Cadillac buyers who wanted a three-row SUV but didn't want the super-sized Escalade have had to look elsewhere. There was a big gap in size and perceived prestige between the Escalade and the XT5. That's over now. For 2020, Cadillac has the XT6, a right-size, very handsome three-seat SUV that fits right in between those two.
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 has the angular good looks of the Escalade, but rides lower and looks a bit less boxy---in fact, to our eyes, it's a bit more elegant than the Escalade---which is due for a redesign next year.
There's plenty of power under the hood---from a 310-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6. Mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, the XT6 Sport, an all-wheel drive version we drove for a week, gets a respectable EPA fuel economy estimate of 17 miles per gallon in the city, 24 on the highway. And all-wheel drive versions of the XT6 are fitted with a larger gas tank---22 gallons instead of 19. That works out to 528 miles of range, which would be here to L.A. with a quarter-tank left.
And the XT6 is a terrific machine for that kind of long-range roadtripping---plenty of room for people and things with luxurious surroundings, a wide range of comfort and convenience features, and a whisper-quiet ride.
The base price of the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Sport is $57,095---only two-thousand dollars more than the 2019 XT5 Sport we reviewed three weeks ago---and comes with a lot of standard equipment:
- Electronic Positraction twin-clutch axle.
- Memory seating.
- Leather seating surfaces.
- Eight-way power front seats with lumbar.
- Heated front seats.
- Ultraview sunroof.
- Three-zone climate control.
- Eight-inch color touchscreen.
- Heated steering wheel.
- Power tilt and telescoping steering column.
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel.
- 20-inch, 12-spoke polished wheels.
- LED headlamps and daytime running lamps.
- Hands-free liftgate.
- Compact spare tire.
- Automatic stop/start.
- Power-folding third-row seats.
- Intellibeam headlamps.
- Keyless entry.
- Adaptive remote start.
- Safety alert seat.
- Teen driver mode.
- Front and rear park assist.
- Following distance indicator.
- Forward collision alert.
- Rear cross-traffic alert.
- Lane keep assist with lane departure warning.
- Automatic emergency braking.
- Lane change alert with side blind zone alert.
- Front pedestrian braking.
- Theft-deterrent alarm system.
- Vehicle inclination sensor.
- Interior vehicle movement sensor.
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers.
- Cornerning lamps.
- HD rear vision camera.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Voice recognition.
- Wireless phone charging.
- Eight-speaker Bose audio system.
Our tester also had some extra-cost options:
- Platinum Package (semi-aniline leather seating in all rows, leather instrument panel, console and door trim, microfiber sueded headliner, premium front and rear floormats): $3,700.
- Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package (Rear camera mirror with washer, eight-inch color gauge cluster including driver personalization, automatic parking assist with braking, rear pedestrian alert, HD surround vision, head-up display, surround vision recorder): $2,350.
- Night Vision: $2,000.
- Driver Assist Package (Automatic seat belt tightening, adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking): $1,300.
- Red Horizon Tintcoat paint: $1,225.
- Cadillac User Experience with embedded navigation, phone integration and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system: $1,000.
- Comfort and Air Quality Package (Heated rear outboard seats, ventilated driver and front passenger seats , air ionizer): $750.
- Premium headlamp system: $700.
- Smart towing: $650.
- Security cargo shade: $75.
With $995 destination charge, the bottom line on the window sticker read $71,840. Not cheap, but this is Cadillac. And it's only six thousand dollars more than the smaller XT5 Sport's as-tested price.
I'm not one who advocates going bigger just because you save money (think meal deals, buying in bulk, etc.). You should get the car you want and that serves your needs the best. Even so, were I in the market, I'd very seriously consider stepping up to the XT6.