The 2022 Cadillac XT6 Sport is one of the most handsome three-row SUVs on the market and is a compelling alternative to European luxury mid-size SUVs like the Volvo XC90, or Audi Q7. The comfortable ride, modern tech stack, and all-wheel drive made my week in the XT6 Sport very enjoyable.
Exterior Design
The Cadillac XT6 is a luxury three-row SUV that provides many of the same features and comforts as the larger and more expensive Escalade at a much more affordable price. While the full-size Escalade is a technical showcase for Cadillac’s newest technologies, the XT6 is a smaller, more modest offering.
Our 2022 Cadillac XT6 Sport tester was finished in beautiful Rosewood Metallic paint, highlighting the elegant but athletic two-box styling. The front of the XT6 has aggressively styled triple beam Performance LED headlamps that flow into a classy Cadillac shield grill finished in black. Large vertical LED running lights flank the corners of the front fascia.
The XT6 side profile features a sloping roofline and sculpted flares over the wheels, and the Sport trim of our tester replaces the chrome trim found on other XT6 models with a black chrome finish. Though the XT6 is available with optional 21-inch wheels, I prefer the 20-inch wheels on our Sport tester.
Cadillac XT6 Interior Design and Technology
Our 2022 Cadillac XT6 Sport tester featured an upscale-looking seven-passenger interior finished in Maple Sugar leather. The finishes throughout the cabin are excellent and add to the premium feel of the XT6. Plastics are high quality, and all the stitching and detail work on the semi-aniline leather provides a nice visual upgrade over some of the competition. Our tester featured the $3,800 Platinum Package, which adds additional stitching, and Modena leather-wrapped steering wheel, instrument panel, console, and door cards.
The XT6’s front seats offer ample power adjustments for both driver and passenger seats, and the front row is both heated and cooled. The second row has its own climate control panel and offers seat heating.
The second and third rows of the XT6 are extremely comfortable given the mid-size nature of the XT6, but cargo space does come at a premium when all three seat rows are up. There are 12.6 cubic feet of space behind the third road, but a cavernous 78.7 cubic feet of space with all the rows folded down.
Technology-wise, the Cadillac XT6 features an 8-inch touch screen display which was responsive through the menus and easy to see in all lighting conditions. The center console houses a rotary knob with buttons to navigate the infotainment system without relying on touch inputs. HVAC controls have toggles and buttons to make adjustments easy. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support is included, as are plenty of USB ports and wireless charging.
Our Cadillac XT6 Sport also featured a full suite of driver assist technology, including GM’s best-in-class SuperCruise hands-free driving technology. For a demo of how Super Cruise works, check out my video demo of the system in the 2023 Chevy Silverado High Country. The Super Cruise feature is a $2,500 option and requires an ongoing subscription.
Our tester also had the $2,350 Technology Package, which features HD Surround Vision 360-degree camera with recorder, Automatic Parking Assist with Braking, an upgraded gauge cluster with Heads-Up Display, rear pedestrian alert, and a digital rearview mirror. Topping off all the fantastic technology in our XT6 Sport tester was the $2,000 Night Vision package and $1,300 Driver Assist Package.
Cadillac XT6 Sport Performance & Driving
The 2022 Cadillac XT6 Sport features a 3.6-liter V6 engine, which produces 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is rated at an EPA Combined estimate of 21-mpg. I observed 19.6 in my week with the XT6.
Despite being all-wheel drive, the AWD has to be enabled by the driver using various drive modes. By default, power is sent to the front wheels only, leading to quite a bit of torque-steer. I think AWD is the only suitable mode to have a comfortable driving experience in the XT6. The XT6 Sport’s engine feels powerful and responsive when using AWD mode and suits the vehicle well.
Steering feel is helped through a variable speed rack that provides just the right amount of assistance and provides adequate feedback for a vehicle of this class.
Final Thoughts
The 2022 Cadillac XT6 starts at $60,265, including destination, but our fully-loaded tester priced out at a hefty $75,415 as-tested. The nice thing is that many of the options on our tester aren’t required to have a great experience in the XT6 Sport.
For the price, the XT6 Sport is instantly identifiable as a Cadillac, and the interior is a very pleasant place to be. Performance is decent but slightly below the competition at a similar price point. While perhaps not the best all-around value in the segment, the XT6 Sport is a very handsomely design vehicle that will stand out amongst its peers and give its occupants a comfortable ride in style.
