Toyota Venza 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, equipped with Premium Luxury trim, featured 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. Visually, the XT4 stood out with its crisp, tailored styling and 20-inch alloy wheels, though it had an excessive front overhang. Inside, the cabin was pleasant with competitive quality materials, despite some shortcuts like the plain black trim around the power window controls.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, shorter and closer to the ground than the RAV4, blurred the line between Toyota and Lexus with its design, resembling the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Available in LE, XLE, and Limited trims, the Venza offered seven paint colors and a long list of standard equipment, including LED headlights, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The base LE model came with a wireless charging pad, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touch screen. The XLE added features like black bumper garnishes and heated front seats, while the Limited trim included a digital rearview mirror and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The fully loaded Venza Limited was the test vehicle.

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 the front or all four wheels, with the FWD model achieving an EPA-estimated 26 mpg. The test vehicle returned 24.8 mpg. The XT4’s lively driving character was attributed to its fat band of torque, though the FWD model experienced front-wheel slip and torque steer. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts but was hesitant to downshift in Tour mode, a problem somewhat mitigated 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. However, the oversized wheels offered impressive grip, and the brakes performed well.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature. The Venza’s acceleration was smooth but noisy, with engine and road noise permeating the cabin. Handling was confident, and the Venza drove like a typical Toyota. The Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

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 roomy, though the seat cushion lacked support. The XT4’s air conditioning system was highly effective, rapidly cooling the interior during a Southern California heatwave. The climate controls were elegantly arranged, and the cabin provided ample 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 seat folded down. A hands-free power liftgate was available.

The 2021 Toyota Venza’s interior was practical and unique, with premium appointments in the center stack and a deep center console featuring resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and a wireless charging pad. The driver and passenger seats were accommodating, and the rear seats were comfortable for extended drives. The Venza offered more headroom and nearly equal shoulder and hip room compared to the RAV4. Cargo space was 55.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, less than some competitors but sufficient for daily use. The cargo space was easy to arrange with quick-flip releases on the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks.

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 needed to be larger, and the climate system should be integrated into the voice-recognition system. The optional 13-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround audio system provided a satisfying listening experience. The test car did not have a head-up display or a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Toyota Venza LE and XLE had an 8-inch infotainment system, while the Limited trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The larger screen had good response time but was not easy to use, requiring multiple menu trips for simple functions. Standard entertainment features included AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system. All trim levels had a Wi-Fi hotspot, with a free 2-gigabyte/three-month trial period. The Venza XLE and Limited offered a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system. Toyota connected services included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, and a 10-year trial of Service Connect. Dynamic navigation was available on models with the larger screen.

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 list. 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 and high-speed automatic emergency braking were available in the Driver Assist Package. The Enhanced Visibility Package included 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, including a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Standard safety features included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring system, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available in the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats. The safety and driver-assist features performed well, though the lane-keeping and lane-tracing assists kept the SUV further to the right within the lane.