2022 Cadillac XT6

2022 Cadillac XT6

The Cadillac XT6 is the biggest crossover from GM’s luxury brand. With three rows of seating, it’s still not Caddy’s biggest SUV: that would be the massive Escalade.

For 2022, the XT6 gains Cadillac’s excellent Super Cruise system, which allows limited hands-free driving on a network of roads, guided by detailed maps and with the driver’s attention fully engaged.

The base engine is a 2.0-liter turbo-4, but the XT6 feels better with the 3.5-liter V-6 that comes in the upper models. It’s front-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive, which is standard on the Sport model. The transmission on every model is a 9-speed automatic.

The XT6 has a well-damped ride. It handles with capable moves, and sports a cabin that’s spacious, although cargo space behind the third row is limited.

The front-wheel-drive XT6 V-6 is EPA rated at 18 mpg city, 25 highway, 20 combined, while AWD only drops that number by 1 mpg. The turbo-4 is rated at 23 mpg combined.

The IIHS gives the XT6 its best score in crash testing, as well as a Superior rating for crash avoidance. The NHTSA gives it five stars overall, with four stars for rollover resistance, a score that’s typical for tall SUVs. Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and active lane control. Optional equipment includes blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

Model Lineup

Made in Tennessee, the XT6 comes in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport models.

For under $50,000, the Luxury is well equipped with synthetic leather, heated front seats, 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has the turbo-4 engine.

The Premium Luxury brings more value; for about $54,000 it has the V-6, as well as leather and a third row that folds with power.

All-wheel drive for either model is $2,000, while any color besides silver costs another $625.

The additional safety features come in a $3,600 package that includes more advanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

The price of a Sport isn’t that much higher when its standard equipment is compared to a Premium Luxury with equivalent options, but with more options it can easily reach $78,000.

The XT6 has a good 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with one free maintenance visit included.

Exterior

The XT6 announces its presence with an edgy front-end design. It’s handsome, with a big mesh grille that catches the eye. The sides have crisp lines and a slight upturn at the rear end, which gets capped with slim LED taillights. There’s a distinct European flavor to the XT6’s look that serves it well.

Interior

The cabin places controls and displays within a wing-shaped dash. The XT6 has a high-resolution touchscreen with a smartly designed interface. Synthetic leather is standard, while available semi-aniline leather makes it feel more exclusive.

The front seats are comfortable and have a lot of power adjustment, while the second row has 40 inches of leg room. Row three is tolerable in a pinch, to seat seven. The six-passenger version with bucket seats in the second row makes better use of the space.

The cargo space behind the third row checks in at 12.6 cubic feet; but it expands by a lot with that row dropped, to 43 cubic feet; when the second row is lowered, it leaps to an excellent 78.7 cubic feet.

Driving Impressions

The 2.0-liter turbo-4 in the base XT6 has moderate power; sampled in smaller Cadillac SUVs, it has acceptable power but doesn’t offer the luxury appeal of the 3.6-liter V-6. The bigger engine has a strong 310 horsepower and sounds even more muscular. It’s mated to a 9-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, while the available AWD disconnects the rear axle to lower gas consumption.

The XT6’s handling is competent, and, around town, it doesn’t feel bigger than it is. The ride is superb on the standard suspension. The Premium Luxury can be fitted with adaptive dampers, but its softer suspension and tires don’t need it. On the Sport model, however, those dampers deflect the jounce caused by its 20-inch wheels.

Final Word

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 is a spacious and good-looking crossover SUV. We’d move right to the Premium Luxury version to get its powerful V-6 and additional equipment.

 

—by Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection