Back in 2019, Cadillac announced it was bringing the XT4 crossover to Europe with a diesel engine under the hood. Naturally, this made us wonder if the Cadillac diesel engine would ever make it to the U.S., so we asked Cadillac President, Steve Carlisle. This is what he had to say.
“For the moment, it’s for Europe,” Carlisle told Cadillac Society Executive Editor, Alex Luft, in an exclusive interview. “It’s something that we could bring here [to the U.S.], but when you look at the interest in diesel engines in anything but large vehicles in the United States, it’s been up and down and pretty down at the moment, whereas Europe is a different story and has been for a while.”
For reference, the new Cadillac diesel engine in question (production code LSQ) is a turbocharged inline four-cylinder displacing two liters. It’s all-new, compliant with Euro 6d emissions standards, and produces 170 horsepower and 380 Nm (280 pound-feet) of torque, while a nine-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift technology is on hand for the cog swaps.
The four-cylinder Cadillac diesel engine will be the only powerplant option offered with the European-spec Cadillac XT4. By contrast, stateside buyers have access to a gas-powered turbocharged 2.0L inline four-cylinder (production code LSY), which doles out 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This gas-powered four-banger is the same lump offered on the Cadillac XT5 and the Chinese-market Cadillac XT6, and mates to a nine-speed automatic transmission across the board.
With regard to fuel returns, the gas-powered 2.0L ‘four is rated at 24 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined when equipped in the FWD Cadillac XT4. Throw in AWD, and those figures drop to 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined.
Would you prefer the XT4 with the new Cadillac diesel powerplant? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to Cadillac Society for more Cadillac XT4 news and ongoing Cadillac news coverage.
Bill Bowen
Yes. We need Diesel engines in smaller SUV’s. They did not mention the mpg for Diesel engines in this article and should have. I’ve owned a 2018 GMC Terrain Diesel AWD for two years and get 45-55 mpg. Really driving for mileage I’ve gotten 58-59 mpg. I’d buy another one …but they’re not available …GM quit making them. Mine is not for sale.