2023 Cadillac XT6

Overview

Unless you want to go with the massive Escalade, the 2023 XT6 is the only other Cadillac you can buy with three rows of seats. Its handsome styling wraps around a spacious and family-friendly cabin with room for up to eight riders, although that rearmost row is best reserved for kids. Like its crosstown rival, the Lincoln Aviator, the XT6’s mid-size dimensions make it far more maneuverable than an Escalade—and more satisfying to drive too. A turbocharged four-cylinder is standard but a more powerful V-6 is available, as is all-wheel drive. On paper, the XT6’s formula adds up to luxury-SUV richness, but its cabin is plagued by down-market materials that are out of step with its upscale intent.

What’s New for 2023?

Mid-range Premium Luxury and top-spec Sport trims now come standard with in-dash navigation, heated rear seats, and heated-and-ventilated front seats. All 2023 XT6s can now be ordered in Radiant Red Tintcoat, Opulent Blue Metallic, or Argent Silver Metallic.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

In our experience, the Sport’s chassis upgrades don’t offer a noticeable improvement in performance or handling, so we’d stick with the midrange Premium Luxury trim. To that, we’d add the Technology package (8.0-inch digital gauge display, head-up display, 360-degree exterior camera system, and more) as well as the Driver-Assist package (adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection).

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

For 2023, 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 2023 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, delivered a less rosy 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.

The Car and Driver Difference

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.

How to Buy and Maintain a Car

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 with hands-free driving mode

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

Specifications

Specifications

2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport AWD

VEHICLE TYPE

front-engine, front-/all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED

$65,940 (base price: $58,090)

ENGINE TYPE

DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement

223 cu in, 3649 cc

Power

310 hp @ 6600 rpm

Torque

271 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

TRANSMISSION

9-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 112.7 in

Length: 198.8 in

Width: 77.3 in

Height: 68.9 in

Passenger volume: 137 cu ft

Cargo volume: 13 cu ft

Curb weight: 4703 lb

C/D
TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.6 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 26.6 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.6 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.1 sec @ 96 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 132 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.88 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 16 mpg