The XT6 from Cadillac not only looks amazing, it’s the new face of Cadillac and was our first glimpse at the new direction for the brand. The new Escalade has been debuted and shares the same upright lines and lights that are synonymous with Cadillac. Let’s take a ride in the 2020 XT6 from Cadillac.
The XT6 from Cadillac not only looks amazing, it’s the new face of Cadillac and was our first glimpse at the new direction for the brand.
The new Escalade has been debuted and shares the same upright lines and lights that are synonymous with Cadillac. Let’s take a ride in the 2020 XT6 from Cadillac.
Under the hood is a 3.5 liter V6 producing 310 horsepower through a 9-speed automatic transmission and down to the pavement via either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The 3.5L is the same as in the Acadia and Traverse from the sister companies and works well in this application.
The XT6’s transmission is also super smooth no matter the terrain. I didn’t use the manual shifting transmission option much during my time because the basic setting and sport mode were plenty for aggressive driving.
Exterior styling it top-notch. The new front-end design showcases the vertical lighting Cadillac is adopting across the lineup and incorporates thinner LED headlamps and a dark mesh grill centering the front. Body lines down the side are muscular and taller than normal and come together at the rear tailgate with the same vertical-designed LED tail lights.
The rear hatch is upright with a tall roofline to allow for more interior storage space. Dual exhaust peeks from under the bumper to finish off the look. I’m also a fan of the split-five star 20-inch alloy wheels.
Interior design is just as impressive as the exterior and allows all passengers to charge devices and ride in comfort. The touch screen that centers the dash is encased in wood grain and looks amazing. Mostly all buttons are now touch surfaces and work well with haptic feedback. The driver’s instrument cluster has two rotary dials for speed and RPM like the old days, and there’s a digital LCD screen in the middle for accessory information.
On the center console, the gear selector is now more like a joystick than a traditional gear selector. Multiple materials grace the dash and door panels to combine for a luxurious appearance and feel.
It really is a nice place to spend time and will keep up with your device-oriented lifestyle with apple CarPlay and android auto.
Rear seats can hold car seats and boosters and provide a good amount of space with the front seats adjusted. Third row-passengers are going to be a little cramped and likely will just be smaller passengers. A middle-row pass-through allows access to the third row, but you can also drop the middle seats forward to get access when needed, even with a front-facing seat installed.
Rear trunk storage is adequate when the third row is stored away, and even with the seats up and in use, there is enough room for some bags or groceries.
On road, the XT6 is a really smooth and fun-to-drive SUV. It’s not extremely fast or anything, but the combo of finely tuned steering, well-balanced road manners and a quiet cabin make for the enjoyable driving experience. Add in the luxury appointments and tech connectivity for your devices, and it’s really a convenient vehicle for the family. I’m a fan of the LED lighting additions that provide bright white lighting for the road ahead.
Cadillac claims an average of 19 mpg, and I was able to maintain similar results during my time with the XT6. MSRP for the base model is $52,695, with additions of the Luxury AWD and Sport trim line bringing the bottom line to $57,095.
Will Chamberlain is a local freelance automotive journalist and full-time Realtor with eXp Realty in Beaver. He can be reached at [email protected].
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