Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Cadillac XT4

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

Safety

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The X3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The XT4 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XT4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT4 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The X3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the XT4.

The X3’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 X3 and the XT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	X3	XT4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	190
Neck Injury Risk	21%	28%
Neck Stress	202 lbs.	218 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	181/231 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	176	350
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	72 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, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	X3	XT4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	114
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	153 lbs.	185 lbs.
Hip Force	275 lbs.	328 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	169
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	51 G’s

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, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT4 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT4’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT4.

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 X3’s reliability 30 points higher than the XT4.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The XT4 isn’t in the top three.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 9 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (248 vs. 235) than the XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 147 more horsepower (382 vs. 235) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

	X3	XT4
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.5 MPH	89.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X3 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT4 FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The X3 has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the XT4 AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 16.3 gallons).

Transmission

The X3 M40i’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The XT4 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT4:

	X3	X3 M40i	XT4
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.5 inches	12.4 inches

The X3 stops much shorter than the XT4:

	X3	XT4
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the XT4 (245/50R19 vs. 235/60R18).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT4’s standard 60 series tires. The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the XT4’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT4. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the XT4.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The XT4 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the XT4 (112.8 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the XT4’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .85 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (8 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The X3 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3’s rear seats recline. The XT4’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the X3 easier. The X3’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The X3’s cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

	X3	XT4
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.5”/69”	37.5”/67.4”
Max Width	47”	50”
Min Width	43.3”	38.7”
Height	30.1”	26.6”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XT4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT4’s (4400 vs. 2500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X3 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

The X3’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the X3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote or with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the XT4 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X3 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 X3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The XT4 Luxury’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The XT4 (except Luxury)’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X3’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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X3 with a number “5” insurance rate while the XT4 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The X3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X3 will retain 49.78% to 50.55% of its original price after five years, while the XT4 only retains 45.4% to 45.5%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT4 isn't recommended.

The BMW X3 outsold the Cadillac XT4 by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.