Cadillac’s All-New Three-Row Crossover
The all-new 2020 Cadillac XT6 slots between the smaller two-row XT4 and XT5, and the larger Escalade. Is the three-row XT6 merely a smaller version of the Escalade, having a premium level of appointments, but at a lower price? The quick answer—it is not, but that doesn’t reveal much about what the XT6 has to offer loyal Cadillac buyers.
Two Models: Premium Luxury and Sport
The 2020 XT6 comes in two trim levels–Premium Luxury and Sport, both with a 3.6-liter V6 engine putting out 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, driving the wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The Premium Luxury comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive optional. All-wheel drive comes standard on the Sport model.
To challenge consumers in a way that isn’t necessary, Cadillac has placed a “400” badge on the rear power lift gate. The first thought is this references a 4.0-liter engine or 400 horsepower, but no, not even close. Cadillac has converted the torque from pound-feet to Newton meters (the metric system’s unit of measurement), then rounded it up to an even number. But here is the kicker to this numbering scheme, the 3.6L engine in the 2020 XT6 doesn’t actually produce 400 Newton-meters. It comes close to that number. If for some reason you want to learn more about Newton meters, you can go to school here.
Clean Fleet Report spent a week exploring Southern California in the all-wheel drive XT6 Premium Luxury, which the EPA rates at 17 mpg city/24 highway/20 combined. In 477 miles of mostly freeway driving we averaged 25.7 mpg. Our best efficiency was over a 140-mile all-freeway run, earning us 29.8 mpg. Being so close to that magical 30 mpg, for a 4,644-pound six-passenger crossover, was a tease for what the 2021 Cadillac XT6 might achieve, as the company has indicated it will have a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine in a new entry-level model.
Spacious Interior
Clean Fleet Report had plenty of seat time to get a feel for how the XT6 would handle five or six on a family road trip. To make the XT6 a seven-passenger, the $800 optional second row captain’s chairs would be replaced with the standard bench seat. The front seats could have more thigh and side bolstering but certainly were comfortable enough for a long family road trip.
Access to the third row was surprisingly not-so-difficult, as the second row seats have a convenient tilt-and-slide function. The third row is best for children. However, if adults are sitting outback the head room is good, as the XT6 has a flat roof design all the way to the rear hatch.
Cadillac says the XT6’s interior “is impressively spacious and incredibly comfortable,” two points we will not challenge. The XT6 comes in five interior colors, with ours being the optional Jet Black, and included real carbon fiber inserts on the dash and doors, semi-aniline leather seating surfaces, leather console and door trim, and a microfiber suede headliner. There were both hard and soft surfaces throughout the dash and doors. We liked how the padded center armrest was positioned where your hand can be on the steering wheel and your elbow on the armrest.
The second and third row seats are power-folding, with the buttons located on the far side rear interior panels. After opening the hands-free lift gate, this is a handy feature for easy loading luggage and cargo. When the rear seats are folded flat, the space can even accommodate a kayak. However, with the third row seat upright, storage is tight, even when considering the under floor compartment that can handle a few items.
There is a long list of standard equipment on the 2020 XT6, but to truly take your driving experience to the ultimate level, there are packages that add optional equipment and features. Our fully optioned XT6, with the Platinum Package, had eight-way power, heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats, and a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel. The driver’s seat has a surprise for you: it vibrates as part of the lane departure system, and also during the automatic parking assist operation.
The XT6 has a low dash design that nicely incorporates the infotainment screen. All controls are well laid-out and within easy reach, including piano switches to operate the tri-zone climate control. The infotainment system, with navigation, starts with the CUE System that Cadillac says “seamlessly connects you to a world of content.” The 8.0-inch high-definition color display includes FM/HD AM radio, with Bose Premium Audio and 14 speakers. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and SiriusXM complete the listening options, augmented by Bluetooth hands-free phone access and six USB ports and auxiliary power outlets.
The XT6 is well-equipped with convenience features, including remote keyless entry with remote start, and heated steering wheel with radio and telephone controls. In addition to the Ultra-view sunroof and heated outboard rear seats, there is wireless phone charging, an air ionizer, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, tire pressure monitoring system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, head-up display, keyless push button on/off and OnStar. An unique safety feature is the Rear Camera Mirror system that enhances the rear vision by 300-percent using a video display applied over the inside rearview mirror image. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it widens the field of vision.
A note regarding OnStar: a simple push of a button connects you with a friendly General Motors representative to handle emergencies, directions and general assistance to make your driving experience safer and more enjoyable. This is one area where GM is the industry leader, and after the initial service plan expires, it is well worth renewing.
Road Trip Worthy
The XT6 has four driver-selectable drive modes–Tour, AWD, Off Road and Sport. Tour is where the XT6 is exclusively in front-wheel drive; it’s in all-wheel drive for the other three modes. The engine ran smooth at all speeds with zero-to-60 times right around 6.8 seconds, which was plenty peppy for freeway onramp merging. The fuel economy, best in Touring, was aided by cylinder deactivation, where the 3.6L goes from six to four cylinders under certain power demands. The dash light indicating a “4” or a “6” helps you play with the accelerator on flat or descending grades to help pass the time.
Cornering was aided by the optional real-time suspension damping that is a performance feature in the Sport mode. To sharpen the handling, even in dry conditions like we experienced, the dual-clutch AWD system is capable of transferring 100-percent of the torque to either the front or rear axle–and if so desired, the electronically-controlled rear differential can be set to have 100-percent of the torque sent to either wheel. It is a smooth, modern and efficient system that had power ready to any or all wheels seamlessly. Under heavy acceleration in Tour mode, there is noticeable torque steer that was just about eliminated when in all-wheel drive. The Michelin Primacy Tour 235/55 all-season tires, on 20-inch, 12-spoke wheels, were quiet on the open road and provided good grip when braking and cornering. Braking is through four-wheel vented discs with electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and traction control. The XT6 has a 4,000-pound tow rating.
The ride was 21st century Cadillac, as it was not too soft or floaty, which is what Cadillacs were known for in the past. Road imperfections were handled with ease, with harshness or road noise not being transferred to the cabin. Sport mode, which engaged the all-wheel drive, provided additional traction even on dry pavement. The XT6 handling is not sporty, but is predictable, reassuring, and confident, and would be an excellent road trip experience for a family of four or five.
Notable Design
The exterior design of the 2020 XT6 just may be the most attractive in the midsize premium crossover class. The two XT6 trim levels, Premium Luxury and Sport, each have distinctive design elements that make them just different enough from each other, but equally eye appealing. Cadillac says “the XT6 is unmistakably Cadillac…with expressive design and strong proportions.”
Clean Fleet Report was driving the XT6 Premium Luxury painted in a beautiful Dark Mocha Metallic. The distinctive grille had a bright, light-to-medium satin Galvano finish. Set against the black mesh design and the recognizable Cadillac badge, the grille is trimmed with a restrained use of chrome. The narrow LED headlamps squint from the outer edges of the fenders, and sit atop the vertical LED daytime running lights that double as the turn signals. A very handy safety feature, which sits below the turn signal lamps, are the cornering lights that illuminate automatically when entering a corner.
The tail features vertical LED tail lights, twin chrome-tipped exhaust ports and a very subtle use of chrome. One thing that was appreciated is how the tailgate wiper tucks away under the roof spoiler, and is not visible when using the rear view mirror.
Safety and Convenience
The 2020 XT6 has seven airbags, with robust ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems). The safety system packages included automatic collision braking conditions, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot alert, front pedestrian detection, full-range adaptive cruise control with following distance indicator, and automatic parking assist with braking. The XT6 has a smooth stop/start feature where the engine shuts off when coming to a stop, and then when it is time to go, engages automatically. The reverse automatic braking will snap your head with how fast it comes on after detecting an object. The driver’s seat vibrates to let you know something about your driving just isn’t right, such as drifting into a neighboring lane. The first time you feel this vibration on your bottom side can be a bit confusing, but it has its place as part of the safety warning system.
Other safety features included surround vision (with a recording option) with two trailer view camera views and a color head-up display. The latter is a safety feature that Clean Fleet Report feels should be standard on all cars. If auto manufacturers and the government are serious about reducing distracted driving, head-up display is a proven technology that will help greatly.
Two other safety features worth noting are available on the 2020 XT6. Make sure to have your Cadillac sales representative demonstrate them.
Teen Driver monitors driving habits, keeps the driver from disabling stability control and other features, and even allows parents to set the maximum radio volume.
Night Vision uses thermal technology to help the driver see further than the headlights.
Pricing and Warranties
Clean Fleet Report’s 2020 XT6 Premium Luxury had a base price of $54,695. With $15,200 in options and the $995 destination charge, the total MSRP came to $70,890.
The 2020 XT6 comes with these warranties:
- Bumper-To-Bumper – Four years/50,000 miles
- Scheduled Service/Maintenance – One year/One visit
- Powertrain – Six years/70,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Six years/70,000 miles
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 has a 5-Star safety rating, the highest from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway safety (IIHS) has awarded the XT6 its highest rating of Top Safety Pick.
Observations: 2020 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury AWD
Auto manufacturers will tell you the luxury vehicle segment is far more difficult to compete in than the general automotive marketplace. There is a marketing rule that the more expensive an item, the more difficult it is to reach the person that can buy that item and, the more expensive the item, the fewer potential buyers there will be for that item.
Competing in the luxury crossover SUV category, Cadillac has placed itselve right in the middle of stiff competition–competition that have no plans on selling fewer cars. The Cadillac XT6 sells against premium crossover SUVs such as the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Infiniti QX60, Lexus RX 350/450, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Porsche Cayenne, Tesla Model X, Volvo XC90 and others. Some of these come as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, so savvy customers will be scrutinizing that $70,000+ price for a fully loaded XT6 that has only one gasoline engine offered.
The XT6 gets respectable fuel economy, the ride is comfortable, the power never leaves you needing more, and the ride absorbs road imperfections. The interior is quiet and spacious, but not quite as upscale as the price, nor the name of Premium Luxury, would indicate. The third row can surprisingly accommodate two grown adults with ample headroom.
The XT6 isn’t marketed as a sport crossover, which shows as the corner handling is not such that the XT6 can be thrown around in an aggressive manner. The XT6 wants to be driven straight over long distances or around town running errands, where it does so in one of the best designed exterior packages in the category.
The winner in all this is you the consumer, who will benefit from Cadillac never standing pat on design, technology, comfort and performance. Of course, the only one you really need to please is yourself, so when visiting your local Cadillac dealer, make sure to add the 2020 XT6 to your consideration list and see if you are ready for some premium luxury in your next midsize crossover.
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Whatever you buy, Happy Driving!
Story by John Faulkner; photos by John Faulkner and Cadillac
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Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
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