Kia Sportage vs Cadillac XT4

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 employed a “Y” trim level strategy, starting with the standard Luxury trim and offering upgrades to Premium Luxury or Sport trim. 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, bringing the total cost to $45,660, including a $995 destination charge. The XT4's exterior was visually appealing, especially with the 20-inch alloy wheels, and it had a crisp, tailored styling. The interior was pleasant, with competitive-quality materials, though some elements, like the plain black trim around the power window controls, fell short of luxury expectations.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a design that some might describe as frog-like due to its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, though Kia marketed it as “Euro-focused.” The two-row crossover SUV had a short wheelbase and overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights were carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as the stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit, with a logical layout and user-friendly controls.

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. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered either the front or all four wheels, with the EPA rating the FWD model at 26 mpg. The test vehicle returned 24.8 mpg. The XT4's fat band of torque provided a lively driving character, though the FWD model experienced front-wheel slip and torque steer, which could be mitigated with the optional twin-clutch AWD system. The nine-speed automatic transmission offered smooth shifts but was hesitant to downshift in Tour mode, a problem that persisted, albeit less frequently, in Sport mode. Paddle shifters were available but offered little perceptible change. The XT4's interior needed better isolation from engine and road noise, and the suspension struggled with both large and small bumps. However, the oversized wheels provided impressive grip, and the brakes performed well, making the XT4 fun to drive on smooth pavement.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered three trims: LX, EX, and SX Turbo, with either FWD or AWD. The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, making 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models used a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while the AWD version achieved 21/25/23. The turbo models had lower ratings, with the FWD at 20/28/23 and the AWD at 19/24/21. The Sportage's McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth ride with minimal body roll. The steering was less responsive, and the tires struggled to match the engine's capabilities, but the Sportage was still enjoyable to drive, especially in the SX Turbo trim.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 offered a comfortable experience for the driver and front passenger, with soft leather, padded armrests, and heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. The steering wheel was also heated but felt too skinny. The rear seats were heated and had air conditioning vents, with ample legroom but a flat and unsupportive cushion. The XT4's air conditioning system was highly effective, quickly cooling the interior even during a Southern California heatwave. The climate controls were elegantly arranged, and the cabin offered plenty of storage space, including umbrella holders and an angled wireless smartphone charger. However, cargo space was limited, with 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48.9 cubic feet with the seat folded down. A hands-free power liftgate was available.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, provided good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, both heated and ventilated. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. This was less competitive compared to other compact crossovers.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 featured the latest version of the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system, which was much improved from previous iterations. The test vehicle included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, Cadillac Connected Access services, and near-field communication pairing for 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 have been larger, and integrating the climate system into the voice-recognition system would have been beneficial. The optional 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround audio system provided a satisfying listening experience. The test car did not include a head-up display or a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface for its infotainment system, which included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard. Most trims also had Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs, making it easy to use without frustration.

The 2020 Cadillac XT4 added several safety features as standard for the 2020 model year, including forward-collision warning, front pedestrian braking, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and the Safety Alert Seat system. It also included a rear-seat reminder, Teen Driver parental report card technology, and two years of automatic collision notification and emergency assistance service. The Premium Luxury and 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. Adaptive cruise control was available in the Driver Assist Package, along with high-speed automatic emergency braking and reverse automatic braking. The Enhanced Visibility Package offered a rear pedestrian alert system, a rear-view camera mirror, a surround-view camera system, and a semi-autonomous parking assist system. The XT4 received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS for moderate-overlap frontal-impact and side-impact protection.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, with standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control, which operated smoothly. The SX Turbo trims earned a Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS due to upgraded headlights, and all trim levels performed well in NHTSA crash tests.