THE CADILLAC XT4 VS AUDI Q3

Comparing the XT4 Cadillac with Audi's Q3 is like comparing the young new athlete with the old legend that missed its chance to get out of the game gracefully and now it's almost embarrassing to watch. The Q3 was one of the best luxury crossover SUVs on the market up until one year ago when it would have benefited from a general upgrade that never came. A relatively young model with less than a decade on the market it still was surpassed in today's fast-paced world by the new versions of its competitors or completely new models altogether like the XT4 from Cadillac who's been available to purchase for less than a year now.

Design is subjective but even so, anyone can see there's a huge difference between the two models, regardless of personal taste. The XT4 seems sharp, almost futuristic-looking with its dramatic shapes that borrow from the Escalade while the Q3 seems like the car of yesterday from the outside. We are comparing Cadillac's most daring design on the market today with Audi's leftovers from a few seasons back after all and that is instantly evident while looking at the cars.

Inside the differences aren't as big because both brands use high-end materials, but some points are scored above its competitor by the XT4 on account of the comfort it provides to all its passengers. Even the people in the back seats have plenty of room, something of a rarity in the crossover SUV segment. The cargo space is also superior with the Cadillac as they offer 22.5 cubic feet of it behind the second row of seats as compared to only 16.7 cubic feet you get in the Audi.

The list of standard features is also better with the XT4 where even the base model will be equipped with things like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, an 8-inch touchscreen, proximity key entry, remote start, 4 USB ports, a rear-view camera, rear park sensors, the Teen Driver System and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Audi will provide HID headlights, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, a rearview camera and a panoramic sunroof for all trim levels, but you'll have to pay a premium for the keyless entry and start, both of which are standard features with the Cadillac.

Engine wise, again, the XT4 wins with its turbo 2.0-liter engine capable of producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque that's coupled with a 9-speed automatic as compared to Q3's 2.0-liter turbo-four powertrain that only gives out 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. With a less powerful engine, you'd expect better fuel economy, but that's not the case. The Cadillac will get you up to 24 miles per gallon inside the city perimeter for the forward-wheel drive and 30 on the highway while the Audi will only get you 20 in the city and 28 on the highway. Even with all-wheel drive, the XT4 has better numbers with 22 inside the city and 29 outside, so again Q3 falls short.

What promised to be the Cadillac of crossover SUVs dully delivered in its first year on the market and since things can only get better from here on we expect the XT4 to be a class leader for the years to come, especially since it has a reasonable base price. The Q3 has to undergo serious changes just to catch up with its rivals and at this point, it's hard to imagine a scenario where Audi's luxury crossover would surpass the big players in this market segment, but you never know. What it's obvious today though is that there can't be a competition between the two cars right now.