2019 Cadillac XT4 Differentiated by 'a Hundred Little Things'

“A hundred little things” help differentiate the 2019 Cadillac XT4 from rival compact luxury crossovers, at least according to Todd Pawlik, its chief engineer.

Details matter. Little surprise-and-delight features that aren’t trumpeted in brochures or by an automaker’s marketing department can really elevate a product and take the stress out of vehicle ownership.

SEE ALSO: 2019 Cadillac XT4 Review

“What things do they touch, do they feel that separate us from the rest?” asked Pawlik. One example he immediately gave is the map pockets on the door panels. They’ve been made in such a way that there’s no lip at the top, allowing you to easily slide a coin out, for instance.

On the center console, there’s also a storage cubby large enough to fit an iPad. It’s narrow but like the door bins engineered without a bulky reinforcing rib at the top, it makes it easier to stow and retrieve things.

“The center console is much larger than in a vehicle of this size,” said Pawlik, adding, “The drop-in tray in the center console fits a wallet. You can actually close the door with a wallet [in there].”

Moving rearward, the second-row seat received some special attention. Engineers added a special flap to fill the space between the backrests and the cargo area, that way when they’re folded down and you happen to drop something, it’s not lost forever in the XT4’s bowels.

SEE ALSO: Early Prototypes Key to Improving the Cadillac XT4’s Quality

Beyond this, they added a small lip to the load floor’s rear. It’s designed to help keep cargo from rolling out and smashing on the ground. “I’ve lost wine bottles before,” said Pawlik, but the XT4 can help prevent a chardonnay catastrophe.

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