I would choose most anything over an XD, All professional training companies seem to have the same opinion of them. Do your own research there.

I have a Glock 43, and a Gen 4 Glock 19 myself.
I like the S&W Sheild, and the S&W 2.0 compact 9mm, a lot too.

I don't know your skill level or how much training you have, but being able to Shoot a Glock 43 / Shield size pistol, and being able to "run" it effectively in defense of your life are two different things. If I was pointing someone to a First pistol it would most likely be a Glock 19 , Gen 3, 4 , or 5 (doesn't matter), with the S&W 2.0 compact coming in 2nd, only because it does not have the history record of the Glock. Im not a big SIG fan (I think the sight to bore ratio is too high personally), but you could put the Sig 320 in the conversation, just not my cup of tea.

mg

"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." Genesis 9:3