2018 Cadillac XT3 Spied Lookin' Edgy, Wedgy, and Ready

What It Is: A much-needed expansion to Cadillac’s threadbare crossover and SUV lineup, which currently consists of a single crossover (the XT5) and a single SUV (the Escalade). As the number in the XT3’s name suggests, the new crossover is smaller than the mid-size XT5, which in turn is smaller than the land-crushing Escalade, a beast that might as well be called the XT1500. Seen here, the XT3 is still a prototype; in mid-2018, it will be ready to plunge into the ultra-hot-selling compact-luxury-crossover market.

Why It Matters: As we alluded to above, Cadillac is woefully behind in the luxury crossover and SUV race. Competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have for years fielded a wide choice of lifted wagons and have quite the head start on Cadillac. The larger XT5, which is a replacement for the long-serving SRX, aims at the hearty mid-size slice of the luxury-crossover market, but Cadillac has effectively missed out on sales in the compact segment (not to mention the three-row, not-enormous-crossover segment between the XT5 and the truck-based Escalade that includes stuff like the Audi Q7). The XT3 should help Cadillac grab more luxury dollars—and market share from its competitors’ coffers.

Platform: The XT3 is likely to borrow its basic structure from the just-released 2018 Chevrolet Equinox and the new GMC Terrain. Not only does the Cadillac appear to be of similar size to those two General Motors products, but the latest architecture also shed considerable weight relative to the previous-generation Equinox and Terrain. A lightweight, modern front-drive-based architecture is just what Cadillac needs to get the XT3 started. Of course, very nearly everything customers will see, touch, and sit in will be specific to the Cadillac version. Some of this differentiation can be seen peeking through this XT3’s camouflage. We can easily make out Cadillac’s signature plunging pentagonal mesh grille, pointy LED headlights, and wedgier profile.

Like its XT5 sibling, the XT3 probably will fall into a sort of no-man’s land between commonly accepted size denominations. Even though the XT3 will be similar in size to a BMW X3 or an Audi Q5, the XT5 technically competes with those on price while being slightly larger. That will leave the XT3 to duke it out with the smaller stuff, which includes the Audi Q3, Mercedes GLA-class, and BMW X1.

Powertrain: Also visible through the XT3 test mule’s camouflage? A low-mounted intercooler behind the front fascia. That seems to confirm our assumption that the XT3 will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, as are the Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, as well as the Lexus NX200t. A nine-speed automatic transmission is likely, and all-wheel drive will be optional or possibly even standard. We hope Cadillac doesn’t adopt the daft conflagration of switches and tabs that control the GMC Terrain’s similar transmission in favor of a more normal shift lever.

Competition: Acura RDX, Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLA-class.

Estimated Arrival and Price: Figure on the XT3 starting in the low-to-mid-$30,000 range, in line with its competitors. We’ve been told to expect to see the newest Cadillac crossover by mid-2018, although that may simply be its premiere rather than its on-sale date.