Compare the2022 Cadillac XT4VS 2021 Infiniti QX50

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the XT4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The QX50 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the XT4 and the QX50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Infiniti QX50:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Infiniti QX50:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 4 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT4 first among compact premium suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The QX50 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 14th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 15th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd.

On the EPA test cycle the XT4 gets better fuel mileage than the QX50:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT4’s fuel efficiency. The QX50 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the XT4’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The QX50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT4 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The QX50 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT4 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The QX50 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT4 higher (7 out of 10) than the Infiniti QX50 (6). This means the XT4 produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the QX50 every 15,000 miles.

The XT4 stops shorter than the QX50:

The XT4 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the QX50; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The XT4 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX50’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The XT4 Sport AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the QX50 Essential AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XT4 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the QX50 Essential AWD (26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

The XT4 is 3.6 inches shorter than the QX50, making the XT4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The QX50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT4 has 4.5 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more rear legroom than the QX50.

The XT4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the QX50’s (2500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Infiniti QX50 AWD is only 3000 pounds. The XT4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The XT4’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The QX50 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the XT4 and the QX50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XT4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The XT4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the QX50 and aren’t offered on the QX50 Pure.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The QX50 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the XT4 and the QX50 offer available heated front seats. The XT4 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the QX50.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the QX50.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac XT4 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The QX50 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The QX50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the XT4 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the XT4 with a number “8” insurance rate while the QX50 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT4 is less expensive to operate than the QX50 because typical repairs cost much less on the XT4 than the QX50, including $241 less for a water pump, $157 less for a starter, $140 less for a fuel pump, $131 less for front struts and $539 less for a power steering pump.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its February 2019 issue and they ranked the Cadillac XT4 Sport AWD higher than the Infiniti QX50 Essential AWD.