2020 CADILLAC XT4 ESP

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
156 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 229
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 238
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 239
Driving Information
Driver Behavior
Driving is an important responsibility.
Driver behavior, the driving
environment, and the vehicle's design
all affect how well a vehicle performs.
Being aware of these factors can help
in understanding how the vehicle
handles and what can be done to
avoid many types of crashes, including
a rollover crash.
Most serious injuries and fatalities to
unbelted occupants can be reduced or
prevented by the use of seat belts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. In
addition, avoiding excessive speed,
sudden or abrupt turns, and drunken
or aggressive driving can help make
trips safer and avoid the possibility of
a crash.
Driving Environment
Be prepared for driving in inclement
weather, at night, or during other
times where visibility or traction may
be limited, such as on curves, slippery
roads, or hilly terrain. Unfamiliar
surroundings can also have hidden
hazards.
Vehicle Design
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles. This is because they have
a higher ground clearance and a
narrower track or shorter wheelbase
than passenger cars, which makes
them more capable for off-road
driving. While these design
characteristics provide the driver with
a better view of the road, these
vehicles do have a higher center of
gravity than other types of vehicles.
A utility vehicle does not handle the
same as a vehicle with a lower center
of gravity, like a car, in similar
situations.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
160 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips: 1. Ease off the accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way,
steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.
Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer
and vehicle control can be affected
when traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material
on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues —such as enough
water, ice, or packed snow on the
road to make a mirrored surface
— and slow down when you have
any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 167
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. SeeRoadside
Service 0340. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0181.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed. This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0191.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
174 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment0239.
To start the vehicle: 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter must be in
the vehicle. Press ENGINE
START/STOP with the brake
pedal applied. When the engine
begins cranking, let go of the
button. The idle speed will go down as the engine warms up.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC)
message will display. See
Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 08.Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by pressing
ENGINE START/STOP immediately
after cranking has ended, can
overheat and damage the cranking
motor, and drain the battery. Wait
at least 15 seconds between each
try, to let the cranking motor
cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below −18 °C
or 0 °F), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and hold it there,
then press ENGINE START/STOP
for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to
allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts,
let go of the button and the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
The Stop/Start system will shut off
the engine to help conserve fuel.
It has components designed for the
increased number of starts.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 191
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely. You
may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. SeeDefensive
Driving 0158.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA) prevents
the vehicle from rolling in an
unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes
release when the accelerator pedal is
applied. If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes, the
Electric Parking Brake will apply. The
brakes may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle. HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must come to
a complete stop on a grade for HSA to
activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of
the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. On an
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle in
AWD or Sport Mode, the system will
operate if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning
wheels and reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
system senses a discrepancy between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
194 DRIVING AND OPERATING
The Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
(PAL) feature is enabled in Sport
Mode. PAL allows the transmission to
hold the current gear after a quick
release of a heavily applied accelerator
pedal. This provides greater engine
braking and enhanced vehicle control.
When PAL is activated, there may be
an additional green gear symbol which
appears in the instrument cluster
display. SeeGear Shifting Light 0118.
AWD : AWD Mode provides drive
torque to all four wheels. Select AWD
to improve traction and control on
slippery road surfaces, such as gravel,
sand, wet pavement, snow, and ice.
AWD is active in Sport and Off Road
Modes. AWD Mode is only available
on vehicles equipped with AWD.
Snow/Ice (FWD Vehicles Only) :
Snow/Ice Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice covered
roads. Off Road (AWD Vehicles Only) :
Use
this mode for off-road recreational
driving. When active, Off Road Mode
modifies accelerator pedal response,
AWD torque, and TCS. Choosing Off
Road Mode also engages AWD.Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph).
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) begins to limit wheel
spin while using cruise control, the
cruise control automatically

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 201
When it is determined that there is no
vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is
beyond the selected following gap,
then the vehicle speed will increase to
the set speed.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. SeeInstrument Cluster 0108.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While ACC is at a
Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one of
the following:
. Use the brake to get to the desired
lower speed. Release the brake and
move the thumbwheel down
toward SET– . The vehicle will
now cruise at the lower speed.
. Hold the thumbwheel down
toward SET– until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
smaller increments, move the
thumbwheel down toward SET− tothe first detent. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h (1 mph)
slower.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, move the
thumbwheel down toward SET− to
the second detent. For each press,
the vehicle speed decreases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
. To decrease speed while the
vehicle is stopped, move the
thumbwheel down toward SET−
until the desired set speed is
displayed.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0108.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance Gap
When a slower moving vehicle is
detected ahead within the selected
following gap, ACC will adjust the
vehicle's speed and attempt to
maintain the follow distance gap
selected. Press[on the steering wheel to
adjust the following gap. Each press
cycles the gap button through three
settings: Far, Medium, or Near.
When pressed, the current gap setting
displays briefly on the instrument
cluster and HUD. The gap setting will
be maintained until it is changed.
Since each gap setting corresponds to
a following time (Far, Medium,
or Near), the following distance will
vary based on vehicle speed. The
faster the vehicle speed, the further
back your vehicle will follow a vehicle
detected ahead. Consider traffic and
weather conditions when selecting the
following gap. The range of selectable
gaps may not be appropriate for all
drivers and driving conditions.
Changing the gap setting
automatically changes the alert timing
sensitivity (Far, Medium, or Near) for
the Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
feature. See Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System 0215.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527548) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
202 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Alerting the Driver
With Head-Up Display
Without Head-Up Display
If ACC is engaged, driver action may
be required when ACC cannot apply
sufficient braking because of
approaching a vehicle too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, six red
lights or the collision alert symbol on
the HUD, if equipped, will flash on the
windshield. Either eight beeps will
sound from the front, or both sides of
the Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times. See “Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization
0 131. See
Defensive Driving 0158.
Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster and HUD display.
The vehicle ahead indicator only
displays when a vehicle is detected in
your vehicle’s path moving in the
same direction.
If this symbol is not displaying, ACC
will not respond to or brake for
vehicles ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle
down and adjusts vehicle speed to
follow the vehicle in front at the
selected follow gap. The vehicle speed
increases or decreases to follow the
vehicle in front of you, but will not
exceed the set speed. It may apply
limited braking, if necessary. When
braking is active, the brake lamps will come on. The automatic braking may
feel or sound different than if the
brakes were applied manually. This is
normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
ACC may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a vehicle
it has never detected moving. This
can occur in stop-and-go traffic or
when a vehicle suddenly appears
due to a vehicle ahead changing
lanes. Your vehicle may not stop
and could cause a crash. Use
caution when using ACC. Your
complete attention is always
required while driving and you
should be ready to take action and
apply the brakes.