2020 Cadillac XT6 Debuts With Three Rows, Bold Styling, Refined Luxury
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The ongoing expansion of the Cadillac product portfolio took a big step forward today with the introduction of the 2020 Cadillac XT6 – a new, three-row crossover that slots below the formidable Escalade.
According to Cadillac, the XT6 was “created to make the most of passengers’ time on the road”. It couples a luxurious, adaptable, and connected cabin with responsive handling and a list of standard and available safety technologies to deliver refined luxury and convenience.
“The first-ever Cadillac XT6 delivers a compelling blend of spaciousness, safety and convenience features for customers who thrive on doing it all,” said recently-appointed Cadillac president, Steve Carlisle. “It joins the all-new XT4, which has soared to the top spot in its segment, our global best-selling XT5 and the iconic Escalade to accelerate the brand’s global growth, with a spirit that is uniquely Cadillac.”
Exterior
The design story behind the all-new Cadillac XT6 starts with strong proportions and distinct personas for both of the trim levels announced today – Premium Luxury and Sport.
“The XT6 is unmistakably Cadillac,” said Andrew Smith, executive director of global Cadillac design. “It reinterprets our design language in a unique way, with the Premium Luxury and Sport models adding more sophisticated or aggressive character depending on preference.”
The XT6 Premium Luxury is distinguished by bright Galvano exterior accents, while XT6 Sport features darker accents and more aggressive, performance-inspired details, including available 21-inch wheels.
Continuing to make the most of modern, advanced lighting technology for form and function, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 features even more emphasized LED signatures. Two headlamp variants are offered: a bi-function LED projector design is standard while a performance LED headlamp system with a three-element projector array is optional.
Interior
We already knew that the XT6’s cockpit will be nearly identical to that of the XT5, which makes sense given that the former is simply a stretched version of the latter. The similarity between the cabins of both models is not necessarily a bad thing, since the XT5’s interior is a decent place to spend time. However, neither the XT5 nor the XT6 match the rest of the future Cadillac lineup (XT4, CT5, CT4, etc.).
Regardless, Cadillac says that “every inch of the XT6 has been carefully considered and developed to offer a refined, comfortable place to connect and enjoy the ride.” Elegant, wide surface lines define the cockpit, while controls for the infotainment system have been revamped to deliver a significantly better user experience.
But the big deal here is the addition of the third row – a first for a current Cadillac crossover SUV. Its addition expands the maximum passenger capacity to six passengers. Though not officially announced, it might be possible to expand the XT6’s seating capacity to seven by opting for a bench seat in the second row.
“Every seat is the best seat in the house,” said Carlisle. “From luxurious appointments, comfort and convenience to premium sound and technology features, every passenger gets an optimized experience.”
The standard third row is power-folding, while the second row features a remote fold-down feature that enhance versatility. A tip/pitch-and-slide feature on the second-row seat allows easy access to the third row.
The Premium Luxury and Sport models feature distinctive trim and interior colors. Premium Luxury models are trimmed with exotic wood decor, while the Sport features performance-inspired carbon fiber trim.
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 also features the brand’s first implementation of the Bose Performance Series sound system, which features 14 custom-tuned speakers that deliver immersive, powerful audio throughout the crossover’s cabin.
Additional available features include semi-aniline premium leather-appointed seating, an in-vehicle air ionizer, automatic heated/ventilated front seats and heated second-row rear outboard seats, along with a standard automatic heated steering wheel.
Connectivity
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 is chockfull of thoughtfully-integrated technology, which Cadillac says is central to the XT6’s mission of offering a seamless and intuitive in-vehicle experience. The introduction of several new features elevates connectivity to new levels for a Cadillac vehicle.
It all starts with the latest Cadillac User Experience (née CUE) infotainment system, which provides more ways to interface with the system, including one-touch phone pairing via Near Field Communication (NFC). Solving the longest-standing complaint with the user experience associated with Cadillac infotainment systems is a new rotary controller with intuitive jog functionality. It appears that touchscreen functionality remains, but the infotainment system can now be used entirely via the rotary controllers.
The system also offers a personalization feature that stores user profiles in the Cloud, allowing customers to access their custom profile in other properly equipped GM vehicles. There’s also updated navigation functionality with natural address entry, support for Sirius XM 360L, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with a trial for 3GB or three months of data, whichever comes first, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto10 for compatible smartphones.
Next-generation, 15-watt wireless smartphone charging and Teen Driver are also present and accounted for. Finally, all 2020 Cadillac XT6 models come with six USB ports – two for each row of seats.
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 also offers NFC phone pairing and wireless charging for compatible phones, along with Keyless Open and Adaptive Remote Start
- Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control
- Night Vision
- NFC
- HD Surround Vision Camera
- Illuminated Cadillac Crest hands-free liftgate
Driving Dynamics
Cadillac says that the XT6 offers a driving experience with a “rewarding balance of responsiveness and refinement” as well as “a feeling of solidity that enhances driver confidence”. Those qualities are distilled between the Premium Luxury and Sport models. The Premium Luxury model features a greater emphasis on road isolation, while the XT6 Sport features a greater feeling of agility in its chassis.
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 also offers customer-selectable drive modes that enable the luxury crossover to adapt to driver preferences and changing road conditions. The modes are uniquely calibrated to support the characteristics of the Premium Luxury or Sport trims.
The XT6 is based on the extended-length GM C1 platform most closely related to the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave.
Powertrain
Power comes from the GM corporate 3.6L V6 LGX engine. It’s estimated to make 310 horsepower (231 kW) mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with next-generation Electronic Precision Shift.
Active Fuel Management technology enhances fuel economy by enabling four-cylinder operation when six-cylinder power is not required.
AWD is available on Premium Luxury and standard on XT6 Sport. The Sport model features a Sport Control active twin-clutch AWD system that enhances the driving experience with active yaw control. Sport models also feature Continuous Damping Control active handling and a faster steering ratio that is tuned to support a more enthusiast-oriented driving feel, with increased feedback and greater overall responsiveness.
Safety
The XT6 also offers a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and safety technologies including sophisticated radar-, camera-, and other sensor-based tech, that can help drivers be more aware of their environment. They include sophisticated radar-, camera- and other sensor-based technologies.
The XT6’s structure is designed to help keep occupants safe, with premium body materials and features such as boxed, splayed front rails and a state-of-the-art restraint system, including seven standard airbags.
Standard Safety & Assistance Features:
- HD Rear Vision Camera with Remote Wash
- Forward Collision Alert
- Following Distance Indicator
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Front Pedestrian Braking
- Front and Rear Park Assist
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Safety Alert Seat
- Speed limiter
XT6 Premium Luxury
XT6 Sport
Trim Levels
Cadillac announced two trim levels for the 2020 XT6: Premium Luxury and Sport.
Premium Luxury models deliver an elevated level of refinement while Sport models offer a performance-oriented feel.
XT6 Premium Luxury
XT6 Sport
Launch Timeframe
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 makes its public debut at the North American International Auto Show, which runs from January 14-27th in Detroit.
Pricing and additional information will be announced closer to the start of production. Cadillac will begin taking orders this spring.
Production
For the North American market, the Cadillac XT6 will be manufactured at the GM Spring Hill plant in Tennessee.
Lineup Positioning
At 198.8 inches long, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 is a midsize-plus offering, slotting above the midsize XT5 and yet not being a truly full-size crossover. So even though the XT6 slots below the Escalade at the moment, we have reason to believe that the future Cadillac lineup will add a three-row, full-size crossover above the XT6.
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Design wise:
– Exterior.
I like it, much better than I expected or feared. Reminds me of the XC90 (in a good way). It looks like a proper SUV & not a frumpy cab forward CUV like the SRX/XT5, It would’ve looked better with a longer dash-to-axle ratio though. The rear is good too, not your typical boring Cadillac design, hope the taillight LED signature is like the CT6, it looked very cool in Ray Donovan. The front end is cool, should’ve used a bigger grille though, like 15-20% bigger. And Kudos for not doing the plastic molding shtick again. That said, the Sport should’ve used 5spokes 22s.
Overall, the exterior is surprisingly handsome given the disastrous designs GM is cranking out lately.
– Interior.
Was too hard to mold a different dashboard design??? &$#*ing beancounters! As I’ve mentioned before, at least they modernized it. About time they did embraced the metal speaker grilles … Hope they didn’t half-ass it like the CT6. And they need to stop using that faux carbon fiber on everything that moves, it looks cheesy.
Overall, just above meh.
Handling & Suspension:
I saw no mention of Magnetic Ride Control, looks like it’ll have the same set up as the XT5.
Power train:
The 3.6 should burn in hell & you know they’ll stick the 2.0 in it sooner or later. Couldn’t they at least turbo charged the 3.6? & No hybrid? Not even a mild one? It so getting its ass kicked.
^All of this.
No way this will sell more than the Lincoln Aviator! Dodge Journey / Honda Pilot is what comes to mind! Aviator is refreshing to just look at forget the superior tech and design – I’ll give it 6 years and Good Morning will scrap this page out as well.
This is garbage!!
Cheap interior so so over masculine staying. Women purchase a lot of these cars in the class.
Gm & Chevallac once again last to party & last in class. Q7, X5, GLE, Aviatior, GX, XC90. All have better interiors.
Chevallac can’t match the Europeans or Asian in any category; Powertrains, build quality so why buy a Chevrollac!!
https://www.caranddriver.com
Car and Driver didn’t hold back. They let Cadillac have it for another cheap interior much like many of us do here and refused to use the word “luxury” to describe it. Maybe their words will carry more weight with GM than ours here ever have.
That’s a good looking SUV. Color me impressed.
Looks familiar; like a Volvo XC90. I guess they look as alike as there names: XC90/XT6, it’s not a baby Escalade or a bigger XT5 or even an Escala. It really just looks like a Volvo to me.
I’ll bet you it is a baby Escalade.
Wait until you see the NEW Escalade before you make a statement like that.
There is no new GM strategy for Cadillac.
This is a Traverse, Enclave, Acadia, GM choice period. Nothing Great, nothing crappy, just the STANDARD GM choice.
Just like the NEW Escalade. Just another Suburban, Yukon, GM choice period. Nothing great, nothing crappy just the STANDARD GM choice.
People just need to quit thinking Cadillac means ANYTHING anymore, IT DOES NOT. GM has made it GM, nothing great, nothing crappy, just GM.
Looks like a Volvo XC90. It looks similar and the name is similar: XC90/XT6. It’s not a baby Escalade or a stretched XT5 or even an Escala, it’s really very Volvo-like to me.
It looks alright but… Nice try Cadillac but not the home run you needed.
Typical cheap plastics below beltline. weak engine for a 70k crossover.
Happy with the 3.6 for base motor over 2.0t. They should offer some v6.t on some variant though. Fron and rear look great, would like to see some of the surface detailing disappear on side profile, a la Toyota’s new Century, a throw back to 90’s flagship sedans. People want big cars so what’s wrong with visual mass?
No fully digital dash? Lol
Ok, guys. Im tired of this waiting again. This is just another Chevyllac.
I’m tired and I’m out. Arrividerci.
Looks like a Volvo XC90, They even sound the same: XC90/XT6. I don’t get a baby Escalade vibe or see a stretched XT5, I don’t even see Escala; just looks like a Volvo to me.
Yes, the XC90 and Q7 were the primary models benchmarked for this. Other, secondary models are the Lexus RX350L, Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60. The new Aviator will be right up there in the competitive set… although it might be priced higher than the XT6.
It gives us a glimpse of what the CT5 will look like.
It’s not for me, but I like the style. However 3,6 and interior are far behind Lincoln and Q7, imo.
People will disagree but I honestly like the sporty looks of this crossover especially in sport trim. And even though the interior may have been designed a while ago it fails to look dated to me. Its nicely updated and has the XT4s gauges. But I do agree I wish Cadillac did offer another engine maybe the 3.6TT with an update out of the XTS V sport and CTS V sport or do that with a V sport trim. All and all people will still rag on it because it’s not rwd, or hell even the fact that it’s a Cadillac and that Lincoln is worlds better than Cadillac. Sure Cadillac can dress some parts up a bit but it’s not a bad crossover and I’d surely take one home.
For me, i think for the first time Cadillac has make a perfect movement go for ahead, this XT6 shows elegance tech and good visibility. More products with similar focus and Caddy will be back a great contender
Well done GM, best late than ever!!
Looks good but could have done better. The 3.0 TT should have been standard. The 3.6 TT from the ATS V should be the option Engine with the 4 WD. I think they should have at least a 10 inch integrate screen not the tablet like thing like most others with a bigger screen have. Would have to see the interior in person but hope it matches or exceed the completion. Still holding out for an Omega based XT7 or XXT8 or whatever they want to call it. Still don’t understand Cadillacs therory of haveing the weakest Engines in the segment and not offering optional Engines. I guess I should say I don’t understand Cadillacs theory of not being the best overall in their segment.
We need to see more photos from the press reveal, which should be this evening at the Auto show.
I like the side profile of the current XT5 more than this new XT6.
So far, nothing too bold or special about this new vehicle, and I wonder why they chose to do so?
Maybe the actual reveal, in another color, will make a better impression?
Press photos are available at the Road Show and Car & Driver. And a video is available from Road Show.
Oh, God.
This is terrible. I hope the people who announced this ran and covered their faces out of embarrassment.
Styling is “okay”, at best. The front end looks “good”, but not “expensive”. The rest of it is so so so so clearly a lower-end GM product. And the interior. Well, it looks like we were all right about Cadillac slapping a warmed-over hand-me-down on the inside before pushing it on stage. Lincoln executives are looking around the room right now saying “fellas (and ladies), I think we’ll be fine”. Almost EVERY other competitor in this segment is killing this thing on day one, let alone the true luxury brands’ entries.
Jesus, Cadillac, do you even care anymore? Do you give two flying figs about anything at this point? You basically just ran out onstage and said “Ladies and gentlemen…we are satisfied to announce…a vehicle!” This is the car equivalent of hiring someone off the street because you need a warm body at a desk.
Here’s where I don’t have all the facts. If this is indeed one of Johann DeNysschen’s products, I take back everything I ever said about him and apologize; what an utter disappointment. However, I think this is more likely; the XT6 was under development as legitimate luxury competitor, and GM started degrading it by first forcing it on a Chevy platform, and then forcing him to continue to cut corners, before ultimately firing him after butting heads on quality vs. expediency one too many times. Then, they hammer the final nail in the coffin, by ordering an existing half-quality interior be put inside immediately, rather than continue to wait on a new design. If that’s the case, then Cadillac truly doesn’t know up from down, and doesn’t deserve to wear their own name. What a sad fate.
NewQ,
“Cadillac….doesn’t deserve to wear their own name”.
Agreed. I like to say they are a brand ‘living off their reputation, rather than living up to it’. Nothing I have seen from them in a long time really lives up to the name, CT6 was oh so close and with the Blackwing, I think it would have been but this product and so many others from the modern era really don’t deserve to, as you say, wear their name,
My thoughts on the exterior in one word: Underwhelming.
There’s nothing offensive about the exterior but, like a lot of people, I was thinking Honda Pilot almost immediately. The Escala influence is obvious up front, and ushers in much welcome change, but the look is somewhat watered down, softened, and far too friendly for my tastes. Maybe it was necessary to better match the rest of the vehicle.
Speaking of the rest of the exterior. Meh, I would rather not.
My thoughts on the interior: There’s really nothing to be up in arms about based on these pictures. There’s simply not much that can even be seen! On the other hand, just the fact that so much is hidden speaks volumes.
All in all, this is pretty much what I expected and feared.
This is a global Vehicle not just US. So styling has to take a middle ground to appeal to multiple markets.
Some of the tech features is interesting like for example:
Night Vision
Bi-function LED headlights with optional performance LED headlights system with three-element projector array, whatever that means.
Remote fold down feature for second row seats
Guide Hitch w/ Hitch View
Super Cruise will be available later on starting ’20 which is not available at launch but I read that it will be the next generation system.
Maybe there are some more features and tech that will come later on.
Real world pics are better on Car and Driver and Road Show along with the video.
I’m a bit surprised that this vehicle was released a night before the press release, which I don’t mind.
There is a Platinum Package available for Premium Luxury and Sport. On Platinum Package, you have four choices of wood trim and two choices of carbon fiber on Sport trim. However, why did Cadillac left out the leather padded airbag cover on the steering wheel on the Platinum package is a question mark. The Sport model is more enticing than the Premium Luxury model, IMO. Surprise that Luxury model is not going to be offered. I think that is a smart strategy since more people will cross-shop this vehicle to the Aviator.
I’m O.K. with the interior for what it is so need to see it in different colors and options. I like the exterior design allot. The side profile has some character lines that resemble, or should I say has some influence, some of the competitors but it does not copy or look like any direct automaker that I can think of. I’m not sure where people are basing the exterior design from Volvo, Palisade and etc. I just looked at the profile, front and rear of the vehicles people are comparing it to and I don’t see no resemblance but it is pretty much Cadillac all to itself.
And where is the massaging seats?
I could not find model specs for the length, height, width, legroom, headroom and etc for the Aviator and I’m not quite so sure that the two are direct competitors. More than likely it will get cross-shop but the two are catered to two different type of clientele, IMO. I suspect the XT7 will be a direct competitor to the Aviator which will come in EV form only from the BEV3 platform.