2022 Cadillac XT6 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 has a striking appearance, and it manages to be both athletic and luxurious at the same time. This SUV has room for up to seven passengers in a cabin that's nicely appointed. With plenty of capability and many convenient features, the Cadillac XT6 is sure to attract the attention from buyers with discerning tastes.

What's New for 2022?

For the most part, Cadillac has stuck with the same formula for the XT6 for the 2022 model year. However, there have been some minor changes. The Sport trim has been upgraded with Brembo brakes, a new 21-inch wheel design has become available, and power-folding side mirrors are standard. Plus, the leather-wrapped steering wheel that comes with the Platinum package now uses Modena rather than Turin leather.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Cadillac XT6 – The Pros

1. Offers Excitement

The XT6 can either be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine or a 3.6-liter V6. Both are strong and more than sufficient. The smaller engine is able to make 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and the V6 can crank out 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque.

Note that the turbo engine is what the first trim in the lineup, the Luxury, uses. The other two trims, which are the Premium Luxury and Sport, use the V6. This would be an important consideration as people think about which trim to pick.

2. Can Go Off the Pavement

All three trims are available with all-wheel drive. With the Luxury and Premium Luxury, it's a fairly standard all-wheel drive system. It has something called Driver Mode Select, a program that lets people optimize performance in accordance with the conditions they face. The Sport trim uses an enhanced all-wheel-drive system that is more responsive than a typical all-wheel drivetrain. As a result, handling is quite crisp in this model.

3. Ready to Tow

The Cadillac XT6 may look sophisticated, but it can certainly hold its own when faced with a challenge. Its maximum towing capacity is 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. This SUV can come with Hitch Guidance as part of the Smart Towing package, giving the driver visual cues as to whether the trailer is lined up properly. The Smart Towing package also includes a 170-amp alternator, a heavy-duty cooling system, a hitch, a cover for the hitch, and a seven-wire harness.

4. Stunning Good Looks

It's clear that the team at Cadillac put a lot of thought into how the XT6 should look. It has a tall stature and the right amount of angles sculpted into its frame. This SUV can ride on wheels that measure 18, 20, or 21 inches. Cross rails, assist steps, and chrome and black accents are all available. The standard LED headlamps and LED Daytime Running Lamps really contribute to the overall style of this SUV.

5. High-End Exterior Components

It's not all about looks with the Cadillac XT6. It has a number of impressive features that really enhance the driving experience, even if they're not immediately noticeable. The exterior side mirrors, for example, have heating elements built into them. The one on the driver's side has an auto-dimming function, and they both have turn signals. A panoramic sunroof with power sunshade is standard on all three trims, and the glass that's over the first row can be opened with the touch of a button. In addition, the door handles can be illuminated to provide a soft glow, a Cadillac crest can be displayed near the door when people enter and exit the vehicle, and the liftgate can have a hands-free feature.

6. Three Rows of Seats

Many households need to find vehicles that have three rows of seats. The XT6 has a two extra seats in its third row, and in the middle row, there could either be a bench seat with room for three or a pair of captain's chairs. There are advantages to both configurations, so it's up to potential buyers whether they get the additional middle seat or keep the cabin more open. Either way, second-row passengers will enjoy having 39.1 inches of leg room.

7. Plenty of Cargo Space

The area behind the third row has a volume of 12.6 cubic feet. This is about the same amount of storage space that a sedan could have in its trunk, so there's room for groceries, bags, and various other items. Lowering the third row expands cargo capacity to 43.1 cubic feet, and lowering all of the rear seats pushes cargo capacity up to 78.7 cubic feet. This is a generous amount of room that can easily accommodate large and bulky pieces.

8. Keeping an Eye on the Road

Cadillac has incorporated driver-assist technology into the XT6. Every trim has automatic emergency braking that can work to prevent frontal collisions, park assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind zone monitoring and lane change alert, and lane keep assist with lane departure warning. Higher trims can have reverse automatic braking and a surround vision camera, among other features. It's always better to be informed of what's around one's vehicle, and these safety systems do an excellent job of warning drivers about potential issues and helping them take corrective measures, if necessary.

9. Staying in Touch

So many people are used to doing everything with their smartphones and taking those phones wherever they go. The good news is that the XT6 can make it easy to use a smartphone safely while traveling. The vehicle comes with an eight-inch touchscreen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigation is available, and SiriusXM is standard, providing dozens of radio stations to choose from.

Further, Wi-Fi capability is standard. Passengers will really appreciate this when they're trying to stream content, play online games, or get work done from the road. Six USB ports are included with the standard technology package. On the Premium Luxury and Sport trims, there is wireless charging. This is a convenient system that eliminates the hassle of using cords that could clutter up the front console area.

10. An Elegant Cabin

Even the first trim in the XT6's lineup has several attractive elements to it. It comes standard with heated front seats, leatherette upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The driver's seat has a memory system, and there is tri-zone climate control.

On the higher trims, there are leather seats with mini-perforated inserts. Interior lighting adds to the mood, and for the the front seats, ventilation is available in addition to heating. Both the front seats have power lumbar support, and they can have heated rear seats, too.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Cadillac XT6 – The Cons

1. Third Row Is Small

While it's great that the XT6 has the extra row in the back, that area is somewhat cramped. It only offers 29.5 inches of leg room. Many adults would find this row to be too small for them, and those that do fit would definitely get uncomfortable on a long ride.

2. Adaptive Cruise Control Isn't Standard

Adaptive cruise control is an advanced system that allows a vehicle to make adjustments to its speed based on how fast the leading vehicle is traveling. It's handy to use on highways when there's some traffic and varying speeds, as opposed to the regular cruise control system that's ideal for use on open stretches of road.

Some other automotive manufacturers have made adaptive cruise control a standard component. Unfortunately, this isn't the case with Cadillac and the XT6. It is available on the Premium Luxury and Sport, but it's not even an option on the Luxury.

3. Top Trims Are a Bit Limited

There are many nice components in the Premium Luxury and Sport, but some of the high-end features are optional and not standard. For example, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a head-up display are all available on these top two trims. In contrast, many other models, even ones that might not be as expensive as the XT6 is, have those features as standard with their higher trims.

 

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2022 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Acura MDX

Acura's three-row MDX has a similar feel to the XT6. It, too, has a small third row with two extra seats. The amount of third-row legroom is even less in the MDX than in the XT6. From a performance standpoint, the MDX does well with 290 horsepower. However, when the XT6 is equipped with the V6 engine, it outperforms the Acura.

One other thing is that the MDX is only available with the bench seat in the middle row. Many customers do prefer having captain's chairs, so they might not be as interested in the MDX because of this.

2022 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Lincoln Aviator

The Lincoln Aviator is another upscale three-row SUV. It's very powerful, but it's not as efficient as the XT6 is, and it's a bit more expensive than the XT6 is. These budgetary factors play important roles as customers decide which models to get. In addition, the Lincoln Aviator doesn't have quite as much cargo space as the XT6 has, nor does it have as large of a third row.

Conclusion

There is so much demand these days for SUVs, and many are looking specifically for ones with three rows of seats. If they also want to find models that are decked out with advanced technology, stylish details, and luxurious cabin materials, then the Cadillac XT6 should more than satisfy them. On top of having so many amenities, this SUV is powerful and responsive, and it would be a pleasure to drive.