If I say "Cadillac SUV", you'll probably say "Escalade". But the current-gen Escalade is huge physically, with (in most cases) a six-figure price tag.
So what if you want something a bit more manageable, both physically and fiscally, that still bears the Cadillac crest?
The answer is the Cadillac XT6. A right-sized, plenty-luxe SUV with handsome styling that has a family resemblance to the Escalade.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbo four with 237 horsepower in the base Luxury trim or a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower in Sport or Premium Luxury. Our tester was a Premium Luxury with the six mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. That's good for 0-60 runs of 6.4 seconds. The EPA fuel economy average is 18 city/25 highway.
Best of all, for 2022, the XT6 gets Cadillac's brilliant Super Cruise (previously an Escalade exclusive) as an option. Here's a Cadillac video showing how it works in the Escalade (there's no difference in the XT6):
Starting price for the 2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury AWD is $54,995. Standard at that price, 20=inch alloy wheels, adaptive remote start, tri-zone climate control a driver memory package, Ultraview sunroof, leather seating surfaces and more.
Our tester also had $16,600 in extra-cost options---$5,000 for the Platinum Package, $2,500 or Super Cruise, $2,350 for a technology package, $2,000 for Night Vision, $1,300 for the Driver Assist Package including adaptive cruise control, $1,000 for the Cadillac User Experience with navigation and a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system, $800 for third-row seating, another $800 for a premium headlamp system with illuminated door handles, $750 for a comfort and air quality package including an ionizer and ventilated front seats, and $150 for a security cargo shade. $50 was deducted because the car was shipped without rear heated seats (chip shortage). The window sticker notes that the car will be retrofitted later.
With $1,195 destination charge, the as-tested price of the 2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury AWD was $72,790.
My only knock on Cadillacs other than the Escalade has been that it takes an awful lot of extra-cost options to make them feel like a Cadillac---something several magnitudes more special than a Chevrolet or Buick. And yes, in this case, it took $16,600 worth. But---if you look at the bottom line, $72,790 is not unreasonable for a luxury SUV in this size class. The XT6 Premium Luxury is a nice piece.
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