Professionals: Tremendous Cruise is nice; Sport trim actually is sporty; roomy inside
Cons: Uninspiring powertrains; small touchscreen; mediocre inside storage; much less cargo area; bland design
Cadillac, as is the case with a number of different automakers, has signaled its intent to totally electrify its lineup of vehicles, crossovers and sport utility automobiles. At present, nonetheless, the Wreath and Crest-emblemed model remains to be reliant on inside combustion automobiles just like the 2024 Cadillac XT6. Again in 2020 when this three-row crossover was first launched, we identified that it was fairly late to the get together.
Not a lot has modified since then — a brand new turbocharged four-cylinder engine was added, a Sport trim was created, and Common Motors’ class-leading Tremendous Cruise hands-free driving tech was fitted — leaving the latecomer with out a complete lot to make it stand out from the remainder of the premium SUV pack.
None of that, it must be identified, makes the Cadillac XT6 a nasty car, or perhaps a poor selection for a large chunk of the shopping for public. Nonetheless, with Tremendous Cruise being the one key exception, the XT6’s dour inside furnishings and plain-jane driving dynamics imply it isn’t going to be a prime choose within the aggressive section it competes inside.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gasoline Financial system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Rankings & Security Options
What’s new for 2024?
Some colours disappear, and some new colours take their place. That’s about it for 2024. Final yr, the Luxurious trim acquired a normal 8-inch touchscreen, the Premium Luxurious and Sport acquired normal GPS navigation, ventilated entrance seats and heated outboard rear seats. These modifications stay in place for 2024 as properly.
What are the XT6 inside and in-car know-how like?
We’re going to interrupt this into just a few elements. First, the general design and supplies of the Cadillac XT6 aren’t as much as the standard requirements of rivals from Acura, Lexus, Lincoln or Volvo. The structure is sweet, most touchpoints are coated in leather-based or another high quality materials, and it’s roomy and comfy. However a better look reveals that there’s quite a lot of black plastic with apparent moldings, and whereas the trim of the upper-level Sport mannequin we examined was an attention-grabbing carbon fiber-esque sample, the general aesthetic wasn’t as luxurious as we’d anticipate given the XT6’s worth (extra on that under).
Expertise is a blended bag. Tremendous Cruise impresses (learn extra about that within the security part under), however remainder of the XT6’s tech suite is merely first rate and never the latest-and-greatest Cadillac or Common Motors generally has to supply. The 8-inch touchscreen is properly built-in into the sprint, nevertheless it’s small by right this moment’s requirements. The Cadillac Consumer Expertise software program is simple sufficient to make use of and options wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is good.
Lastly, inside performance may very well be higher. We just like the damped sliding cupholder cowl, however the cupholders themselves are slim, shallow and do not maintain bottles in place properly. We additionally just like the useful, angled wi-fi smartphone cubby hidden on the lip of the under-armrest bin, however then the bin ahead of the shifter is small, oddly formed and never grippy, that means it is next-to-useless. There’s additionally under-console storage, however as in different vehicles, is of negligible use.
How massive is the XT6?
Cadillac prioritized passenger area with the XT6 – even tall adults can match fairly comfortably within the third row. It is extra snug again there than within the Volvo XC90, Lincoln Aviator and Audi Q7, whereas the XT6’s boxy form makes issues much less claustrophobic. If there’s one criticism, it is that the second row would not slide as far ahead for entry as in GM’s different three-row SUVs. House within the second row can also be glorious, and our passengers again there beloved the elevated, theater-like seating place that makes it simpler to see out over front-seat passengers.
Sadly, the XT6 pays for this passenger-friendly area by way of cargo capability. As we found in our baggage take a look at, it has one of many least helpful cargo areas with all three rows raised. Issues are at the least extra aggressive when the third row is lowered, however that is one thing to recollect should you’re relying on utilizing all rows for street journeys.
What is the XT6’s efficiency and gas financial system?
Most Cadillac XT6 fashions include a 3.6-liter V6 engine good for 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed computerized and front-wheel drive are normal, and all-wheel drive is an possibility. With this powertrain, the XT6 will go from zero to 60 mph in a moderately pedestrian 6.9 seconds. Gasoline financial system stands at 19 mpg metropolis, 26 mpg freeway and 20 mpg mixed with FWD and 18/25/20 mpg with AWD.
The bottom Luxurious mannequin comes normal with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Energy output is identical because the compact XT4 crossover that makes use of the identical engine, with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with the nine-speed computerized transmission and comes with front-wheel drive as normal — all-wheel drive is a $2,000 possibility. We haven’t pushed an XT6 with this base engine; regardless, we really feel snug suggesting consumers persist with the V6, partially as a result of gas financial system numbers of 23 mpg mixed no matter powertrain isn’t actually going to avoid wasting you a lot on fuel.
In contrast to most rivals, there may be neither an actual efficiency improve nor a hybrid one.
What’s the XT6 prefer to drive?
The XT6’s major engine providing is successfully shared with the Chevy Traverse and different non-luxury GM automobiles, which will not be an issue per se, nevertheless it’s comparatively unrefined and produces 310 horsepower. That is simply not ok in a section the place the Lincoln Aviator produces a normal 400 horsepower, the Volvo XC90 presents a number of engine upgrades (together with a plug-in hybrid) and the Audi Q7 can pump out 325 lb-ft of torque from its non-obligatory twin-turbo V6. There’s little proof to counsel the turbocharged four-cylinder is a better option.
On the upside, the XT6 is quiet, and the out there adaptive dampers sop up bumps in an impressively damped method befitting a luxurious model. Though it is constructed on the identical platform that underpins the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, it seems like a extra subtle machine behind the wheel. Once more, although, we have now to contemplate the section, and the XT6 additionally would not do sufficient to face out. Its dealing with lacks the verve of a Cadillac CT4 or CT5 (the uncommunicative steering particularly is an actual letdown), nor does it lean into the form of uber-comfortable, grand touring expertise one may anticipate from a large Cadillac – and that Lincoln completed with the Aviator.
What extra can I learn concerning the Cadillac XT6?
2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport Drivers’ Notes Evaluate
From the styling and inside to the engine and dealing with, the large Caddy in its sportiest type left our editors cut up.
What options can be found and what is the XT6’s worth?
The 2024 Cadillac XT6 begins at $49,940 (all costs embrace $1,395 for vacation spot) for the bottom Luxurious trim with front-wheel drive. Premium Luxurious is the subsequent step up, and it brings with it the V6 engine and a beginning worth of $56,765. All-wheel drive is a $2,000 possibility for both of these first two trims. The Sport mannequin comes solely with AWD and begins at $61,440.
Whereas the Luxurious and Premium Luxurious characterize the same old trim ranges, with the latter layering on considerably extra normal gear, the Sport goes past in quite a lot of methods. It’s out there solely with all-wheel drive and provides constantly variable dampers that stiffen in Sport mode and an upgraded all-wheel drive system that provides twin clutches on the axles to facilitate torque vectoring (good for poor-weather traction and improved dealing with). And the steering ratio is modified to fifteen:1, versus the 16:1 ratio used on Premium Luxurious trim fashions. In different phrases, Sport is way more than a mere look bundle, which is good.
Yow will discover a full breakdown of the XT6’s options, specs and native pricing right here on Autoblog.
What are the XT6’s security gear and crash scores?
Each 2024 XT6 comes normal with ahead collision warning, a low-speed computerized emergency braking system, lane-keeping help, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning methods, and GM’s Security Alert seat that buzzes your butt in response to inputs from the above security methods. The Driver Help bundle ($1,300) provides adaptive cruise management, higher-speed computerized emergency braking and reverse computerized braking. The Enhanced Visibility and Expertise bundle provides GM’s rear digicam mirror, a surround-view parking system (with a video recorder for safety functions), a head-up show and a rear pedestrian alert system when reversing.
The $2,500 Tremendous Cruise possibility (out there on Premium Luxurious and Sport trims) capabilities simply as properly within the XT6 as it’s in any of the remainder of GM’s lineup — which is to say it’s fairly good certainly — however sadly doesn’t work on as many roads as a few of GM’s latest automobiles with Tremendous Cruise. If having even a restricted model of one of the best driving help bundle out there is vital to you, this considerably extra restricted system works in your space, and also you’re purchasing for a premium crossover, the XT6 needs to be in your record.
NHTSA awarded the XT6 a five-star security score, and the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security named the XT6 a High Security Decide for its best-possible efficiency in all crash exams in addition to for the Superior-rated efficiency of each its normal and non-obligatory ahead accident-avoidance methods. Its headlights acquired an “Acceptable” score – most do worse.
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