Thursday, May 7, 2020


CADILLAC COMPLETES CROSSOVER SUV OFFERINGS WITH INTRODUCION OF 2020 XT6


The short take on Cadillac’s new XT6 crossover SUV: It’s like the XT5 that I reviewed on April 1, but, as you may deduce from the alpha-numeric tag, a bit bigger.

Perhaps you want more details.

The Cadillac XT6 is a new vehicle for 2020 and completes the trio of crossover SUVs that replaced the SRX in the company’s portfolio. It is slightly smaller than the behemoth, truck-based Escalade but still comes with three rows of seating and nearly 79 cubic feet of storage space when the second and third rows are folded. (But not so much when they are all upright.)


A 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission powers its 4,441 pounds (4,644 with all-wheel drive) and provides 4,000 pounds of towing capacity while drinking regular fuel — an advantage over most of its competitors —at the rate of 18 miles-per-gallon city, 25 highway, 20 combined.

The engine is rated at 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, which are not particularly awe-inspiring numbers but do get you up to expressway speed without any strain. The website zeroto60times.com report a clocking of 6.6 seconds with a quarter-mile time of 15.1 seconds.


The XT6 comes in two trims — Sport and Premium Luxury. The latter served as my test vehicle and has a base MSRP of $52,695.

At that price, standard equipment includes front-wheel drive, leather seating surfaces, power adjustable front seats with lumbar support, tri-zone climate control, sunroof, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, 20-inch 6-spoke wheels, a hands-free liftgate, power-folding third row seats, Cadillac User Experience infotainment features (much better than the original system but still not all that user-friendly), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and a pretty resposive voice command system.


Standard safety features include front and rear parking assist, forward collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistant and lane-departure warning, blind-spot alert, front pedestrian braking, and HD rear-vision camera with washing system.

That’s pretty good, but there is also a plethora of options and packages also available that add to its appeal. But they add quite a bit to the total cost.


A Platinum Package (upgraded leather seating, leather console and door trim, performance suspension, microfiber suede headliner, upgraded suspension, and premimum floor mats added $4,000 alone to my test vehicle. Three other packages, including one for enhanced visibility and technological features, added $2,000-plus each and the CUE system with navigation and premium sound put on another $1,000.

The final total came to $69,585 with the $995 destination and delivery charge.

What I liked about the Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury: The ride is quiet and comfortable, and it comes with lots of safety features as standard. It’s a lot more pleasant to drive and easier to maneuver than Cadillac’s other full-size offering, the Escalade.

What I didn’t like about the Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury: Luggage space behind the third row (12.6 cubic feet) is less than what you get in many sedans.What good is being able to take a large contingent of family or friends on a trip if you can’t accommodate their stuff? The infotainment system display is small at only 8 inches. To get the full luxury experience, you have to add a lot of options that drive up the final tab considerably.

Would I buy the Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury? Not personally, no, because I don’t need a three-row SUV luxury or no. But if you are in the market for one, it’s worth a look. 



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