2020 Cadillac XT6 first drive review: Sometimes ‘more’ is more

Now that Cadillac’s smaller XT4 and XT5 crossovers have settled properly into the automaker’s steady, it is time to develop the lineup with a barely bigger, three-row variant to fit under the XT5 and the big-boy Escalade. Which means it is time for us to hit the street within the 2020 Cadillac XT6.The XT6 is slightly bit longer (9.2-inches extra) than its XT5 sibling and a bit taller (about two inches) general. Where the XT5 seats 5 passengers, the three-row XT6 has room for — you guessed it — six souls between its first and second-row buckets and the third-row bench. I would not need to cram an grownup within the way-back for a protracted haul, however there’s sufficient room for a kid. When not in use, the motorized, 60/40 cut up bench folds flat increasing cargo quantity behind the second row to 43.1 cubic ft (about 13 cubes greater than the XT5) or 78.7 cubic ft with each rows tucked away. 
Like its stablemate, which simply acquired a mid-cycle replace, the XT6 takes security tech fairly significantly. Cadillac tells me that its Super Cruise hands-off freeway cruise management system might be coming someday sooner or later to the XT6, however the know-how will not be accessible at launch.For now, the SUV a minimum of rolls out with a wholesome dose of ordinary driving help applied sciences, together with ahead pre-collision alert with low-speed computerized braking, in addition to lane-keeping steering help. It additionally boasts a normal rear-view digital camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and entrance and rear park distance help.Buyers on the lookout for extra can choose an non-obligatory Driver Assist bundle that provides adaptive cruise management that works in stop-and-go visitors and full-speed computerized emergency braking with entrance and rear sensing. There are additionally Night Vision and “Enhanced Visibility & Technology” packages. The latter provides the automaker’s rear digital camera mirror and an HD Surround Vision Recorder function that makes use of the encompass view cameras to help in parking, and acts as a kind of 360-degree sprint cam to document incidents and impacts on the street to SD card storage. Rounding out the Enhanced bundle is Automatic Parking Assist function that may deal with steering and braking whereas guiding itself right into a parking area.The cloud-connected infotainment system contains 3 GB or three months of 4G LTE knowledge, whichever comes first.
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Intellibeam single-projector LED headlamps with computerized excessive beams are normal, however the XT6 will be upgraded to three-element LED projectors able to adaptive lighting perform, which selectively dims parts of the excessive beams’ gentle round camera-detected autos. This ought to enable drivers to maintain their excessive beams on with out dazzling oncoming automobiles. However, like an identical know-how from Audi, adaptive lighting is not but authorized within the US, so the function is briefly disabled. If and when the legislation adjustments, Cadillac will unlock the performance for so-equipped XT6 homeowners. In the cabin, Cadillac’s User Experience (CUE) know-how additionally will get an overhaul, with the brand new, 4G LTE cloud-connected Infotainment 3.5 suite taking residence within the dashboard. The new software program is nice, with an interface that is a lot simpler to navigate. It could be a bit gradual in addition up if you first begin the automotive, however as soon as it will get going, Infotainment 3.5 is snappy and crisply rendered. The XT6 boasts normal Android Auto and Apple CarPlay telephone mirroring and can be the primary Cadillac mannequin to function the brand new Sirius XM with 360L satellite tv for pc radio, which we have checked out beforehand.Drivers work together with the software program by way of a pointy, 8-inch capacitive touchscreen that appears nice, with brilliant graphics even in daylight. Helping to maintain fingerprints off of that shiny show is a brand new “jog wheel” controller on the middle console that may be twisted, nudged and pressed to navigate the interface, that means I haven’t got to make use of the silly capacitive swipe anymore. The jog wheel seems to be and features a heck of loads just like the bodily MMI or COMAND controllers that Audi and Mercedes-Benz are presently shifting away from, proper all the way down to the shortcut buttons for main infotainment features that encompass the knob. Oh thank God, a quantity knob!
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Also positioned within the neighborhood is a bodily quantity knob on the middle console. It’s maybe my favourite addition, having suffered by way of a era or two of Cadillac’s horrible previous capacitive swipe quantity bar. Also making life a bit simpler are NFC pairing for Android telephones — which permits drivers to shortly Bluetooth pair a telephone by momentarily holding it towards an icon beneath the show — and a redesigned heart console with cable administration and an built-in wi-fi charging pad.When selecting an XT6, patrons should first decide between two fashions. There’s the $52,695 Premium Luxury mannequin with its chrome appointment and extra comfy steering and suspension setup. On the opposite hand, there’s the $57,095 Sport mannequin with shiny black trim and an assortment of efficiency upgrades, which we’ll get to shortly. (Both costs exclude vacation spot costs.)Either means you go, the 2020 XT6 is powered by the automaker’s 3.6-liter LGX V6 engine. At 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, this looks like an honest match for the SUV’s chassis and its normal nine-speed computerized transmission. Front wheel-drive is normal with non-obligatory all-wheel drive. It would possibly sound a bit wheezy when hammering it, however the XT6 is a quiet cruiser with stable passing energy if you want it.The Platinum trim degree is now only a loaded choices bundle for all XT6 fashions, so spec your self a ridiculously named “Premium Luxury Platinum” mannequin by checking a field.
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My testing occurred behind the wheel of an XT6 Sport mannequin with a firmer tune for its MacPherson entrance and five-link rear suspension. Sport fashions additionally function extra aggressive throttle and shift programming, a faster steering ratio and heavy-duty cooling parts. However, the parts that make the most important efficiency distinction for the Sport trim are the usual electronically adjustable energetic dampers and the usual Sport all-wheel drive. You see, the XT6 Sport’s all-wheel-drive system comes with a dual-clutch rear differential fairly than the open differential that you’re going to discover in Premium Luxury AWD fashions. That further little bit of equipment permits the SUV to carry out rear axle torque vectoring (which works alongside entrance axle brake torque vectoring) for higher energy supply and stability when aggressively cornering. The result’s definitely a extra dynamic really feel than the Premium Luxury mannequin, however I do not know if I’d go so far as calling it “sporty.” This is, in any case, an almost 4,700-pound, three-row SUV. That stated, flip in and cornering grip had been spectacular sufficient and I loved my brisk drive by way of the roads of northern Virginia. Personally, I’d fairly have the additional dynamic edge than not and most popular the Sport mannequin, however luxurious SUV patrons on the lookout for one thing quiet and cozy will not be lacking out on an excessive amount of by going with the extra relaxed, cheaper trim.All XT6 AWD fashions function a Tour setting that locks the SUV right into a front-drive mode for improved gasoline financial system. Selecting the Sport and Off-road modes, however, biases many of the torque to the rear.
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The XT6 compares favorably towards the likes of Acura’s MDX and the Infiniti QX60, however hardest combat might be towards the upcoming (and extra highly effective) Lincoln Aviator, which additionally arrives later this yr. With the XT6’s extra enticing exterior design and premium cabin supplies, Cadillac might also steal patrons away from the 2020 Lexus RX L — which additionally simply acquired a significant tech and security improve this yr. However, a Lexus purchaser’s loyalty is as legendary because the model’s reliability, in order that’ll be a troublesome pull for the CaddyThe Cadillac XT6 improves on the successes of its smaller sibling, addressing nearly the entire considerations and nitpicks we had with XT5. Previously, we criticized the XT5 for making so many driver help options non-obligatory and for weak-sauce Cadillac CUE infotainment. The XT6 responds with extra normal security options than ever and probably the greatest infotainment setups in GM’s latest historical past. (Of course, the smaller XT5 can be getting these upgrades for its 2020 mannequin yr, so it’s going to nonetheless be a stable selection for drivers who do not want three rows.)All stated, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 is handsomely styled, well-equipped and shaping as much as be a stable selection amongst luxurious SUVs. About my solely obtrusive reservation is that it will likely be higher — maybe as early as subsequent yr — when Super Cruise joins its function set. That self-steering freeway know-how is a little bit of a recreation changer for the model, so it is most likely value ready only a bit longer earlier than locking in on an a brand new XT6.Editors’ word: Travel prices associated to this function had been lined by the producer. This is frequent within the auto business, as it is extra economical to ship journalists to automobiles than to ship automobiles to journalists. While Roadshow accepts multi-day car loans from producers as a way to present scored editorial opinions, all scored car opinions are accomplished on our turf and on our phrases.The judgments and opinions of Roadshow’s editorial group are our personal and we don’t settle for paid editorial content material.