Since replacing its mid-size SRX with the XT5 for the 2017 model year, Cadillac has since expanded its crossover SUV fleet with the addition of the XT4 last year and now for 2020 the XT6.
As you might deduce from the numerical designation, the XT4 is the smaller of the three, and the XT6 the larger, adding the advantage of three-row seating. The XT5 sits in the middle.
The XT6 comes in two trim levels for 2020, Premium Luxury and Sport. A Luxury trim is added for 2021 to serve as a base model.
The 2020 XT6 models come with a 3.6-liter V6 engine rated at 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque and mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. Premium Luxury models get front-wheel drive as standard with all-wheel drive as an option.
With standard all-wheel drive, the XT6 Sport earns EPA mileage ratings of 18 miles-per-gallon city, 25 highway, and 21 overall using regular unleaded fuel — a break for owners!
At 198.8 inches, the XT6 is 9.2 inches longer than the XT5 and 8.5 longer than the SRX. The wheelbases, however, are very similar — 112.7 inches for the XT6, 112.5 for the XT5.
The XT6 offers a spacious cabin with lots of luxury and convenience features to go with 41.2 inches of legroom up front, 39.1 in the second row, and 29.5 in the third row. Those in the far back also get headroom of 37.2 inches, which is very comparable to the 39.8 those in the front get.
Cargo volume, however, is another matter. To squeeze in that third row, designers had to sacrifice something, and it was rear stowage space. Only 12.6 cubic feet is offered with all seats in place, which is even short of many sedans.
Folding the back row (by pushing buttons in the back), however, gets 43.1 cubic feet, and if you need more, you can get up to a generous 78.7 cubic feet behind the first row. If you need that much space a lot, perhaps a panel truck would fit your needs better.
At the top of the food chain, the 2020 XT6 Sport carries a starting MSRP of $57,195 that gets you such standard features as a sport-tuned suspension, Cadillac User Experience infotainment system (which includes an 8-inch color display with voice recognition but not navigation), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, remote start, OnStar services, tri-zone climate control, heated front seats, leather seating surfaces, hands-free power liftgate, keyless start, a power-folding third row, power tilt and telescopic steering column, and a sunroof with a power shade.
A long list safety features is standard, including a following distance indicator, forward collision alert with front pedestrian alert, parking assist, HD rear-vision camera, lane-change alert with blind-side zone alert, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert and more.
My test vehicle came with optional features mostly in packages that included navigation, rear pedestrian alert, upgraded premium leather interior, HD surround vision, a night vision system that allows you to see past your headlights, adaptive cruise control, Bose Premium sound system, folding second-row captains’ chairs, and more.
All those extras plus a destination and delivery charge of $995 ran the final bottom line to $72,165, which is pretty high cotton.
What I liked about the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport: It has a comfortable, quiet ride as befitting its luxury status. Lots of safety features, like blind spot alert and rear cross-traffic alert, are standard. The third row is big enough to accommodate most adults. (Though NBA forwards may find it a bit snug.)
What I didn’t like about 2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport: The third row is nice, but if you are taking your family on a vacation and they fill all the passenger seats, you aren’t going to have much room for their stuff behind that back row. The infotainment system is much better than the original CUE system and has a rotary controller to help things along, but still could take a cue from other GM products for simplicity.
Would I buy the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport? Yes and no. If I needed the extra seating, I would. If I didn’t need the third row, which I personally don’t, I would go for the XT5 or even the XT4.
*Photos furnished by Cadillac
