2021 Cadillac XT6

Pros: Smooth power delivery from V6 engine and transmission; comfortable ride; spacious second row

Cons: Third-row space could be better; limited cargo room behind third row

CG Says: The 2021 Cadillac XT6 adds an entry-level model with a new engine. A 237-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder powers the Luxury model with a starting price that is around $4,500 less expensive than last year’s base model. Premium Luxury and Sport models retain the 310-hp 3.6-liter V6. Both engines are paired with a 9-speed automatic. Also new is wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality. Cadillac introduced this three-row midsize SUV last year. The XT6 seats six or seven passengers (via second-row captain’s chairs or a second-row bench seat) and slots between the 5-passenger XT5 and the full-size Escalade in Cadillac’s SUV lineup. The XT6 comes in three trim levels: Luxury and Premium Luxury models with softer suspension settings aimed at traditional buyers, and a Sport model with firmer adaptive suspension and quicker steering. Front-wheel drive is standard on Luxury and Premium Luxury with all-wheel drive as an option; the Sport has standard AWD. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking, front-pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, and lane-keep assist. Available safety features include camera rearview mirror, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. If you compare the Cadillac XT6’s specifications and features to its primary rivals (especially the new Lincoln Aviator), the XT6 is a bit underwhelming—like Cadillac was focused mainly on filling a hole in its product line over crafting a bar-setting new vehicle. However, from behind the wheel, the XT6 feels like more than the sum of its parts. It has satisfying power, a comfortable ride, competent road manners, and a pleasantly upscale ambiance.