The littler luxuries (subcompacts) are latecomers to the years’-long takeover of the U.S. car market by SUVs and crossovers.

The newest of the newer premium luxury subcompacts are the Cadillac XT4 and Lexus UX, showing up in November and December.

They do sales battles with Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Infiniti QX30, Jaguar E-Pace, Mercedes GLA-Class, Range Rover Evoque and Volvo XC40. They’re not big sellers yet, collectively capturing about 2 percent of the booming SUV/crossover market.

The XT4 retains the crisp, sharp, distinctive exterior lines of Cadillacs of recent years, likened somewhat to current Acura styling.

The XT4’s structure is one of the largest among luxury subcompacts; in fact, the new Cadillac is occasionally referred to as a compact. It rides on a wheelbase of 109.4 inches, is 181.1 inches in overall length, is 83.5 wide and 64.1 in height. Curb weight is 3,876 pounds. The Lexus UX is 6 inches shorter and 250 pounds lighter.

The 2019 XT4 All-Wheel-Drive Premium Luxury review model came my way last week. It joins the XT5 midsize crossover and the Escalade full-size SUV for Cadillac. Soon to arrive will be the three-row XT6, which will fill a gap between the XT5 and Escalade.

Of the changing lineup for the brand’s SUVs/crossovers, Cadillac president Steve Carlisle said, “The first-ever Cadillac XT6 delivers a compelling blend of spaciousness, safety and convenience features. It joins the all-new XT4, which has soared to the top spot in its segment, our global best-selling XT5 and the iconic Escalade.”

A newly designed 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque teams with a 9-speed automatic transmission and twin-clutch AWD system with torque vectoring and a front disconnect to boost fuel mileage while in two-wheel drive.

Pushing the drive mode button in the XT4, I was given choice of Touring two-wheel-drive control, all-wheel drive or Sport AWD. Sport stiffens suspension and steering feel, and with use of paddle shifters I put the Cad through some dry offroad drills. It performed impressively, with good maneuvering grip, though with ground clearance of 6.7 inches probably not a contender for wintertime Jeep trails.

Response is quick and relatively smooth for the Cadillac 4-cylinder, and fuel mileage is decent, estimated at 22-to-29 miles per gallon. My overall average was 24.2.

The review model’s interior is gorgeous, with Sedona leather of shades between gold and caramel, contrasting perfectly with the black elsewhere. A centerstack juts outward for easy control by driver or front-seat passenger, and features Bose surround sound, providing phone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Seating is roomy and comfortable, with an average amount of cargo space, 22.5 cubic feet, behind the rear seat.

Among options pushing the XT4’s sticker price to $54,785 from a base of $41,795 are lane-keep assist, automatic braking, adaptive cruise, front pedestrian braking, automatic parking assist, hands-free liftgate, ventilated front seats, sunroof, head-up display, navigation with real-time traffic, wireless charging and cabin air ionizer.

The XT4 is built in a Cadillac assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan.

Curiosity abounds all around, with regards to Alfa Romeo.

Few of the Italian marque are seen in these parts, yet several times as I parked and exited the 2019 Giulia sport sedan, someone would ask, “Is that an Alfa Romeo?”

The Alfa brand, absent from the U.S. for 20 years until the 4C Spider in 2015, seems to exude a level of respect whenever mentioned.

And its odd, colorful badge (you know, the cross and the snake swallowing a man) draws immediate attention. The red is the cross of the municipality of Milan, Italy, where Alfa Romeo was founded, and the green snake is open to various interpretations – take your pick.

The key to liking the four-door Giulia is to drive it. I said that about the 2017 model two years ago after maneuvering it into the Poudre Canyon, over Cameron Pass, down to Walden and on up to Laramie.

The new model I drove, the Giulia Ti Sport all-wheel drive, is the same – a great-handling, rear-drive-based sedan. Move the drive mode from normal to dynamic, and the crisper steering ties right into the brilliant handling and super grip.

Performance comes from a 280-horsepower, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine turbocharged with direct-injection and mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s quick, with 306 lb.-ft. of torque, and is a delight in the Rockies with manual-mode shifting. Here’s where the flaw shows up – the 6 ½-inch-long aluminum paddles locked to the steering column, they’re so large they have the look of a shift-training setup for high school sophomores. Paddle shifters ought to be small, out of the way except to the touch of a finger for upshift or downshift.

The Giulia retained secure manners with its all-wheel-drive system in a late-season winter test in the rain and snow.

The Giulia is EPA-rated at 31 miles per gallon for highway driving; my overall fuel average was a decent 27.8. Alfa boldly compares the sport sedan to the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C Class, along with Volvo S60, Cadillac ATS and Audi A4.

Highlighting its exterior are the V-grille and low-level front sport fascia.

Most inviting in the Giulia’s interior, somewhat tight in the rear, are the red-finished sport leather seats (heated in both rows). Trunk space is only 12 cubic feet.

Two optional packages – added safety with forward-collision warning plus, adaptive cruise with stop and lane-departure warning, and Ti Sport AWD special of dark aluminum wheels and all-season performance tires, low-riding front sport fascia, red brake calipers and sport leather seats – played important role in pushing the Giulia’s $41,995 base price to a final sticker of $51,885.

Among other options were Harman Kardon audio, Bluetooth, navigation, leather dash and vesuvio gray metallic exterior paint.

Alfa Romeo, owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, produces the Giulia, 4C Spider and Stelvio SUV for the U.S. market.