention, and “acceptable” for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating.