Since the 2022 XT6 is expected to be just an evolutionary update with only minor changes as compared to the previous model year, one can expect the trims offered to be pretty much the same. It should continue to be offered in three different trims with the option for an AWD system alongside various option packages. GM is also set to bring in the Brembo Performance Package as standard for the Sport trim, which offers Brembo front performance brake discs and red-painted front and rear calipers for some increased stopping power.

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The base Luxury trim is offered with plenty of goodies and hence is more than worth the asking price of the car. That being said, all the modern technology is only offered on the top Sport trim which costs a fortune. Hence it is best to opt for the Premium Luxury trim as it also gets the more powerful V6 engine and brings the best value for money deal in the lineup.

What’s the expected price and release date of the 2022 Cadillac XT6?

It is expected that Cadillac will soon unveil the 2022 Cadillac XT6, with the units being dispatched to the dealers in late summer and the launch somewhere around in the mid-second half of 2021. There is no official statement from Cadillac about the pricing of the XT6, but as we are expecting, there won’t be any major changes in the car, this means that the prices are going to be pretty much similar to the outgoing model, which means around $48,000. 

Under the hood, it is expected that the 2022 Cadillac XT6 will carry forward the same set of engines from 2021. As the company introduced a new 2.0L engine in 2021, it is well understood that for this year they might want to focus on other things which need attention. The base trim gets a 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 motor, which is good enough for producing 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Now the other motor is a 3.6L V6 unit which produces 310 hp and 271 lb-ft, which is offered from the Premium Luxury trim onwards. 

Forced induction helps the smaller 2.0L unit as it feels more responsive and better engine among the two. Both of the engines come mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, and the power is sent to the front wheels as standard, but there is also an option for all-wheel drive. Performance isn’t sedate by any means, but the 7.7 seconds 0-60 mph run doesn’t make it the quickest of the segment. The quarter-mile sprint too takes over 15 seconds, which is obvious for a heavy-weight SUV like the XT6.

*2021 MY data used for reference

Big 7 seater crossovers are not meant for drag races or accelerate like a space x rocket, at least not in the stock form, but still, for the ones who would like to have some fun with their luxury crossover, the XT6 is capable of doing 0-60 in 7.7 seconds. The BMW X5 is the quickest of the lot, with the Mercedes right on its tail. The Q7 is a distant third, with the XT6 staying at the back of the pack with a considerable margin.

How does the 2022 Cadillac XT6 handle?

Certainly, the SUVs are not meant to carve corners, and that is pretty much true here as well. The SUVs here ride high and have a higher center of gravity, which makes them a bit difficult and scary to turn at times when driving at high speeds. Though the Cadillac is lower than all the Germans, it's still somehow not as inspiring and fun to drive like them. 

Now there can be a lot of reasons for that. First, we feel that being an American SUV, the suspension of the Cadillac felt just quite too soft for cornering. Secondly, all other SUVs are rear-wheel drive, but the XT6 is front-wheel drive, which makes it again lose some points. Third, the steering feels quite numb at high speeds and that makes it a scary experience. The Cadillac XT6 is in no way a bad car at handling, but we are just too spoilt by the Germans that it certainly doesn’t feel on par with them when it comes to handling

The SUVs are quite infamous for being not very frugal. They consume a lot of fuel, and that is something we all are very much familiar with. The XT6 is no exception as the 3.6L V6 just loves to drink so much so that the fuel consumption figures stand at 19/26/22 respectively for the city, highway, and combined. 

Now if we think about it, these figures aren’t half as bad considering they are figures for a 3.6L engine sitting in a nearly four and a half thousand pounds heavy car. But still, if you want some more efficiency, then the option is to pick the 2.0L turbocharged Inline-4, but it too isn’t that much better in terms of fuel efficiency as it is rated for 21/27/23 mpg by the EPA.

*2021 My data used for reference

The XT6 comes with the smallest fuel tank, which makes it the SUV with the shortest range. And that means you’ll have to stop some extra few times to refill the tank. The Mercedes GLE 450 is the most frugal one here and also employs the largest gas tank, resulting in a pretty solid highway cruising range. The Audi Q7 has the highest fuel consumption, but the larger fuel tank aids in offering a much longer driving range than the XT6.

Launched in 2020, the XT6 is the brand’s first 7 seater crossover, and its purpose is to bridge the gap between the XT5 and the Escalade. The interior design is going to be pretty much similar to the ongoing model. This means it is still very plush and easy on the eyes, but it certainly still misses that wow factor that its german rivals have. The German trio feels a lot more luxurious and advanced when we compare them to the Cadillac’s interior. Though the prime competitor for the XT6 will come from the homegrown brand Lincoln, and there it feels like the Caddy does look quite good.

Space is also pretty much in abundance for the first and second rows, which means the journeys here will be extremely comfortable. Though the car is being marketed as a seven-seater, we feel it is more of a five-plus-two-seater as the available space in the third-row is not a lot and it will be a squeeze for adults to sit there. The best is to keep those seats folded all the time and enjoy the additional cargo space.

*2021 MY data used for reference

Now speaking about the cargo capacity, the Cadillac certainly feels like having the least amount of cargo volume available, but still, it will be enough for small steps to the shopping arcade. And then again, if you want more room, then the option to fold down the third-row seats is always available to increase the capacity from 12.6 cubic feet to 43.1 cubic feet. Some of the standout features expected to make way into 2022 XT6 are as follows:

• Optional captain chairs for the second row
• First and second-row leather seats
• Heated front row seats and steering wheel
• Triple zone automatic climate control
• UltraView sunroof
• Wood and carbon fiber trim inserts
• Powered driver and co-passenger seat

2022 Cadillac XT6: Infotainment and Connectivity

There are no official words on this, but we are expecting this same as well for the ongoing car. The infotainment screen is basically an 8-inch touchscreen display that comes with Cadillac’s own interface. For this price, we are used to seeing much larger displays. Even the competition from Germany has much better and bigger screens, so this lacks the wow factor. The display though itself feels quite good and responsive to use. But then again, the graphics and fonts felt a bit outdated and they could’ve been better.

But still, if we talk about it, this system had smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with inbuilt satellite navigation and creates a 4G LTE wifi hotspot inside the car, which is a paid subscription. It comes standard with an 8 speaker Bose system but an optional 14 speaker performance series Bose Surround system will also be available. Other apps include SiriusXM, Onstar services, My Cadillac app, and a bunch of other apps as well. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• 8-inch touchscreen display
• Inbuilt satellite navigation
• Sirius satellite radio
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4G LTE wifi hotspot
• Optional 14 speaker performance series Bose Surround sound system

Design-wise, the 2022 Cadillac XT6 won’t see any major changes from the ongoing model. That said, it still looks like a miniaturized version of the Cadillac, and we feel that it really suits the overall profile of the car. The whole design looks very much mature and butch. It looks more like an SUV than a crossover, and that we feel is a very good thing. There are a few design cues from the smaller XT5 and XT4, but it is very much clearer that Cadillac wanted the major silhouette to be similar to that of the Escalade.

The front is dominated by the massive pentagonal grille with the Cadillac logo and along the sides are the IntelliBeam all-LED headlights which look like jewels. The big air dams and subtle use of chrome on the grille make it look meaner and sophisticated both at the same time. The side profile also looks quite butch, thanks to the 20” 6-spoke alloy wheels. The rear, though might feel a bit curvy to the overall edgy design but still flows with the car well. 

*2021 MY data used for reference

When we compare it to the competition, it seems like the Cadillac has the least wheelbase and ground clearance figures. This pretty much translates into the least amount of space available inside the car. Also, the Cadillac is the lightest among all and also the second-longest and the tallest vehicle in the comparison. Few standout exterior features include:

• IntelliBeam automatic LED headlights
• Rainsense automatic wipers with moisture detection
• Active Aero Shutters
• Hands-Free Liftgate
• Power UltraView Panoramic Sunroof
• 20-inch 12-Spoke Diamond Cut alloy with Dark Android Satin finish wheels

In terms of safety, the Cadillac XT6 has had a standout performance. Although the 2022 model year is yet to be launched and hasn't been tested yet, being mechanically identical to the 2021 model, we expect it to repeat the 5-star overall rating performance in the tests conducted by the NHTSA. The IIHS has also awarded it with the prestigious “Top Safety Pick+” award, which is the best any car can get in its segment. All the latest cutting safety features help it achieve such great feats, a highlight of which is listed below.

• Front and Rear Park Assist
• Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking and Reverse Automatic Braking
• Lane Change Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert w/Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Alert w/Front Pedestrian Braking
• Following Distance Indicator

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 hasn’t been a very promising car in the eyes of many. It felt like the Cadillac just got a bit too greedy while pricing the car as this is their first product in the segment, we were expecting it to be priced aggressively. It's not that the car was bad or something, it is just that we were never able to justify its price tag considering the Germans are offering so much more for the same price. Now we really don’t have a complete list of what is going to change in the 2022 Cadillac XT6, but we are hoping that either the engineers at Cadillac work a bit harder this time to add a few more features which will then justify the price. The other way would be that the marketing team throw serious discounts on the car or else this is going to be one more very aspirational product very dead on arrival.