Like Cadillac’s other SUVs, the XT6 is pleasant and comfortable to drive. But it falls under the shadow of the bigger and more expensive Escalade.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
When you Google something now, it lists frequently asked questions about the topic you’re searching for. When I Google “Cadillac XT6,″ the first question displayed was, “Is the Cadillac XT6 being discontinued?”
For the record, it’s not, and the company hasn’t announced anything of the sort, but rumours of its demise reflect my attitude toward Cadillac’s mid-size SUV. I’m only aware that it exists because I write about cars for a living.
Having driven one to Detroit and back recently, I concluded that, like Cadillac’s other SUVs, the XT6 is pleasant and comfortable to drive. But it falls under the shadow of the bigger and more expensive Escalade, which outsells it nearly four to one in the United States. The Escalade defines Cadillac. It seems like everything the company makes has to live up to it.
The XT6 also sits within a field of competitors in the mid-size luxury segment that could be stretched to include anything from the budget-friendly Kia Telluride to the BMW X5. It feels a bit lost, with not much to help it stand out.
The most popular vehicle in this class, the Lexus RX, has sales of more than six times that of the XT6. The Lincoln Aviator, its main domestic rival, is the closest comparable SUV, and its sales are more in line with the Cadillac, but it has a much nicer interior, better technology and significantly more power. More importantly, the Aviator feels like a luxury product where attention was paid to the materials and the finishes and how all the buttons and knobs feel.
The XT6 already feels dated inside, and it’s only been around for four years. It uses switchgear that Cadillac has already updated in vehicles like the all-electric Lyriq. The infotainment screen is small, the climate controls remind me of the touchpad on a microwave oven and some of the materials don’t live up to the premium price tag.
The XT6 with its small screen and switchgear already feels outdated inside, and it’s only been around for four years.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The Cadillac has a lower price of entry, but that quickly swells to par with the Lincoln when you add options. Super Cruise, one of the XT6′s best features, can only be had by selecting option packages that add $14,700 to the price. The Lincoln also has a version of Super Cruise called Blue Cruise, which comes with four years of access, compared to the Cadillac’s three.
The XT6 does have redeeming qualities; its reasonable size is one of them. It shares a platform with the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia, but those vehicles are larger. The XT6 is essentially a stretched version of Cadillac’s smaller XT5. The wheelbase is lengthened enough to shove a third row in, and it has just enough room to squeeze a couple of adults back there. But it’s probably better for kids, and there’s still a decent amount of cargo space left. Three-row SUVs don’t need to be any bigger than this. Those who feel they need more space should probably check out a minivan.
The third row can fit adults, but is really made for kids.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
Because the XT6 isn’t so big, it’s more manoeuvrable and fun to drive than a Buick Enclave or GMC Yukon, keeping in mind that “fun” is a relative term here. The Aviator’s air suspension does a better job of isolating the road, but it floats around more in the corners. The XT6 doesn’t have air suspension, but it still rides very well.
You can get the XT6 with either a turbocharged four-cylinder or a V6 engine. The 310 horsepower V6 doesn’t have any turbos, and you notice the lack of torque when passing slower traffic on the highway. The transmission has to drop a bunch of gears to help the engine wind way up, and fuel consumption increases.
GM uses this V6 in many of its vehicles, and it’s smooth and sounds good, but it feels outclassed by most of its competitors using bigger, more powerful engines or hybrid technology. BMW, Volvo, Mercedes and Lexus all have hybrids and plug-in hybrids on offer.
The trunk with the third row folded flat.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The drive to Detroit from the Toronto area is about four hours and as boring as it gets, but it also presents one of the best arguments for getting GM’s hands-free driver-assistance tech, Super Cruise. If I regularly drove this route, or let’s say, Toronto to Montreal, it’s worth it. And Super Cruise was great on my drive, letting me relax with my hands on my lap, occasionally taking sips of my Tim Horton’s beverage. As long as you keep your eyes on the road and remain ready to take control, Super Cruise will take care of the rest.
Unfortunately, the XT6 that I was driving was equipped with an old version of Super Cruise, which didn’t have all the latest features like automatic lane changes and updated map data. You can get a better version of Super Cruise on a Chevrolet Traverse, yet not in this much more expensive luxury SUV.
This good vehicle has been let down by what can be described as a lack of effort from the company. The XT6 feels like a stop-gap vehicle. Cadillac has already shown us what it can do when it tries harder, as it did with the Lyriq and now the new three-row Vistiq that we saw recently.
The XT6 doesn’t have air suspension, but it still rides very well.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
From its luxurious cabin to the latest technology, the Lyriq is one of the best new Cadillacs I’ve driven, and the Vistiq is following in its footsteps, although we haven’t driven one yet since it won’t be available until the end of the year. The Vistiq looks better and has a much more modern interior, but the best thing about it, like the XT6, is its size. It feels like a direct replacement for the XT6. GM wouldn’t say whether that was intentional.
The XT6′s ranking on the sales charts isn’t surprising. It has some great things going for it, like its size and handling, but it’s in an incredibly competitive segment. With the new Vistiq on the horizon, rumours of the XT6′s demise almost seem plausible, but the new EV will almost certainly be much more expensive. A thorough update of the current XT6 using some of Vistiq’s technology would be exactly what it needs.
Tech specs
2025 Cadillac XT6 Sport AWD
- Base price / as tested: $67,499/$84,694 plus $2,300 for freight and predelivery inspection, plus other fees and tax
- Engine: 3.6-litre V6
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft); 310 / 271
- Transmission / drive: Nine-speed automatic / all-wheel drive
- Curb weight: 2,127 kilograms
- Fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres): 13.1 city; 9.5 highway; 11.5 combined
- Alternatives: Lincoln Aviator, Lexus RX, BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Volvo XC90, Infiniti QX60, Acura MDX
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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