Compare the2024 Volvo XC60VS 2024 Cadillac XT4

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volvo XC60 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The XC60’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.

Both the XC60 and XT4 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XT4’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo XC60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Cadillac doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the XT4. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC60 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC60’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The XT4’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC60 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The XT4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XC60 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the XC60. But it costs extra on the XT4.

The XC60’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 XC60 and the XT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available 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 Volvo XC60 is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	XC60	XT4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	190
Neck Injury Risk	22%	28%
Neck Stress	198 lbs.	218 lbs.
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	43 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	178	350
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28%	34%
Neck Compression	55 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 Volvo XC60 is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

	XC60	XT4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	114
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	126 lbs.	185 lbs.
Hip Force	190 lbs.	328 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	51 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	410 lbs.	522 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC60 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 98 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT4 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The XC60’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT4’s (12 vs. 6 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC60 for 4 years and 40,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT4.

Reliability

The battery on the XC60 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the XC60’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The XT4’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (247 vs. 235) than the XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The XC60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 220 more horsepower (455 vs. 235) and 265 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 258) than the XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

	XC60	XT4
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.5 MPH	89.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the XT4:

			MPGe
XC60
	AWD	T8 Electric Motor	66 city/60 hwy
XT4
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/28 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XT4:

			MPG
XC60
	AWD	2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/28 hwy
XT4
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/28 hwy

The XC60 T8 Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 36 miles. The XT4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the XC60’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The XC60 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT4 FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.8 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XC60 has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT4 AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.8 vs. 16.3 gallons).

The XC60 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT4. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XC60’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT4:

	XC60	XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered	XT4
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	15.7 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.6 inches	12.4 inches

The XC60 stops shorter than the XT4:

	XC60	XT4
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC60’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT4 (265/35R22 vs. 245/45R20).

The XC60’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT4’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC60 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The XT4’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The XC60 Ultimate has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC60’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XT4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XC60’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the XT4 (112.8 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC60 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the XT4.

The XC60 B5 Core handles at .87 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XC60 B5 Core executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (26.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the XT4’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC60 has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (8.5 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the XC60 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The XC60 has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 5.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

Cargo Capacity

The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (24.4 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (63.3 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the XC60 easier. The XC60’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

The XC60’s cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

	XC60	XT4
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.8”	37.5”/67.4”
Max Width	43.5”	50”
Min Width	41.5”	38.7”
Height	30.6”	26.6”

Towing

The XC60’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT4’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport, the XC60 Ultimate/Polestar has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The XC60’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 XC60 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. The driver of the XT4 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The XC60’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’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the XC60 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The XT4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the XC60’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the XT4’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The XT4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XT4 (except Luxury)’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The XC60’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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XC60 is less expensive to operate than the XT4 because it costs $346 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the XC60 than the XT4, including $30 less for a water pump, $462 less for a muffler, $714 less for a timing belt/chain and $333 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC60 as the 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XT4 has never been chosen.

The Volvo XC60 outsold the Cadillac XT4 by 75% during 2023.