2022 Cadillac XT6

The Cadillac XT6 is one of the brand's newer products, having only been launched two years ago. It has stunning exterior styling and is one of the best-looking midsize SUVs around. However, its interior is less than cutting edge, and its V6 engine is rather thirsty. To help remedy at least one of these problems, a new 2.0-liter turbo four-pot with 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque was introduced to the lineup last year in a new trim. The old 3.6-liter V6 is still there with its 310 horses and 271 lb-ft of torque too, with all models featuring a nine-speed automatic. However, in a world where the BMW X5 and Audi Q7 exist, the XT6 has its work cut out. Can it play with the big boys, or is it just another niche-filler?

Arguably the best part of modern Caddys is their design, and the new Cadillac XT6 looks incredible from the outside. Vertical LED daytime running lights draw your attention to narrow LED headlights and a large grille that is painted gloss black and features unique mesh on the top Sport trim. A sunroof and roof rails are standard across the range, along with a subtle roof spoiler and large dual-exit exhaust tips. 18-inch wheels are standard on the base variant with 20s on the upper trims and 21-inch wheels available on the Sport. The creased bodywork changes the SUV's appearance depending on the angle from which it is viewed, but no amount of design trickery can hide that this is one big, bulky, blocky bruiser.

The Cadillac XT6 SUV is on par with its segment rivals in terms of approximate dimensions and is much larger than its smaller crossover sibling, the XT5. Length measures 198.5 inches and width is 77.3 inches excluding the mirrors. Height is 69.9 inches and the wheelbase measures 112.7 inches. Not many owners are likely to take it off-road, but for those who may, ground clearance is rated at 6.65 inches. Curb weight varies across the range with the new base model weighing in at 4,362 pounds in FWD guise, while the Premium Luxury FWD weighs 4,441 lbs and the Sport, which is only available in AWD guise, starts at 4,690 lbs.

If you're looking to save money, you can only have one paint option, and it's Satin Steel Metallic - a new hue that replaces last year's no-cost Radiant Silver. Other metallic colors cost $625 and include Stellar Black, Dark Moon Blue, Wilder, Latte, and Rosewood, the last two being new colors. Manhattan Noir, Shadow, Garnet, and Dark Mocha have been discontinued. Two tricoat finishes - Crystal White and Infrared Tintcoat - are also available at a cost of $1,225, with last year's Red Horizon being dropped from this list.

The 3.6-liter V6 is the engine you want for any decent performance. This motor produces 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, but that will only help you achieve 0 to 60 mph in just under seven seconds. Sure, acceleration isn't all that important in this segment, but towing capacity is. The XT6 will allow you to tow as much as 4,000 lbs, but with German rivals easily pulling well over 7,000 lbs, that is poor. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo produces 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This smaller engine does fine in smaller vehicles, but here it's far out of its depth. Unsurprisingly, no sprint time is listed for this configuration, but we'd expect the little engine to propel the XT6 to 60 mph in under ten seconds. Front-wheel drive is standard with all-wheel drive optional on all trims except the Sport, where AWD is the only option.

The base engine for the 2022 Cadillac XT6 is a 2.0-liter four-banger with an underwhelming 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. In other Cadillac products, the engine is well-suited for daily driving, but here, it just feels like an asthmatic smoker with emphysema is pretending to be Fred Flinstone under the hood. The 3.6-liter V6 with its 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque is better, but the twitchy throttle remains in place, so be wary when pulling away in traffic. Fortunately, both engines come with a smooth and silky nine-speed auto that is one of the best in the segment and does a great job of hiding the imperfections of the lesser motor. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter which engine you choose, German rivals are far more powerful and more refined too, so just be careful before you commit to something that costs as much as a BMW but drives like it's missing a cylinder.

While the engine has let the XT6 SUV down, the steering system does little to win us back over. It's light, which makes it easy to change direction and park, but it can be too twitchy at times and you feel completely disconnected from the front wheels. The actual handling ability isn't much better, with the body leaning through even moderately quick corners while the brakes are too sensitive at low speeds. Luckily, it's not all bad news as the XT6 rides rather well and is quite comfy over all sorts of terrain, soaking up bumps and abrasions with aplomb. The Sport trim, with its adaptive dampers and stiffer spring rates, is decent too, but handling ability isn't improved much, and some have found that low-speed bumps are too harsh and high-speed bumps feel too floaty. So it's comfortable and easy to park, but it's not a polished product that ticks any other boxes. If you're looking for a more engaging ride, try the BMW X5. If you want better damping and more composure, either the Bimmer or Audi's Q7 will likely impress you more.

The EPA reports official economy figures for the FWD 2.0-liter variants of 21/27/23 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles while the AWD returns 21/26/23 mpg on the same cycles. With FWD, the V6 will return official estimates of 19/26/21 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles, while AWD will see the city and highway figures drop by one point each with the combined figure remaining at 21 mpg. Equipped with a 22-gallon gas tank, mixed driving should return an average gas mileage range of around 462 miles while the turbo models should return 506 miles with AWD and 437 miles with FWD, thanks to a 19-gallon gas tank. This is middling and reasonable for the sector, as the Q7 is slightly thirstier and the X5 is slightly more frugal when it comes to AWD fuel consumption.

While twitchy steering setups and floaty suspension can be overlooked, the Cadillac XT6 interior is the part of the car that you'll notice positives and negatives most often. Unfortunately, there are more reasons to shy away from the XT6 here, as the build quality and design of the cabin makes it look like a ripoff when you remember the pricing of this SUV. It's not offensively bad, it's just not up to scratch. Still, at least everything works well, and there are plenty of standard features, including heated power front seats, a Bose sound system, and an immersive driver info display.

In standard configuration, you can seat up to seven individuals in the 2022 Cadillac XT6 SUV. Second-row captain's chairs are available on the top two trims if you don't mind transporting one individual fewer, but it's worth noting that the third row is a little cramped and is not ideal for adults on long journeys. Up front, eight-way power-adjustable seats provide good support and excellent comfort, and the lofty driving position means you have a great view of everything around you. However, as with most vehicles of this size, blind spots are huge. Thankfully, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on all trims from this year.

In the base variant, black-only faux leather is offset by soft-touch plastics in most places and aluminum-look trims, but there are harder plastics even in the Premium Luxury and Sport variants that get genuine leather. This is available in Jet Black, Cirrus, and Dark Auburn. Jet Black or Maple Sugar semi-aniline leather is also available, but you need to configure a package that adds as much as $11,350 to get access to these finishes. The Premium Luxury trim is trimmed with exotic wood while the Sport gets carbon-look 3D plastic.

Behind the third row, cargo space is less than impressive with just 12.6 cubic feet of volume or enough for a weekly shop. Fortunately, you can fold the third row to open up 43.1 cubic feet of volume, or if you really need to turn the XT6 into a capacious hauler, the second row can be folded flat too for a maximum of 78.7 cubic feet of volume, which is quite impressive. A power-operated liftgate is standard across the range, and the top two trims benefit from a power-folding third row.

In the cabin, there are numerous spots to store the contents of your pockets. Each row gets a pair of cupholders, and each door gets pockets as well. Center armrest storage, a glovebox, and a large area ahead of the gear-lever service those in the first row.

As standard, the 2022 XT6 SUV comes with heated and power-adjustable front seats, a power tailgate, forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking at speeds of 50 mph and under, lane-keep assist and, from this year, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. You also get parking sensors front and rear, an HD rearview camera, cruise control, a sunroof, electrically folding and heated wing mirrors, and LED headlights with cornering and automatic high beams. Tri-zone climate control is also included along with keyless entry and remote start. Also available are features like wireless charging, adaptive cruise control, auto parking assist, a surround-view camera, an eight-inch driver info display, enhanced emergency braking, a night vision camera, reverse automatic braking, and a head-up display. Heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and an automatic heated steering that activates at a certain temperature are also available.

The Cadillac User Experience with its eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system features standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Bluetooth connectivity is supplemented by SiriusXM satellite radio, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging on the top two trims, and six USB ports - two per row. An eight-speaker Bose audio system is standard too, and the controls and menus are easy to use. Should you want more from your infotainment setup, a 14-speaker Bose upgrade is available, as is navigation.

Thus far, no recalls have been issued for the 2022 Cadillac XT6 SUV, but the 2020 variant was subject to one for a roof rail airbag that may not deploy and the 2021 model was recalled once for improperly installed fuel-supply lines.

In terms of coverage, Cadillac provides a basic bumper-to-bumper warranty for the first four years or 50,000 miles, with the powertrain covered for six years or 70,000 miles - considerably more than its German rivals that limit powertrain coverage to the same four-year/50,000-mile period. One complimentary scheduled maintenance visit for the XT6 is also included.

The NHTSA has provided a full XT6 review for the 2022 variant and awarded it a full five stars for frontal crashes, with rollover safety rated at four stars - common in this segment. Over at the IIHS, the 2022 variant has not been rated at all, but the nearly identical 2021 model was awarded the highest possible honor: a Top Safety Pick+ award based on six top scores of 'Good'.

Standard safety features on the XT6 include an HD rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights with cornering and auto high beams, rain-sensing wipers, lane-keep assist and, new for the 2022 model, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. There are seven airbags: dual frontal, front side-impact, curtain, and driver's knee. Forward collision alert with low-speed autonomous emergency braking is also included. Options include full-speed automatic emergency braking, a night-vision camera, a surround-view camera, rear automatic braking with pedestrian detection, a surround-view camera, and adaptive cruise control.

With pricing not that different from far more premium and better-built rivals, the XT6 is a hard sell. It suffers from a sub-par cabin in terms of quality and doesn't offer much space behind the third row - despite the third row offering average headroom and legroom. The throttle can be twitchy on the V6, and the four-pot is not capable of being a compelling alternative. The Sport model isn't sporty and the towing capacity of this SUV is below average across all trim levels. Gas mileage is decent, but if fuel economy is all that matters, you wouldn't be looking at an SUV. The Cadillac XT6 has a small third row too. On the other hand, the XT6 offers plenty of cargo volume with the seats folded, and the standard features it is equipped with are impressive, although nothing stands out and sets a benchmark. The infotainment system is also noteworthy for its simple and clear display menus, and customization levels are good. However, in review, there is no doubt that this is a vehicle built to a budget, and the sum of its parts does not add up to a whole that we consider worth the MSRP.

The cheapest model in the lineup is the Luxury and it starts at a base price of $48,595 in the USA, before a $1,195 destination charge. The mid-level Premium Luxury is on sale for $52,920, while the top Sport trim, which is the only one to get AWD by default, will lighten your wallet to the tune of $58,295. Fully loaded, the Cadillac XT6 will cost in excess of $75,000 for one with all the boxes ticked. The Cadillac XT6 has a high price.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 is available in three trims, namely Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. The only thing they have in common mechanically is a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Luxury trim features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and is FWD by default, with AWD optional for an additional $2,000. On the outside, it has 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights with cornering lights and auto high-beam assist, a power tailgate, and a sunroof. Inside, faux-leather upholstery is used with aluminum-look accents and standard equipment includes tri-zone climate control, heated front seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and cruise control. The eight-inch infotainment screen includes Apple CarPlay and Android auto, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system is fitted. Safety features include seven airbags, forward-collision alert and automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Premium Luxury trim replaces the 2.0-liter turbo with a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine with 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, also with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. It has 20-inch alloy wheels and a hands-free power tailgate. Inside, it gains wood trim, leather upholstery, an automatically heating steering wheel, enhanced interior lighting, and rain-sensing wipers.

The Sport trim uses the same V6 engine but can only be had with AWD. Model-specific blacked-out exterior treatment is standard, as well as a mesh grille, unique 20-inch alloys, sport suspension, adaptive damping, Twin-Clutch Sport Control AWD, a heavy-duty cooling system and, new for 2022, Brembo brakes with red calipers.

Whichever model you opt for (besides the already-AWD top trim), you can upgrade from FWD to AWD for $2,000. Other available packages and options include the Onyx Package on all but the Sport that decks out the entire exterior in gloss-black trim and brings black 20-inch alloys at a cost of $4,695. The Premium Luxury trim's Platinum package for $5,000 adds semi-aniline leather upholstery, a suede headliner, premium floor mats, adaptive dampers, performance suspension, and the Sport trim's carbon-style accents. However, you have to take other options too, and this adds a total of $11,350 to your bill. Among these are the Technology package ($2,350), which adds a rear camera washer, a rearview camera display in the mirror, a surround-view camera, an eight-inch driver info display, and automatic parking assistance with braking. The other packages that must be taken in conjunction with the Platinum pack are the Driver Assist package ($1,300) that adds adaptive cruise control, full-speed automatic emergency braking, and reverse automatic braking, and the Comfort and Air Quality package ($750) that adds an air ionizer, ventilation for the front seats, and heating for the outboard second-row seats.

Since the base model is severely underpowered and can barely pull its own weight, let alone a loaded trailer, we recommend at least going for the mid-level Premium Luxury trim with its V6. In fact, this is the only worthwhile option as the Sport is just too pretentious for its own good and doesn't deliver on its promises of an engaging drive. Unless you expect to use it frequently, we'd save weight and avoid the AWD system, but we would take the Platinum package and its associated obligatory options. Sure, these are expensive, but they make the 2022 Cadillac XT6 safer and more comfortable, and XT6 pricing isn't exactly wonderful anyway. Without any additional options, you can spend less than $65k here, which is fairly reasonable.

The Cadillac XT6 vs the Lincoln Aviator: who will come out tops? For starters, the Aviator is similarly sized to the XT6, but with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, a ten-speed automatic, and rear-wheel-drive as standard, it's a lot better to drive. Sure, it costs a little more with a base price of $51,465, but its 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque more than make up for the extra premium. It can get from 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and can also tow up to 6,700 pounds behind it. Inside, it looks and feels just as premium and luxurious as any German rival, with clean, modern lines and gorgeous display screens. It also offers more so-called trunk space with 18.3 cubes behind the third row compared to the Caddy's 12.6. With all the seats down, it's just one cubic foot down on the Caddy at 77.7 cubes. The options list is also far more impressive. Ultimately, the Lincoln Aviator is a far better vehicle than the XT6 - in any guise.

At a base price of $55,800, the Q7 is undeniably expensive, but there's value here. The base version's 2.0-liter turbo-four produces 248 hp and 273 lb-ft while the top trim's turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 generates a healthy 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This allows it to tow as much as 7,700 lbs while acceleration is just as good, with a 0-60 time of 5.7 seconds. Inside, the cabin is typically German and typically Audi, with a touchscreen even operating the climate control system and two other screens handling infotainment and driver info duties. There's typically brilliant build quality and premium materials on show for all to see, while the area behind the third row offers 14.2 cubic feet of storage. Maximum volume is below that of the Caddy, with just about 70 cubes, but overall, the Audi beats the XT6 in just about every area.