Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2023 Cadillac XT4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XT4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crosstrek. But it costs extra on the XT4.

The Crosstrek CVT’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crosstrek and the XT4 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	Crosstrek	XT4
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	350
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	52 lbs.	77 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	Crosstrek	XT4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	428 lbs.	598 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	204

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 141 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT4 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 12 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 68 points higher than the XT4.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 13 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4 (automatics tested):

	Crosstrek	XT4
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	22.2 sec	23 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88 MPH	87 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The XT4 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek gets better mileage than the XT4:

			MPG
Crosstrek
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/33 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
XT4
FWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Crosstrek uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Crosstrek offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The XT4 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Crosstrek offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Crosstrek stops shorter than the XT4:

	Crosstrek	XT4
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the XT4’s (35.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Subaru Crosstrek may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 600 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Crosstrek is 4.6 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Crosstrek easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has .4 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 5.4 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

The Crosstrek’s cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

	Crosstrek	XT4
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32.3”/64.2”	37.5”/67.4”
Max Width	53”	50”
Min Width	43”	38.7”
Height	30”	26.6”

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT4. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The XT4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Crosstrek has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The XT4 (except Luxury)’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Crosstrek Limited’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Crosstrek with a number “5” insurance rate while the XT4 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Crosstrek is less expensive to operate than the XT4 because it costs $246 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Crosstrek than the XT4, including $154 less for a water pump, $572 less for a muffler, $42 less for front brake pads, $205 less for fuel injection, $490 less for a timing belt/chain and $517 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT4 isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Cadillac XT4 by over 9 to one during the 2021 model year.

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