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    2023 Cadillac XT6 Review: Super Cruising Into the Spotlight

    Visually, the XT6 hasn’t modified a lot since I final discovered myself behind the wheel of the 2020 mannequin. The SUV is as good-looking as ever with the automaker’s angular aesthetic and hallmark vertical LED gentle signatures at both finish. Updates for the 2023 mannequin yr embody new Latte and Rosewood metallic paint colours, non-compulsory 21-inch wheels for the extra agile Sport trim stage and commonplace Brembo brakes with pink calipers for that very same spec. This Premium Luxury mannequin showcases precisely none of these adjustments, however is noteworthy because the candy spot within the XT6 lineup.3.6-liter V6 engineThe entry-level XT6 Luxury is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. Its 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque are enough, however I’d suggest bypassing this trim totally in favor of the Premium Luxury mannequin with its torquier V6 engine, because it looks like a greater match for this 198.8-inch lengthy, three-row SUV.Cadillac’s 3.6-liter LGX V6 — shared with different GM SUVs, together with the GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Blazer — makes 310 hp on this software in addition to 271 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s a strong performer with good passing energy and easy, quiet operation round city and on the freeway. There’s nothing to jot down house about, however the V6 additionally would not draw consideration to itself, which is ok for a comfort-focused SUV akin to this. Both engines are provided with a regular nine-speed computerized transmission and front-wheel drive, however might be had with non-compulsory on-demand all-wheel drive for Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, or torque-vectoring Sport Control AWD for the Sport mannequin. A drive mode selector permits the XT6’s efficiency to be tuned for various situations, together with Sport, Snow/Ice or, for AWD fashions, Off-Road mode, however I do not suppose most drivers will ever want to modify out of the default Touring setting.The V6 receives an EPA estimate of 21 mpg mixed on common gasoline, breaking out to 19 mpg metropolis and 26 mpg freeway for front-wheel drive or 18 mpg metropolis and 25 mpg freeway for all-wheel drive. The extra environment friendly four-cylinder is estimated at 23 mpg mixed — 21 metropolis and 27 freeway, 21 metropolis and 26 freeway for FWD or AWD, respectively — however sips costlier premium gas. That means the I4 is costlier to function yearly than the V6, based on the EPA’s value calculation instruments.
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    The XT6 comes commonplace with 18-inch wheels. Premium Luxury (pictured) upsizes to 20s with as much as 21-inch rims accessible. Antuan Goodwin/CNETCadillac Super CruiseThe 2023 XT6 is now accessible with Cadillac’s most superior driver-assistance expertise — however with a catch. The new $2,500 Super Cruise system remains to be solely the primary technology of the hands-free freeway steering help and never the newest Super Cruise 2.0 tech able to computerized lane adjustments or hands-free towing, as seen on the brand new Escalade and Chevy Silverado. That signifies that the XT6 additionally will not get the lately introduced replace to be used on undivided highways.That’s a little bit of a bummer, however Super Cruise 1.0 remains to be a really spectacular piece of expertise. On the over 200,000 miles of North American highways laser-scanned by GM, Super Cruise might be activated to supply automated steering, braking and acceleration to a preset pace, holding the SUV centered in its lane whereas the motive force relaxes hands-free. The Level 2 driver-aid tech requires the motive force’s consideration to function, so an infrared digital camera on the steering column makes certain their eyes keep on the street. Look away for too lengthy and the XT6 will ask you to concentrate — first by flashing pink lights on the steering wheel, then with audible alerts — earlier than finally handing management again to the human within the scorching seat.Super Cruise works as properly right here because it did when it debuted again in 2018 on the CT6 sedan, rounding flexible freeway segments confidently and reacting predictably to adjustments in visitors. However, the bigger XT6 feels prefer it crowds the left fringe of the lane, which makes it troublesome to get actually comfy within the heavy visitors conditions the place the tech can be most helpful. Admittedly, the lanes round my neck of the woods are a contact slim, however I’d like it if a future model of Super Cruise allowed me to tweak or trim lane-keeping margins on both aspect.
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    Color-coded steering wheel lights point out Super Cruise’s state: Green for hands-free, blue for guide management and pink means seize the wheel instantly. Antuan Goodwin/CNETA stacked driver-aid suiteBefore even attending to Super Cruise, the 2023 XT6 boasts a contemporary suite of driver-assistance applied sciences, although most of the greatest options are bundled into packages at further value. The SUV comes commonplace with forward-collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and a following distance indicator that helps stop unintentional tailgating. Stepping as much as the $1,300 Driver Assist package deal provides extra strong ahead computerized emergency braking, reverse braking help and computerized seat belt tightening. Upgrade once more to the $2,350 Technology package deal so as to add a surround-view digital camera system with onboard digital video recording, rear pedestrian detection, automated parking help and a rear digital camera mirror.Cadillac User ExperienceThat Technology package deal additionally swaps in an 8-inch digital instrument cluster and provides onboard navigation to the usual 8-inch touchscreen Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment. CUE is actually a reskin of the wonderful GM Infotainment 3 software program with a smartphone-like icon-based interface that has a simple, intuitive studying curve. The system makes use of OnStar LTE Services for options like related vacation spot search, integration with onboard apps like Spotify or Amazon Alexa, and consumer profile syncing between automobiles, and which works greatest when the info subscription is maintained past the preliminary trial interval.Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are commonplace with wi-fi connectivity for drivers preferring to stream their apps from a smartphone and a cosy wi-fi cellphone charger built-in into the middle console retains the handset charged on the street.
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    The 8-inch Cadillac User Experience tech is not flashy, however it’s intuitively organized and straightforward to make use of. Antuan Goodwin/CNETAn attention-grabbing alternativeThe 2023 Cadillac XT6 begins at $48,790 for the bottom front-drive Luxury spec, together with the $1,195 vacation spot cost. I’d suggest beginning on the Premium Luxury trim stage with its higher V6 engine and non-compulsory Super Cruise, beginning at $54,190 or $56,190 with all-wheel drive. My instance has almost each possibility listed above and a $5,000 Platinum package deal improve that provides, amongst different creature comforts, premium leather-based and an adaptive suspension. (Mine additionally features a $50 credit score to compensate for the dearth of heated rear seats resulting from supply-chain shortages with a provision for a retrofit as soon as components inventory returns to regular ranges.) The backside line, as examined, sits at $72,790.The XT6 is a quiet and cozy cruiser with a strong suite of normal cabin tech and non-compulsory driver help choices. But general, it looks like a middle-of-the-pack participant when stacked in opposition to the formidable competitors on this worth vary, together with the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and Acura MDX — any of which might ship a greater general driving expertise. That mentioned, the addition of Super Cruise this yr shakes issues up considerably. Even with out the newest and best technology of the tech, the Caddy is now the one automobile in its class that may go hands-free at excessive pace. That makes the 2023 Cadillac XT6 a minimum of one of the crucial attention-grabbing automobiles on this class.

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