Overview
If a three-row SUV from General Motors’s prestige brand is on your wish list, the 2022 Cadillac XT6 is the only option you have unless you have Escalade money (and space). The XT6 shares much of its underpinnings and mechanical components with the GMC Acadia, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. The Cadillac sports a unique exterior and interior design that looks appropriately upscale. It can be had with your choice of a turbocharged four-cylinder or naturally aspirated V-6 engine and either front- or all-wheel drive. The Sport trim comes with a torque-vectoring rear differential, but even so it fails to deliver the same level of athleticism as key rivals such as the Audi Q7 and the BMW X5. The XT6 instead is better suited for stylish family transport, similar to other utes such as the Acura MDX and the Lincoln Aviator.
What’s New for 2022?
Cadillac’s mid-size SUV sees only minor changes for 2022. The Sport model now comes with Brembo brakes with red-painted calipers, and models with the Platinum package now come with a steering wheel wrapped in Modena leather rather than last year’s Turin leather. A new optional 21-inch wheel design is available, and power-folding exterior mirrors are now standard.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
In our experience, the Sport’s chassis upgrades don’t offer a noticeable improvement in performance, so we’d stick with the midrange Premium Luxury trim. To that, we’d add the Comfort and Air Quality package (heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, and an air ionizer) as well as the second-row captain’s chairs, in-dash navigation, and 14-speaker Bose premium stereo system.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For 2022, XT6 buyers can choose from either a 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 310-hp V-6 engine. Both come with a nine-speed automatic and can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. Three trim levels—Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport—make up the XT6 lineup, with the first two being more about comfort and the Sport receiving performance-enhancing extras such as a torque-vectoring rear differential and retuned steering. A Platinum package is available and gives the XT6 all the goodies. No matter the trim, the XT6 certainly looks handsome. Twenty-inch wheels come standard, but you can get 21-inchers on the Sport model. Handling is reasonably athletic for a three-row crossover, but no one will mistake it for the agile CT5-V sedan.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the 2022 XT6 with the standard turbo-four will earn up to 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Models with the V-6 engine are rated up to 19 mpg city and 26 highway. The all-wheel-drive XT6 we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, is less rosy with a result of 22 mpg. For reference, the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 we tested on that route earned 23. For more information about the XT6’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the Cadillac offers both seven- and eight-seat layouts, featuring either a pair of captain’s chairs or a three-seat bench in the second row. All XT6s come with a third row that’ll seat three passengers. The XT6’s interior trimmings don’t impress when compared with those of the Audi Q7 or the BMW X5. Cargo space is limited, too, with room for only three carry-on suitcases. But lowering the back two rows frees up enough room to fit 31 suitcases. The Q7 accommodates four cases behind its third row but just 25 with the seats down, making the XT6 the better choice if you regularly need to transport big and bulky cargo.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All XT6 models come with touchscreen infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, onboard Wi-Fi, and wireless smartphone charging. Cadillac’s latest version of its CUE (Cadillac User Experience) software is displayed crisply on an 8.0-inch screen and reacts promptly to commands. Navigation is an optional feature, as is a rear-seat entertainment system with a DVD player.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
A host of driver-assistance features (automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring) are standard on the XT6, while more advanced features (adaptive cruise control, night vision) are available as options. For more information about the XT6’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control and night vision
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
All Cadillac models, including the XT6, come with the same standard warranty package. It entails bumper-to-bumper coverage for four years or 50,000 miles and a powertrain warranty that stretches to six years or 70,000 miles. Most of the XT6’s European rivals offer only a four-year/50,000-mile package for both warranties.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers six years or 70,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
