AutomotiveAffairs's video: Some CUV offerings for your consideration 2022 Cadillac XT4 Maserati Levante Modena S

Looking for a crossover (CUV)? Who isn't! Well... here's a quick look at two you can buy in showrooms today! 2022 Cadillac XT4: Ahh... the XT4, the last vehicle that was launched by Cadillac's former CEO Johan de Nysschen - who was fired by GM's CEO, Mary Barra, in spectacular fashion! de Nysschen, who was infamous for ruining naming strategies at every car company he ever worked at (hence, this vehicle has a name more befitting that of a fax machine), had done nothing to increase the appeal of Cadillac on the global scale. Furthermore, his plans for the future of the company were also dismal - which ultimately lead to his firing! Apparently, de Nysschen currently has a non-influential job at Volkswagen - and we hope it stays that way. So... back to the Cadillac XT4 - is it a turd, or did de Nysschen leave behind a cracking good vehicle? Well... it looks fine - not going to cause many double takes; but that's a good thing sometimes. Step inside, and you're greeted with a interior that looks good, the quality of the fit and finish is excellent, and is fairly comfortable. Sure, the trunk isn't very spacious - but it's enough for your weekly trips to the grocery store (we hope)! The tech is also decent, but by no means class leading. Thankfully, it has a built in wi-fi hot spot, and through that, we were able to download a navigation app on the infotainment system, which worked quite well. Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four cylinder motor that produces 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Power is fed to all-wheels through a twin-clutch system, via a nine-speed automatic gearbox. According to Car Indigo, the 2022 (identical to 2023 model) will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in about 7.5 seconds - felt actually slower than that! So, it won't win you many drag races, but more than good enough for everyday use. The XT4 rides well on the highway, but the short-ish wheelbase makes the ride choppy in the city; so if you live in an area with terrible roads, you'd probably want something else! The handling is soft, very soft! We were expecting this vehicle to be sporty, but it just isn't - in fact, the handling reminded us of Cadillac land yachts from the 1970's, and that's not a compliment. But, if you're a person who isn't really into cars or dynamic driving, all this is not going to matter much! Fuel economy isn't bad - we averaged 10.4 L/100 km on our test cycle. Prices start around $41,000 here in Canada; as tested, ours was worth $57,203 (plus freight, PDI, dealer fees, and taxes) - ouch! Verdict: The Cadillac XT4 Sport AWD is a good enough vehicle, but it won't be the enthusiast choice, and neither is a cracker of a deal. 2022 Maserati Levante Modena S: Here's another vehicle we can't quite describe as a 'good value for money' - but it sure has some redeeming qualities! First of all, the Maserati Levante Modena S (previously known as the, Levante GTS) is easily one of the nicest looking SUV/CUV we've ever come across! Show us one that looks better - we'll wait! The interior, however, is a bit hit and miss! In the 'hit' column, it scores big thanks to the best seats in the business - certainly great if you have spinal issues. On the 'miss' column, it uses switches borrowed from the RAM pickup truck - hardly what we'd call, luxury! Another 'hit' is it's engine. Built by Ferrari, the Modena S has a twin-turbo 3.8L V8 that produces 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. Power is fed to all-wheels via a 8-speed automatic transmission. As you'd expect, this thing is very quick! We once recorded a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in just 4.3 seconds - and it can probably be even quicker than our time! So, if you're looking for a performance SUV, this is going to impress. Even more impressive, is the ride and handling. Typically, a vehicle can only get one of the two right - so if it rides well, it'll handle poorly! Not this Levante - thanks to variable suspension settings, it can ride like a limo, and at the press of a button, can even handle like a sports car. Proof, a few years ago, we did a series of 3 lap challenge videos, and the Levante GTS was the fastest vehicle we tested, even beating out a BMW M850i and a Jaguar F-Type S. So, if driving abilities are high on your list of priorities, the Levante Modena S will impress you. Fuel economy on the other hand... let's just say it's OK, but it's not its strong point! Price, you ask! Well, the Modena S starts from $142,500 - our tester was worth about $170,000. Verdict: If you're watching every dollar you spend... than this Maserati won't make sense to you! But, if you can afford it comfortably, and want something that does pretty much everything well, than you'll love the Levante Modena S. Note: Due to continuing health and financial issues, we are slowing thing down for the time being, but please continue to support us, and hopefully we'll be back soon!