Compare the2024 Cadillac XT4VS 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV

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 Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the XT4 and the Sportage PHEV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The XT4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Sportage PHEV’s (6/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT4 third among compact premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Sportage PHEV isn’t in the top three in its category.

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

Both the XT4 and Sportage PHEV have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The XT4 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The XT4 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage PHEV (15.9 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT4 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage PHEV (16.3 vs. 11.1 gallons).

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 Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 Sportage PHEV.

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 Sportage PHEV are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the XT4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sportage PHEV (245/45R20 vs. 235/55R19).

The XT4’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sportage PHEV’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT4 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Sportage PHEV’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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 Sportage PHEV; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and 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 Sportage PHEV’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The XT4 Sport AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the XT4’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Sportage PHEV’s (38 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The Cadillac XT4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the Kia Sportage PHEV.

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

The XT4 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Sportage PHEV.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XT4. The Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sportage PHEV is limited to 2000 pounds. The XT4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The XT4 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sportage PHEV uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 46% lower rating, Kia is ranked 26th.

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 Sportage PHEV does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The XT4’s front and rear power windows all lower 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 Sportage PHEV’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

The XT4’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 Sportage PHEV’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XT4 (except Luxury) offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Sportage PHEV offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the XT4 and the Sportage PHEV 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 Sportage PHEV.

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 Sportage PHEV.

The XT4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Sportage PHEV doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.