2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury AWD
Class: Premium Midsize Crossover SUV
Miles driven: 219
Fuel used: 11.1 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 19.7 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B- |
| Tall Guy | B+ |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 310-hp 3.6-liter |
| Engine Type | V6 |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 35% city, 65% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 18/25/21 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $54,995 (not including $1195 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Platinum Package ($5000), Technology Package ($2350), Night Vision ($2000), Driver Assist Package ($1300), Cadillac User Experience upgraded infotainment system with embedded navigation system and Bose 14-speaker audio system ($1000), 6-passenger seating ($800), premium headlamp system with illuminated door handles ($800), Comfort and Air Quality Package ($750), Rosewood Metallic paint ($625), security cargo shade ($150)
Price as tested: $70,965
Quick Hits
The great: Smooth, satisfying powertrain; comfortable ride
The good: Interior space; cabin trimmings; decent maneuverability for the size
The not so good: Spendy options seriously pump up bottom-line prices; third-row seat space could be better
CG Says:
The XT6 debuted for the 2020 model year, filling an important gap in Cadillac’s model lineup—the space between the two-row XT5 (which resides at the small end of the premium midsize SUV class) and the flagship Escalade full-size SUV. The XT6 is a three-row crossover SUV that is one of the larger entries in our premium midsize SUV category.
For 2022, the XT6 gets a short list of updates, including the availability of Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driver-assist system, a couple new extra-cost paint colors, and Brembo-brand brakes with red-painted calipers for the Sport model. As before, a choice of two engines is offered: a 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (which joined the XT6 lineup for 2021 as the standard powerplant for the newly added entry-level Luxury trim) and a 310-hp naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 (which remains standard in Premium Luxury and Sport models).
Our most recent XT6 test vehicle was a Premium Luxury all-wheel-drive model that was generously equipped with a long list of options. Despite what its name implies, the Premium Luxury trim level is not at the top of the XT6 model lineup. That honor goes to the Sport trim, which adds an adaptive sport suspension, Brembo-brand brakes, carbon-fiber interior accents, and unique styling touches.
However, the options on our test vehicle closed that price gap, and then some. The biggest-ticket item on the list was the $5000 Platinum Package, which adds a full complement of leather-upholstery upgrades (including semi-aniline leather seating surfaces, a Moderna leather-wrapped steering wheel, and leather-wrapped trim on the dashboard and door panels), a microfiber synthetic-suede headliner, and the adaptive sport suspension that comes standard on the Sport model.
The $2350 Technology Package adds several desirable features: an HD surround-vision camera display, automatic parking assist with braking, an 8-inch configurable driver-info screen in the gauge cluster, a head-up display, rear pedestrian alert, and a rear-camera mirror system with washer. The $1300 Driver Assist Package brings automatic seat-belt tightening, reverse automatic braking, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The $750 Comfort and Air Quality Package adds a cabin-air ionizer, heated second-row seats, and ventilated front seats (in addition to the already-standard front-seat heaters).
Cadillac’s Night Vision system is a stand-alone option that tacks on another $2000; it uses a front-mounted infrared sensor to detect pedestrians, animals, and other objects that might not be easily visible in the dark, and projects a real-time camera view on the driver-information screen. It’s a slick feature, but we’re not sure it’s worth its $2000 price tag.
In all, our XT6’s options tacked on an eye-opening $14,775 to the bottom-line price… and a lot of these features strike us as things that should be standard on a Cadillac, let alone one whose trim level is named “Premium Luxury.” You’ll even pay $800 for the privilege of second-row captain’s chairs instead of the standard second-row bench seat. And, though Cadillac’s “killer-app” Super Cruise feature becomes available on the XT6 for 2022, our tester wasn’t so equipped.
The spendy add-ons make the XT6 a less-than-compelling value proposition, but there’s still lots to like here. On paper, the XT6 doesn’t “wow” like its European or Asian three-row rivals (or, for that matter, the Lincoln Aviator), but it’s a capable, classy, spacious SUV that’s especially well-suited to everyday commuting and road-trip duty. For more information, you can check out our reviews of previous XT6 Premium Luxury and Sport test vehicles.
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2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury Gallery
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2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury
2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury
