2023 Cadillac XT6
Starting at $49.940
Highs Upscale looking on the outside, useful three-row interior layout, generously equipped.
Lows Cabin materials lack the expected poshness, deserves more-powerful powertrains.
Verdict It might be one of Cadillac’s most attractive SUVs, but the XT6’s vibe skews more toward Target than Louis Vuitton.
Overview
Unless you want to go with the massive Escalade, the 2023 XT6 is the only other Cadillac you can buy with three rows of seats. Its handsome styling wraps around a spacious and family-friendly cabin with room for up to seven riders, although that rearmost row is best reserved for kids. Like its crosstown rival, the Lincoln Aviator, the XT6’s mid-size dimensions make it far more maneuverable than an Escalade—and more satisfying to drive too. A turbocharged four-cylinder is standard but a more powerful V-6 is available, as is all-wheel drive. On paper, the XT6’s formula adds up to luxury-SUV richness, but its cabin is plagued by down-market materials that are out of step with its upscale intent.
What's New for 2023?
Mid-range Premium Luxury and top-spec Sport trims now come standard with in-dash navigation, heated rear seats, and heated-and-ventilated front seats. All 2023 XT6s can now be ordered in Radiant Red Tintcoat, Opulent Blue Metallic, or Argent Silver Metallic.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Luxury: $49,940
Premium Luxury: $56,140
Sport: $61,440
In our experience, the Sport's chassis upgrades don't offer a noticeable improvement in performance or handling, so we'd stick with the midrange Premium Luxury trim. To that, we'd add the Technology package (8.0-inch digital gauge display, head-up display, 360-degree exterior camera system, and more) as well as the Driver-Assist package (adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection).
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For 2023, XT6 buyers can choose from either a 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 310-hp V-6 engine. Both come with a nine-speed automatic and can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. Three trim levels—Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport—make up the XT6 lineup, with the first two being more about comfort and the Sport receiving performance-enhancing extras such as a torque-vectoring rear differential and retuned steering. A Platinum package is available and gives the XT6 all the goodies. No matter the trim, the XT6 certainly looks handsome. Twenty-inch wheels come standard, but you can get 21-inchers on the Sport model. Handling is reasonably athletic for a three-row crossover, but no one will mistake it for the agile CT5-V sedan.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the 2023 XT6 with the standard turbo-four will earn up to 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Models with the V-6 engine are rated up to 19 mpg city and 26 highway. The all-wheel-drive XT6 we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, delivered a less rosy result of 22 mpg.
