A Cadillac SUV with red brake calipers? Indeed the 2023 Cadillac XT6 Sport AWD arrived to us dialed up for a more aggressive and yes a sporting character than the rest.
The three-row crossover slotted just below the top-line Escalade was first introduced as a 2020 model and has soldiered on with few changes. But with a 310 horsepower naturally aspirated V6 under the hood and a plethora of drive modes including Sport it stands out in the market with its unique styling, character and personality.
Our Radiant Red tester rang in at $76,315 with a number of options on board including Cadillac’s “Super Cruise” semi-autonomous driving system, the technology package and night vision, a driver assistance package as well as a few other individual things.
To say it hosts you behind the wheel with the most of the most when it comes to features and tech is accurate. The interior itself was lined with well crafted soft stitch leather wrap on the dash, door panel and console. Genuine carbon fiber trims throughout add a nice touch of enthusiast sport flavor with a sense of quality and occasion.
The heated and ventilated front seats featured crafted leather with a vast array of adjustments and range. Unfortunately they were stiff and firm to a level that seemed out of sync with the luxury character of the XT6 and didn’t offer the side bolstering support to go with its “Sport” theme.
Rear captain’s chars of the second row were heated and the third row offers up reasonably good space though it’s not quite what you would find in the larger Escalade.
The infotainment system we found to be the disappointing focus of the cabin. Compared to the majority of its competitors the screen is small, the layout of features and menus seem about five years behind the times and the general functionality set is lacking by comparison to systems found in brands like Lexus, Mecedes-Benz, Genesis and others.
The 3.6-liter V6 thrums with a familiar beat, an engine that can be found under a vast array of other General Motors vehicles. Here it has an adequate level of refinement though it can be harsh if pressed. The Sport driving mode allows it a higher rev out before shifting occurs. We found it a bit high strung and preferred letting the normal mode do its thing.
The AWD system allows you to select FWD or AWD modes which can help with fuel economy. AWD is still a passive system, sending torque to the rear wheels only when power levels or slippage dictates. In either case it’s seamless and imperceptible to the driver.
The automatically adjusting dampers on the other hand impressed with the ability to constantly adjust for changing conditions. It gives a nice ride for city and highway driving while having the ability to adjust for road irregularities on the fly.
Setting the drive mode up to sport increases the firmness noticeably but it’s never to harsh. The brakes with those fancy red calipers worked well and have a nice feel. Even steering feel impressed for a large luxury SUV with a level of weighting and precision that felt just right.
In all, we found a number of high points here such as the handsome design and handling. The powertrain and interior tech seem to lag behind competitors however. At its price we feel there are other options in the market that offer a fresher and more comprehensive palette of design and features.
Specifications:
Engine: 3.6-liter DOHC V6
Horsepower: 310
Torque: 271 lb-ft
Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 18 / 25 / 21
Price as tested: $76,315
