THE CADILLAC XT4 VS VOLVO XC40

The crossover class is for car manufacturers what the Goldrush was for Americans in the 19th century. It holds many opportunities, in the pursuit of which some will win big, and others will perish. To catch the eye of prospective buyers, and make them open their wallets, crossovers are some of the best cars out there today in terms of looks, safety features, standard tech, and passenger comfort.

Let's take a look at two of the best crossover models on the market, Volvo's XC40 and Cadillac's XT4.

Both the XC40 and the XT4 bring something new to the table. With the Cadillac is the car itself, the XT4 being the company's first ever crossover model, a delayed entry that looks to have been worth the wait. Volvo's novelty is the ability to use the car based on a subscription model, where buyers don't pay for the XC40 upfront, but on a monthly basis that leads to multiple choices further down the road. After a year Volvo will give you a new car, and you'll continue the monthly payments, or you keep the same vehicle and purchase it after two years. A daring move that acts as one of the pillars meant to attract a young audience.

In terms of looks, both cars are spectacular, but they take completely different paths to get there. The XC40 is designed with Millennials in mind, and that's no secret by the looks of it. The exterior feels nimble and playful, with an air of youngish bordering child-like exuberance. If you're a surfer dude or a creative executive in a start-up that has a 25-year-old average staff age, this car's for you. Especially since it comes in parakeet colors. Not a joke, simple facts. Where else will you be able to order an orange factory paint job on a crossover?

The XT4 sports one of the best exterior designs out there. Daring curves combine to form a sharp, spectacular outer shell that will impress even the valets at the Ritz. The Cadillac is a complete win, but not as fun as the Volvo. Think of it like comparing a Rolex with a Swatch.

Both models come with superb powertrains, almost identical in output and driving experience. The XT4 is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that will produce 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and the XC40 with a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that will put out 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, making it an absolute tie when it comes to performance.
We're looking at a close call in terms of standard features also, as both the XT4 and the XC40 have long lists of similar standard features.

The Volvo comes with 18-inch wheels, and so does the Cadillac. LED headlights and taillights on both models, and the same goes for power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The Volvo slightly edges its opponent with a 9.0-inch touchscreen, compared to the 8.0-inch in the Cadillac, but apart from that, there's little to no difference between them.

Crossovers aren't as roomy as the full-sized SUVs or as fuel efficient as sedans, but they make up for their shortcomings through striking looks, versatility and tons of modern standard features. Choosing between the XT4 and the XC40 is a matter of taste, as the cars are incredibly similar in almost all aspects, but style. One thing is for sure, if you like one of these two models the first time you look at it, you won't be disappointed by the rest.