2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport Review: Just Not Good Enough

We have spilled loads of ink criticizing Cadillac more moderen merchandise, just like the CT4 and CT5 sedans particularly, so we anticipated to be equally disenchanted leaping behind the wheel of the 2021 Cadillac XT6 crossover. However to our shock, the XT6 is not all that unhealthy. Cadillac truly constructed a strong three-row that drives effectively, is decently snug, and has some good security tech.

However when evaluating it to options from corporations like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo, the XT6 feels prefer it’s 5 years behind the aggressive set. The Cadillac would not look all that fascinating, it has a tiny display and poor gasoline financial system comparatively, and prices an absurd $72,000 as examined. Cadillac must do far more to persuade us that the XT6 is value that type of cash.

For extra on how Motor1.com charges vehicles, click on right here.

The Cadillac XT6 has some engaging particulars. The three-row will get the identical tapered edges and onerous angles as different fashionable Caddies, and wears the model’s new front-end design very effectively. The slim headlights, massive five-sided grille, and vertical LED accents afford the XT6 a daring look head-on, and our Sport tester ups the ante with commonplace 20-inch wheels (21-inchers are optionally available) and blacked-out trim on the window surrounds and grille. That stated, there’s nothing completely engaging about this Cadillac, both.

The profile of the XT6 is generic and blends right into a forgettable rear finish. The angular taillights seem like transplants from the crossover’s sedan siblings, and a single chrome accent piece runs the size of the boot lid. The XT6 merely fails to face out visually in a category with a lot bolder choices.

The identical is true of the inside – the styling is clear and all the things is effectively laid-out, however it’s unremarkable. There is a single housing within the heart console for the quantity knob, infotainment controller, and quick-access buttons, which makes navigating the embedded 8.0-inch touchscreen a cinch. The sprint, seats, and steering wheel put on a pleasant black leather-based with refined accent stitching, and our tester has carbon fiber accents on the steering wheel and all through the cockpit as a part of the Sport package deal.

Even with large ol’ 21-inch wheels (a $1,000 choice atop the Sport trim) and rubber-band skinny tires, the Cadillac XT6 has a really good journey. The repeatedly adaptive dampers – commonplace on our tester – make the crossover really feel silky easy on the freeway and tolerable over even essentially the most imperfect pavement. Ticking the drive mode selector to Sport does stiffen up the suspension some for improved dealing with, however not dramatically so. Not solely does the XT6 have a pleasant journey, however it’s additionally extraordinarily well-insulated – speaking to your passenger solely takes a whisper. Solely if you hammer the three.6-liter V6 does it make its presence identified.

The black leather-based buckets up entrance are smooth to take a seat on, however provide restricted bolstering and lack help. And whereas heated performance comes commonplace, air flow is barely out there as an choice on the $750 Consolation and Air High quality package deal. We attribute those self same qualities to the second-row captain’s chairs, which look good however aren’t essentially the most luxurious. The captain’s chairs (as with the bench) haven’t got an digital sliding perform both, which suggests it’s important to pull a tab on the shoulder and shove the seat ahead for third-row entry.

As soon as within the third row, the XT6 has the very best headroom within the class – a strong 37.2 inches. That beats the next-best Volvo XC90 by practically an inch. Sadly, legroom leaves one thing to be desired. The XT6’s 29.5 inches of legroom are among the many worst figures within the class.

The one main ding towards the XT6 within the tech division is the tiny 8.0-inch touchscreen – which prices an additional $1,000 with navigation. In comparison with the a lot bigger and far nicer 12.3-inch screens supplied within the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, this one feels puny.

Aside from that, the XT6 has the newest GM infotainment interface, which is crisp, clear, and comparatively straightforward to make use of because of color-coordinated icons. And issues like wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to Wi-Fi connectivity, come commonplace – not even BMW and Mercedes provide all of these out of the field.

By ticking the Enhanced Visibility and Know-how Bundle choice ($2,350), our tester additionally will get an 8.0-inch display within the instrument cluster – providing readouts for issues like audio, gasoline financial system, and extra – in addition to a configurable head-up show and a rearview mirror digicam. Although it isn’t the clearest, the rearview mirror digicam does assist with blind spots when backing up this large SUV.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter engine comes commonplace on the XT6, good for 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet, however our tester will get the peppier 3.6-liter V6, which comes commonplace on the Premium Luxurious and Sport fashions. This engine produces a modest 310 hp and 276 lb-ft, routed via a nine-speed automated to an optionally available all-wheel-drive system – front-drive is commonplace.

The XT6 is not what we might name quick; this Caddy does effectively puttering round at a modest tempo with simply sufficient oomph for freeway passes and fast overtaking within the metropolis. When you flip the drive mode dial to Sport and hammer the throttle, the XT6 will transfer a bit extra hurriedly, however not with out whining protest from the engine. The V6 would not really feel vastly highly effective in comparison with among the options, however the hefty 4,690-pound curb weight in all probability would not assist its trigger.

Dynamically, although, we actually like the way in which the XT6 Sport strikes. The steering has a pleasant weighty really feel, the suspension reacts effectively to aggressive inputs, and there is not anyplace close to as a lot physique roll as you get on among the options. This mannequin does have a number of trim-specific engineering tweaks to make it really feel extra dynamic, like a tighter 15.1:1 steering ratio that replaces the Premium Luxurious trim’s 16.1:1 gearing, commonplace adaptive dampers, and completely different throttle and transmission mapping. The top result’s a crossover that really feels fairly nimble – or, as nimble as a giant three-row might be.

The XT6 comes with plenty of good security options out of the field, together with automated emergency braking, cruise management with distance help, lane-keep help, cross-traffic alert, and some extra. However if you’d like issues like adaptive cruise management with braking all the way down to zero, high-speed automated emergency braking, and rear automated emergency braking, that may set you again an additional $1,300 as a part of the Driver Help package deal.

Our tester did have that field ticked (plus a nifty $2,000 Night time Imaginative and prescient package deal) and it really works very effectively on the freeway. The adaptive cruise management with distance management and lane-centering tech may be very intuitive. It retains the XT6 doesn’t ping-ping within the lane and stays at a gentle tempo to the automotive in entrance of it with out onerous braking.

However we won’t assist shake the truth that, whereas sure, the Driver Help package deal is fairly good, Cadillac doesn’t provide its superior Tremendous Cruise energetic security system on the XT6. On a $70,000-plus luxurious crossover, that ought to at the very least be an choice.

Save Hundreds On A New Cadillac XT6

MSRP $ 53,690

MSRP $ 53,690

Save on common over $3,400 off MSRP* with
Motor1.com Automotive Shopping for Service

The bottom Cadillac XT6 with a four-cylinder turbo and front-wheel drive will get a strong 23 miles per gallon mixed. However including all-wheel drive and a naturally aspirated V6, like on our tester, drops the gasoline financial system to a less-than-stellar 18 miles per gallon metropolis, 25 freeway, and 20 mixed. That’s effectively beneath common in comparison with the aggressive set.

Contemplate this: The dated Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60 with all-wheel drive and a six-cylinder engine obtain 22 mpg mixed, as does the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE with the identical setup. All-wheel-drive variations of the Volvo XC90 and the Lexus RX L, in the meantime, get 21 mpg mixed. Solely the Audi Q7 is worse than the Cadillac, attaining simply 18 mpg mixed.

How a lot does it price to get into this thirsty, delicate, faux-lux crossover? Whereas the Cadillac XT6 begins at a really cheap $47,995, our tester is available in at $72,165 post-options. Ouch.

From there, all-wheel drive is a $2,000 further, whereas choosing the Sport mannequin is a $7,200 premium above that. Choices on our automotive embrace the $3,700 Platinum package deal, the $2,350 Superior Visibility package deal, $2,000 for evening imaginative and prescient, $1,300 for the Driver Help package deal, and some different options that deliver the full in extras to a whopping $13,975 (not together with $995 for vacation spot and dealing with charges).

So whereas it might be one of many extra inexpensive gamers within the class with a base worth that undercuts most options, save the QX60 and MDX, the Cadillac XT6 does get extraordinarily expensive relying on choices and trims.