Compare the2023 Cadillac XT4VS 2021 Lexus NX Series

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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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 NX Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac XT4 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX Series doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Compared to metal, the XT4’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Lexus NX Series has a metal gas tank.

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

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 Lexus NX Series:

	XT4	NX Series
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	209
Neck Injury Risk	28%	46%
Neck Stress	218 lbs.	509 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	181/231 lbs.	480/609 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	350	355
Neck Injury Risk	34%	42%
Neck Stress	131 lbs.	295 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	73/175 lbs.	442/307 lbs.

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 Lexus NX Series:

	XT4	NX Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	114	192
Hip Force	328 lbs.	352 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	169	317
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	204	542
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	522 lbs.	828 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT4’s warranty.

Engine

The XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (235 vs. 194) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 199) than the NX 300h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Cadillac XT4 is faster than the NX 300h :

	XT4	NX Series
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	8.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.6 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	84.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT4 gets better mileage than the NX Series:

			MPG
XT4
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
NX Series
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		F Sport 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT4 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The NX 300 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT4 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX Series Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (15.9 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 NX Series doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT4 higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX Series (3 to 7). This means the XT4 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX Series every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT4, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the NX Series.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the NX Series are solid, not vented.

The XT4 stops much shorter than the NX Series:

	XT4	NX Series
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XT4 has larger standard tires than the NX Series (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The XT4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX Series (245/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The XT4’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX Series’ standard 65 series tires. The XT4’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the NX Series F Sport’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT4 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the NX Series. The XT4’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the NX Series.

The XT4 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The NX Series doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT4’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the NX Series (109.4 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT4 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the NX Series.

The XT4 Sport AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the NX 300 F Sport AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT4 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the NX 300h AWD (26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Chassis

The Cadillac XT4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 pounds less than the Lexus NX Series.

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 NX Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT4 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX Series doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the XT4 Sport AWD is quieter than the NX 300 F Sport AWD (67 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

The XT4 has 29.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the NX Series (101.3 vs. 71.6).

The XT4 has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and 3.4 inches more rear legroom than the NX Series.

The front step up height for the XT4 is 1.1 inches lower than the NX Series (17” vs. 18.1”). The XT4’s rear step up height is .5 inches lower than the NX Series’ (17.5” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

The XT4 has a much larger cargo volume than the NX Series with its rear seat up (22.5 vs. 17.7 cubic feet).

Towing

The XT4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX Series’ (2500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus NX 300h AWD is only 2000 pounds. The XT4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The NX Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The XT4’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The XT4 Luxury’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The NX Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the XT4 and the NX Series offer optional 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 NX Series.

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 NX Series.

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 NX Series 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 NX Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT4 is less expensive to operate than the NX Series because it costs $181 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the XT4 than the NX Series, including $9 less for a water pump, $173 less for a starter, $159 less for fuel injection, $135 less for a fuel pump, $73 less for front struts and $269 less for a timing belt/chain.

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