The 2019 Cadillac XT4 will offer an engine auto start-stop system that will be capable of being disabled (defeated) by the driver, Cadillac Society has learned.
A button on the center console of the 2019 XT4 features the tell-tale “encircled A” logo, which is the universal symbol used to control the engine Auto Stop-Start mechanism. The “A” in the logo stands for “Auto” or “Automatic”. The same button also has a small indicator light below the logo.
About Auto Engine Stop-Start
Auto engine stop-start aim to conserve fuel by automatically turning off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop, such as at a stop sign or a stop light. The system then automatically starts the engine back up when it detects that the driver has lifted their foot off the brake pedal.
Though most owners do not mind the presence and functionality of automatic engine stop-start, some owners have been highly critical of the feature – especially when the system can not be disabled.
Currently, the Cadillac ATS, CTS, CT6 and XT5 are equipped with engine auto stop-start. Drivers can disable the feature on all models except for the XT5, which does not provide any user-facing method to do so (without shifting the transmission into manual mode).
The Cadillac Society Take
The decision to include a disable switch for the engine auto stop/start system on the 2019 Cadillac XT4 is very welcome news, especially when considering that the larger Cadillac XT5 does not offer drivers the ability to disable stop/start whatsoever. The circumstance has become a notable point of dissatisfaction for some XT5 owners.
Now that we know that the XT4 will offer the ability to disable auto stop-start, we wonder how the system will work in the vehicle. In other words, will hitting the auto stop-start button in the cockpit:
- Disable auto stop-start until the next ignition cycle, such as on the ATS, CTS and CT6, or
- Disable auto stop-start more permanently, as is the case with auto stop-start controls on BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, where depressing the button to turn off auto stop-start disables the feature until the owners depresses the button again to turn it back on
We will find out how the engine auto stop-start button in the 2019 XT4 works in the near future, and update this article then.
2019 Cadillac XT4 Pictures
Ralph L
If they aren’t adding the override to the XT5 update, they’ve lost their minds.
Alex Luft
It’s possible that the 2020 XT5 refresh will add the ability to turn it off… we won’t know until they unveil it (expected to take place before the end of the 2018 calendar year).
Joe B.
How much does the system add to the cost of the vehicle? Also “most and some” drivers doen’t mean much. The squeaky wheel gets the grease?
Frank Ricciardi
I love my XT5 but the auto start/ stop function bothers me. At least in my CTS I can turn it off.
R.L. Bucholtz
When will you have the XT4? I am very interested in this vehicle.
Alex Luft
It launches in the fall… so we expect to drive it then and have our review out around that time.
Greg
Good to see this feature! Lack of this device is the only reason that I did not buy a 2018 XT5.
Wayne Bledsoe
Why did Cadillac ruin an otherwise perfect XT5 vehicle with this start/stop crap that you can’t disable, especially sense all other Cadillac models can be? Just doesn’t make sense. Glad to see they got their mind back by adding the disable ability on the XT4. Now how about retro fitting XT5 owners with this disable switch on ones who want it – especially since I hear it will be added to the 2020 model refresh XT5. It just ain’t right to treat your customers this way, especially when they spend $70,000 for “Cadillac” quality and reliability.
Alex Luft
Wayne – Cadillac doesn’t care about doing the right thing. They care about making the sale and running with your money. That’s it.
That said, stop/start works very well… and if you really want to, you can circumvent it by using various techniques such as driving in sport mode, manual shifting/paddles, and even putting the car in neutral.
But tell me you didn’t spend $70,000 on an XT5!
Meg
The stop start feature is so annoying. The fact that it can’t be turned off in our XT5 has caused my husband to tell people it is the worst car we have ever owned. The gear shift is a little difficult to get used to also. We are ready to trad after just a year but will do more research concerning the new technology before we do.