The 2020 model year is winding down to a close, and that means the North American Car of the Year award is due out soon, with winners slated to be announced next January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Heading the list of semifinalists in the Utility category are two GM products – the Cadillac XT6 and Chevrolet Blazer.
For those who may be unaware, the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards are annual accolades handed out to the vest finest automotive products from a given model year, as determined by an independent jury of 50 automotive journalists from print, online, radio and broadcast media across the U.S. and Canada.
Winners are considered “benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.”
The Cadillac XT6 is the premium automaker’s latest seven-passenger SUV, which just arrived as an all-new nameplate for the 2020 model year, bridging the gap between the Cadillac XT5 and Cadillac Escalade. We got a chance to drive the Cadillac XT6 this summer, and found it to be composed and easy to pilot at any speed, as well as quiet and peaceful for the long haul. Under the hood is the naturally aspirated 3.6L LGX V6, which produces 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, and mates to the GM 9-speed automatic transmission.
Meanwhile, the new Chevrolet Blazer reintroduced the nameplate for the 2019 model year as an all-new midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV), offering sharp styling that takes after some of the sportiest models in GM’s stable, including the Camaro. Several engine options are on offer, including the naturally aspirated 2.5L four-cylinder LCV, which produces 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, and the naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX, which produces 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Chevy also brought over the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder LSY for the 2020 model year changeover, which produces 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Each engine mates to the GM 9-speed automatic transmission.
With regard to the 2020 North American Utility of the Year award, the Cadillac XT6 and Chevrolet Blazer will have the following rivals to contend with:
- Audi E-Tron
- Ford Explorer
- Ford Escape
- Honda Passport
- Kia Telluride
- Hyundai Palisade
- Lincoln Aviator
- Lincoln Corsair
- Subaru Outback
- Volvo V60 Cross Country
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Comments
Now that I’ve had time to actually drive both models, I think that what was done to the front drive-biased chassis is actually very impressive. Perhaps it’s the torque vectoring diffs….or that handling/ride was a priority when developing those vehicles.
I am a little put off by the front drive proportions, but that’s also the case with the Audi Q7 and it’s many platform-mates. The XT6 was a pleasant surprise, but I do wish that the 3.0L twin Turbo V6 was available as an option.
Hopefully the next generation vehicles of this size/class can be rear wheel drive.
I went to my local Cadillac dealership and sat in an XT6.
When I first saw the new Silverado interior, I thought it looked good while everyone else was complaining. Then I had the chance to sit in and drive one and I really wasn’t a fan anymore. It really does feel cheap.
When I sat in the XT6 I was expecting it to be a bigger XT5 with OK materials and comfort (based on what everyone was saying). BUT, I can honestly say that it was one of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever sat in. Once the door shut, I could not hear any of the noise from the highway 80 feet away. The seats were so soft and comfortable, the leather felt a bit softer than our 17 XT5, and I was very surprised by how much room was in the 2nd and 3rd row (while still having more room than our 16 Tahoe behind the 3rd row!). The power from the 3.6 in our XT5 is pretty good. But it is also a smaller, lighter car. I would love a bit bigger engine in the 6 (although I haven’t actually driven one yet). I was blown away by the XT6.
Don’t b!tch about a car unless you’ve actually experienced it.
Well said Henry. Although I have not been inside one yet, I have seen several on the road and they have a great look. Each time I saw one, it kind of took me by surprise and actually took a few seconds for me to realize what I was looking at. The more I see it, the more I like it.
I also have not seen sat in or driven this vehicle yet !
But I already love the way it looks, love it !
I love the way the CT6 looks, love it !!
I love the way our ATS looks, love it !!!
I love the way the CT5 and the CT4 look !!
I don’t even mind the XT4 look, I do prefer the XT6 look though !
I prefer the CT6, XT5, XT6 interior type over the CT4, CT5, XT4 interior type, but I think I like all the Buick interiors better !!
And the truth is I prefer the ATS, CTS style interior over all of them, but the components did not work, just junk working design, I like the looks design, but it was junk !
So now to the do not like :
The engine size per vehicle size/ wind resistance !!
And sitting in it and driving mite change my mind, I will give it a chance !
I gave the XT4 a chance, that did not help, still just an underpowered 2.0T, in my opinion !!
and I have driven the 3.6 V6 since 2004, in several vehicles, and I know the new one is better, and I think it will be better, but it is even less power, and this vehicle is even heavier !
So I will drive one just because I hate commenting on something I don’t personally experience !
And the FWD/AWD is better than before, but still not like the RWD/AWD, so is this system better than the XT4 ? I was led to believe it is the same system just a larger vehicle.
I am just more of the 2.7T guy !
This new 2.7T makes better torque longer and at a lower RPM combined with the less CC so the fuel mileage should be better also.
I no longer on this day think any GM engine is low quality, in fact I think the GM engine choices of 2020 are the best of all time at GM !
I just think GM with the Cadillac badge has the engine options messed up !
Even if I’m ok with the FWD/AWD, I’m not for me but for others, but the power for a vehicle this size is low, and this is a Cadillac !!
The CT6 finally has the right choices, should be the same for this vehicle, even if not the Blackwing do to the FWD platform.
Why wait to see if it sells ” good enough ” with a ” good enough ” engine ?
Why not start out of the gate to impress ?
Not a V series, just better than average GM blah !
2.7 T base, lowest choice, 3.6 NA for those who want it 3.0TT for those who do !
I would be willing to bet most after driving and owning would choose 2.7T, or 3.0TT.
Any way hope its a hit !! just not for me neither a 2.0T in any Cadillac and not a GM 3.6 average blah in a vehicle this size, 2.7T and a 3.0TT great !!
So all the reviews so far praise the XT6 and the only thing they complain about is that it needs a little more power like a turbo. So it seems GM did a good job with it.
By the way the Detroit Autoshow in 2020 will not be in January it will be in June going forward starting 2020.
If: Winners are considered “benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.
Your winners will the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Neither of these GM vehicles offer any of the above…
Sorry GM but its a Telluride vote from me,
Its also a Telluride vote from all of the people driving them on the roads !
But maybe GM can ” pay for ” this JD power, I mean North American, award !
And the praises I have seen so far on the XT6 are not praises of an overwhelmingly new vehicle !
The praises I have read are GM did a great job of making this underpowered FWD average GM blah vehicle drive and feel better than the rest of the average GM blah FWD vehicles !!!
Not ” WOW ” look what GM has done with this ” all new ” XT6 its like nothing we have seen before !
Because its like every other GM average 3.6 V6 FWD/ AWD vehicle in the road today !!
Only different !!!
I hope it wins !!!! Good luck GM and the Cadillac badge !!
I’m sure whether they win or loose, it will all have been in the plan for Cadillac success.
In my opinion.
If you want to know the truth, the Telluride and Palisade were likely designed by a former GM designer. Can anyone else see it, too? Every time I see either, I think of GM CUVs. The XT6 blows them both out of the water on design and execution. Have you been inside the Hyundais? Not impressive.
Telluride looks old already and will not age well. The Palisade might age a little better. The resale will be interesting on all of these since there are so many of these size out there now. The Blazer does had the more aggressive look out of all of them.
Your opinion! Neither the Kia nor Hyundai are “style leaders” but, IMO they look good and better than the XT?. The XT? offers zero anything… especially for a segment product Cads waited over 10 years for… and for the price… I predict the discount start after New Year’s Day… while the Blazers attractive and from what I’ve read handles well it’s an expensive empty suit…
Only the Chevys, Fords, and Lincolns qualify for this award. All of the others are imports and will not qualify, even if they were “assembled” or put together from imported parts and still carry a foreign brand on them.
I am serious here! Do you see any North American brands qualifying for Japan’s’ Utility of the Year? Or for any European or Korean awards? Stop supporting the imports in domestic awards because if you all do, then by 2030, no domestic brand will remain! Then you will be carrying the blame!
Ford Owner,
I will carry the blame, ok !
How do you personally gain from buying from a domestic brand ?
Are you a stock holder that receives dividend checks every year ? if you are then it is true, you benefit !!
Otherwise, most vehicles made today are a pile of parts assembled by humans from all over the globe.
Even if you look at it from a US labor perspective !
If there were no longer a GM or Ford, and the US citizen only could buy a foreign brand, there would be just as many vehicles sold, just as many vehicles made !!
Where would these vehicles be made ?
Would it be different than today ?
Are the Toyota employees less happy than the GM ones, they are not on strike,
Are the Honda employees less happy ?
BMW employees ?
Mercedes employees ?
KIA employees ?
Tesla employees ?
And on and on !!
How is supporting the ” supposedly ” owned by someone in the US, automaker, a benefit ?
For you ?
For me ?
I’m glad you said Ford and GM, because last I knew FCA was an Italian controlled company, A lot of RAM owners in the US.
I still do, I only ever have and only ever will buy GM, my sister and her husband, now only Ford, switched from GM because or the horrible GM customer support, until they no longer exist, when that happens VW will be allowed to sell a HD truck in the US and I will buy one, and an Audi sedan and Audi SUV, don’t know about my sister and her husband, probably FCA, as they have now owned some RAM and a Charger.
But the last three GM junk vehicles I have owned, convinced me to test drive the foreign competition, and I can tell you , in my opinion, the foreign vehicles win, and hands down win !!
Will they have more troubles than the GM or Ford stuff, have you been watching and reading, look at the number of recalls etc., and I’m not talking small stuff, I’m talking, steering, brakes, airbags, stuff that matters, or should !
So unless your last name is Ford, and you receive a dividend check.
Or you own GM stock, and receive a dividend check.
How is this a benefit for you, us ?
And even the stock price doesn’t matter any longer, it will be worth nothing when they are broke, and if you sell early, you get no dividend checks any longer.
Your opinion please !
Kia and Hyundai make decent vehicles, but they are not nearly as solid as the GM products.. They look fancier, bit it’s all a veneer, still cheap materials, only styled to make it look like more expensive materials…. In the long run the GM product will last better and hold a better resale value.
That is no longer true !!
There is no proof that the GM vehicles hold up better than the others here today.
Maybe in the past, I would agree, but from 2013 or so on, GM quality and reliability has been horrible !
GM customer support, even worse than horrible !
Is the brand new stuff better, yes in my opinion !
Will it be to little to late, it has already for some ( GM and Ford sedan sales VS Toyota, Honda, and Kia sedan sales )
Just my opinion, like the above is just your opinion.
The Kia will win this as they are the one that is popular. The Audi has an outside shot since it is advanced.
The truth is Kia and Hyundai are better than they were but they are still cars you would only want to lease.
I have a number of co workers who are making numerous trips to the dealer with new cars for silly quality things. One with an SUV had to have many interior parts replaced on his Santa Fe that was recently replaced with a new Tahoe.
Even my buddy who works at a Hyundai dealer bought a Chevy over his employee discounted Hyundai. He said I see to much of what we fix to buy one. He has been very happy with the Chevy.
In our area there are now old Hyundais. While the GM models are not perfect they do keep running and running. Even old Barrettas here are daily sights in the rust belt here. they have not made those in a long time yet they still run.
What seldom get brought up outside road test is the ride and handling of the GM platform. These things ride and handle more like a touring car than CUV. The five link rear suspension really works well to tame the ride.
Hay I owned one of those Barrettas, an 1988, man I loved that car !!
But as far as small quality things on GM.
Man could I go into that one !!
But have a good day C8.R !!
I’d have to vote Telluride or Aviator.
So my comment may not be totally about this exact article, but more from the above comments. First, I now sell Volvo. The V60 is nice, but just won’t make it IMO. As for the comments about how much nicer the Hyundai and Kia are as well as the negative comments about the GM’s:
In my job, I deliver many cars all over southern California. Many times I drive the new car (Mazda or Volvo) to the clients or brokers and then Lyft (like Uber) back. I’m in all kinds of cars from all the Toyota’s, Honda’s, and many Kia’s and Hyundai’s. There are a few Ford, GM, Chrysler products now and then. So I say this because I get a really good look at many newer cars from many different brands. I talk to the drivers and we talk about the cars. I have a “front row seat” so to speak in many different brands/models. I can tell you several things from all this.
1. The GM brands seem to hold up very well in comparison.
2. The Korean brands seem great at the start but begin to fail quickly. Trim goes bad. Hard materials. Issues are there.
3. The Fords seem to hold up well.
4. The Chrysler brands seem to hold up well.
5. Toyota has gone from bad to worse in the interior trims. Hard plastic everywhere. Noise levels are high. Cheap!
6. Honda is still as noisy as they were when I sold them for 12 years. Bad designs. Hard plastics everywhere. CVT’s!!!
7. Nissan makes more pleasing interiors, but trim seems to always be coming off. CVT’s!!
8. At the end of the day, I get back in my Buick Encore to go home. What a pleasant thing after all the rest.
My overly long point? Anything can be nice when new. Let’s see how they hold up over time and what is more pleasing to be in over time. I’ll take my Buick thank you.
Dan often the cost of a vehicle may not always be where you can see it.
GM vehicles may have cheaped out in the interior etc but the engines and chassis keep on going and often are much cheaper to fix.
My buddy showed me the Hyundai from his dealer where it was in for rust up in the unibody. It was not even a year old. The Fix. Hit it with a hammer and spray it with wax, It got uglier from there. Broken sway bars and even broken door handles on cars that were nearly new. Broken timing belts taking out all the valves etc.
Chryslers are still recall heavy and Ford has had some engine oil use issues.
No one is perfect out there but my GM cars have been the easiest and cheapest to keep on the road.
@C8.R:
I would agree. Although I don’t feel the trim is that bad on most GM. I do feel Buick has the best interiors (yes, even over Cadillac) and that the overall quality of the Buick line is the best. I just read an article (can’t remember who it was from, but am trying to find it) where they rated the brands on a scale of 5. Volvo and Cadillac were tied at 2.7 out of 5. Many brands were under 3.5, but Buick was in the top 5 and had a rating of 4.3 out of 5. As you can see, I like Buick and feel they are a great brand. But I do love my Cadillac’s Jeep’s and Lincolns too!
Oh, as for recalls? Actually if you look at the overall recalls out there current and past, the Chrysler’s don’t have the number that Toyota and Honda have. I haven’t looked recently, but they both have been the number one and two most recalled brands out there. However, recalls really aren’t that bad of a thing when you really look at it. Nobody really likes then or wants them, but just look at Toyota! The reason so many go as long as they do is because of so many recalls and the drivers don’t have to pay for it! haha.
Did you just say Chrysler hold up? I own a Mazda and a Chevy and I could tell you that both cars offer different kinds of quality for instance the Chevy doesn’t necessarily look quality in terms of interior but seems very solid and well-built as well as just the sound of the door closing compared to the Mazda.the Mazda I would say Doesn’t sound as solid but I wouldn’t say cheap.I feel like most of your important parts on the Mazda hold up good so far at 112k.dash material cheap but who cares.its bought to always get me where I need. I will say the more time I spend in my Chevy makes me want to purchase a Buick or a Cadillac but whenever I mention Cadillac anybody people say stay away because of the horror stories when they bought the Cadillac with poor Reliability with major parts.
To both Dan Berning, and C8.R,
I’ll try short also, your opinion is GM is the best, my opinion is that was once true but is no longer the case !
Your opinions, my opinion, both the same facts, nothing, none, nothing provable here at all, just opinions !
I know what yours are, you know what mine is !
I do agree with both of you on some points you have made !
First Dan, I agree that the Buicks of the last lets say 10 years or so have well outdid the Cadillacs on quality, reliability, and interior design. I think hands down !!
C8.R, and you know for a fact, I agree with you on the recall numbers. I have been saying for four years now that the reason Toyota and Honda have such a good loyal following, and why they are on the road so long, is because when they have ” known faulty ” parts, ( just like they all do ) they fix them.
DONE, end of story, FIXED.
Whether they recall them or not, when you take one to a dealer and it is a ” known faulty ” issue, its FIXED !!!
And GM used to be just like this !!
I remember when I was younger, maybe in the 80s or so, Mopar came out with the 100,000 mile warranty.
All us GM guys sat around and laughed, because at 100,001 miles they were shot, done, junk.
Meanwhile GM would run and run and run some more !
And if you had troubles and GM knew it was an issue, GM either fixed it, or the dealer would make it right and give you the part, or sell it to you at cost, or something, just took care of you !!!
Just so you guys know, in ” most cases ” that is simply not true any longer !!
Look at the class action law suits, and the other troubles !!
Toyota, Honda, and VW, came to the USA and did just exactly what GM used to do, they learned from GM how to do it, stole the good employees, the good dealer owners, and you have what you have today !
GM has horrible customer support and customer loyalty !!!
Toyota, Honda, and VW, have the best customer support, and the highest customer loyalty !
Done, finished.
And again my opinion, just like the above is your opinions.
Again, who now sells millions of sedans in the USA ?
Again, who used to be the largest automaker in the world ?
Again who is the largest automaker in the world now ?
But what I would really like to know is what automaker does the most for all of mankind all over the globe, wages, benefits, health care, all of it. Just which one is out there for the masses ?
I bet they are the ones winning this, in todays world !!
Feed me some facts !
@lifelongGMowner:
Where do I start? Oh boy. First, I listed actual cars I’m in daily. I gave examples of actual (factual) accounts from the owners/drivers of these cars. I gave only a couple of the many examples of what I’ve personally seen, been in, driven, owned, etc. IMO, this may be the absolute best account of the “real life” with all these cars. So no, what I listed in not opinion. My opinion would be that Honda and Toyota suck. Facts would be that they are using more and more hard and cheap plastics inside the cars. Fact is that they both have more road/tire/wind noise than many other cars. Fact is that the Korean brands look great early on, but then things fall off. Trim breaks. Issues show up. Fact is the Lyft driver who was driving a rental because his personal car (Hyundai Kona hybrid) started on fire from a well known issue from the hybrid system. These, sir, are factual things and not my opinion.
Next, a direct quote from you above: “Toyota, Honda, and VW, have the best customer support, and the highest customer loyalty !
Done, finished.”
Absolutely wrong. Have you worked with Honda? I don’t know if you have, but I did for 12 very long years. Honda’s customer service is one of the biggest reasons why I no longer like them and why I will never buy one. I’ve stood next to clients who’s car was constantly in the shop as the regional service director looked them in the eyes and told them “Honda’s don’t have problems”!! Never in more than 14 years total with GM dealerships have I ever witnessed that type of arrogance from GM. And I’ve owned one VW. NEVER AGAIN. The customer service was non-stop terrible, and when they knew of the issue that many owners were having and the “customer service” told me there was “nothing we can do”, I then had enough. I told them there was something I could do, and they asked what that was. I told them “I can trade this piece of junk back in on a new Buick”. I did that exact same thing the very next day and never regretted that move. Those are facts.
I won’t comment on any more of your post, but as I’ve asked you in the past: Please leave me alone on here. Go after the others if you wish, but I’m asking to be left out of your posts. Thank you.
Dan Berning,
I think you asked me that before, and I answered the same then as I am now !
Maybe this is what is wrong in the world today, everyone thinks their opinion is fact !!
Your experience with Honda drove you to GM.
My experience with GM drove me to write and talk to everyone, everywhere, that, ” in my opinion “, unless someone can show me numbers from the vehicle owners themselves, linked to license plate data that proves ownership, and survey results !!!!!
That’s its all made up opinion !!!
Just because you sold or sell vehicles and talk to people you think your opinion is somehow fact !!
It is not fact !!! It is your opinion based on your experiences !!!!!!!!!
JD Power this, Car and Driver that, Consumer Reports, what.
If its a survey you agree with, you guys say, that was a great survey !!
If its a survey you don’t agree with, you guys say, that’s a crappy paper, ” fake news ”
So here is the deal Dan,
You want me to stop replying to your comments ?
Quit spreading you opinion as fact !!!
When I read a GM article and see the same people over and over talking how great GM is, they have longer lasting vehicles, more reliable vehicles, higher quality vehicles, or better customer support !!!
I comment and simply say, that is no longer my opinion of the GM we know today !!
It once was my opinion, but no longer is !!!
And prove it !!
Can I prove GM is worse ?
I’m not sure, probably not !!
But I can point, all of you GM is the greatest and better, people, to the masses !!
By masses I mean numbers, and numbers do not lie !!!
Look at the TSBs out there on From GM !
Look at the lawsuits out there on GM !!
Look at how many GM products have been lemon lawed !!!
Look at the unhappy customers !!
Corvette wheels bending, breaking —— lawsuit !!!
8 speed transmission junk —— lawsuit !!!!!
Cadillac CUE junk —— lawsuit !!!!!
Cadillac headlight fog junk ——– lawsuit !!!!!
And on and on —— lawsuit, those are just the recent ones !!
Sure others have some !! prove to me the others have the same numbers of lawsuits or more !!!!!
I won’t go into the recalls, because I like recalls !!!!!
With recalls you don’t have lawsuits !!!
In other words ——- the customer had their GM ” faulty known ” parts fixed !! All customers, not just a select few, all !!!!!
So you quit with the GM is the greatest, I’ll quit commenting and asking you to prove it !!
That’s all I can offer you !!
Maybe use your connections at GM and have someone fix the ” known faulty ” parts on the vehicles we drive, that we have received letters on telling us they mite fail while driving, that’s safe !!!
While driving your $50,000+ AWD Cadillac down the road in the winter on ice, the manual/auto switch might fail and the vehicle could downshift gears !!
Don’t be concerned, this will not affect the vehicle, if this happens bring it to the dealer for repair, unless it has over 120,000 miles, then your $hit out of luck !!!!!
Unless If while downshifting on the ice sent you into a skid and you his a semi head on, then you won’t have to worry at all !!!!!
In my opinion
And Dan Berning,
How many years have you now worked at Volvo ?
And was it 12 years at Honda before that ?
And before that you worked at GM 14 years ?
So is it that you worked at GM 28 years ago ?
If that is the case, I agree with everything you have said about GM, 28 years ago !!
Even 25 years ago !
How many times here have I said our 2004 Cadillac CTS and our 2005 Cadillac SRX, and our 2007 Duramax LBZ HD were the best GM vehicles we have ever owned !!!
Go back, count the times I have said how great they and GM were !!!!!
ALOT !!!!!
That’s 12 to 15 years ago !!!!! So I agree if that is what you are saying !!!
And if so, start your comments by saying ” 12 to 15 years ago, GM had higher quality, better reliability, lasted longer and had great customer support, and I will not even comment, or mite say, yep I agree !
But somewhere in between 12 to 15 years ago and today things at GM have changed, and for the worse !!
Unless your a stock holder, then 9 years ago you would have been broke, so today is better for you !!!
But if your a GM vehicle owner, and have troubles, things are worse, probably need a layer with you to get service pretty soon here.
In my opinion.
For the love of god, please get help. Please stop with the LONG rants. Go do something constructive and helpful in the world. Do anything, but please leave me alone.
You said a lot above, and not much of it was close to correct. I didn’t work for GM. I worked for a dealership. HUGE difference. I didn’t work for them 28 years ago. I sold GM cars (Cadillac) as late as 2014. I sold Honda along side GM’s for 12 years. I was a GM guy long before working with Honda. No, Honda didn’t push me to GM. Honda pushed me away from Honda.
So you see, these are facts that seem to allude you. I’m not sure from your rant what you would consider “facts”, but if speaking directly to the owners of cars who have been dealing with issues is not a factual thing, then what would be (please don’t answer, I’m not really asking you this but it’s a rhetorical statement). So please go out into the world and do some good. In doing so, leave me alone. As I’ve said before: This is now my last response to you in any way or form. Thank you.
Yep, 28 years ago when GM was great and quit in 2014 when the main GM junk started !
Just as I had figured.
I think that Barra’s relentless pursuit of cost cutting will relegate the XT6 and Blazer to near the bottom of the rankings.