THE CADILLAC XT4 VS BMW X3

It's not often you get to compare two spectacular cars like the XT4 Cadillac and the X3 BMW, both of which are at the top of the compact luxury SUV segment. A battle that's closer than anyone would have predicted if you take into account the fact that Cadillac didn't have a horse in the race just two years ago. The XT4 is the company's first compact SUV but you wouldn't be able to tell that by looking at it.

It's probably Cadillac's most daring exterior design on any of their current vehicles, packed with dramatic shapes that borrow from the Escalade. Although a fresh model its sharp lines will not have you confuse it with any other car brand, looking at the XT4 you'll instantly know this is a Cadillac.

The company's philosophy seems to have been to give its customers a solid base from which they can build up their perfect car. The entry price is cheaper than most of its rivals and the base model has all the standard features you'd expect, but nothing above that. You can, however, add anything you can think of in terms of tech, trim, and safety from the available upgrades. Cadillac didn't assume its customers' expectations, instead, they gave them the power to choose exactly what's best for each of them. Are you more interested in comfort? Or Safety? Or maybe on how the car looks and feels... You decide what your XT4 looks like with the help of a small entry cost and a phenomenal list of upgrades.

What Cadillac provides is a surprisingly roomy platform where even the backseat passengers have ample room, something most of its competitors tend to overlook, which is surprising considering that this segment of customers tends to require the full use of the vehicle, both front and back seats often. They've also equipped the XT4 with one of the best in class engines both in terms of performance and handling as well as fuel economy.

We're talking about a turbo 2.0-liter engine capable of producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque that's coupled with a 9-speed automatic. It will give you up to 24 miles per gallon inside the city limits for the forward-wheel drive and 30 on the highway, great numbers for its class. The all-wheel drive will take away one mile per gallon from both figures but still, that's above market average. Speaking of which, although all XT4s have forward-drive as standard you can opt for all-wheel on any trim level for an additional $2500, another testament to the "completely customizable" philosophy Cadillac adopted for the model.

Standard options include 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. Not a bad list for the money.

BMW, on the other hand, has been producing their X3 model for the past 15 years now, ever since 2003 and that shows. The company is known for the quality of their vehicles and added the experience of more than a decade behind the X3 the latest version of the model is one of the best in the luxury crossover SUV segment. The quality of materials used satisfy BMW's standards and that means a lot. The X3 has a considerably higher starting price than the XT4 which in part feels like you're paying for the logo on the hood of your car rather than any superior features. Don't get me wrong, the BMW is an exceptional car and they do have a few more standard options in terms of safety than the XT4, but considering you can add the same features to the Cadillac and for a lower price, you can say that only the brand name demands top dollar.

The X3 comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 that puts out 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, a great and nimble engine that feels exceptional to drive. If that doesn't do it for you and you can afford a significant price hike you can opt for the M40i that comes with a 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 that will produce a whopping 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is not on par with the Cadillac as you'll get just 21 miles per gallon inside the city and 28 on the highway with the base I-4 and the numbers just go down for the M40i.

You can't go wrong by choosing any of these two SUVs. Let's face it, the BMW X3 is and has been at the top of its class from the day it entered the market, but for a complete newcomer to prove itself a worthy adversary is quite the achievement. For us, the Cadillac barely wins this one because it matched one of the best cars on the market and because it offers something that nobody else does: exceptional customizing.