2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2020 Cadillac XT6

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 featured clean, crisp exteriors that epitomized modern Cadillac design. It cleverly concealed its long, boxy shape with smooth body panels and limited creases, avoiding bright chrome and oversized jewelry. The XT6's satin-painted silver accents and medium-sized silver mesh grille added a touch of elegance, while thin LED headlights and vertical running lamps provided a subtle flashiness. The overall design showcased restraint and taste, making a lasting style statement without being boring. Inside, however, the XT6 fell short compared to its competitors. Despite having soft leather, microsuede, and gold-tinted carbon fiber trim, the seats lacked support and looked plain. The lower center stack and console were wrapped in cheap vinyl, and the screens were small with nonadjustable ambient lighting. The interior felt outdated, lacking the first-class materials and eye-catching colors found in rival models.

In contrast, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB had a boxy and tall design, sitting on a front-wheel-drive platform with optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive. It featured a long, flat hood, upright windshield, large side windows, and a nearly vertical rear liftgate, emphasizing function over form. The GLB's robust roof rails and AMG Line design package with 20-inch AMG wheels added style and attitude. Priced starting at $36,600, the GLB 250 4Matic test vehicle came loaded with options, including metallic paint, adaptive damping suspension, ambient lighting, and a Burmester premium sound system, totaling $55,890. The GLB's interior blended high style with simplicity, featuring dual 10.25-inch screens, ambient lighting, and red contrast stitching. The materials and construction exhibited typical Mercedes-Benz quality, though some metallic trim pieces revealed its more affordable status. Overall, the GLB's interior was a lovely place to spend time, offering a remarkable driving experience.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. While it could tow up to 4,000 pounds, the engine sounded coarse and lacked the responsiveness of newer turbocharged V6 engines. The 9-speed automatic transmission provided quick shifts and well-spaced ratios, making the XT6 peppy enough. Front-wheel drive was standard, but the all-wheel-drive model with adaptive dampers felt balanced and controlled over various surfaces. The steering was direct and nicely weighted, with a more secure feel in Sport mode. The XT6's brakes had a firm feel, and over 400 miles of mixed driving, it matched the EPA's combined rating of 20 mpg. All-wheel-drive models had a 17 mpg city, 24 highway rating, while front-wheel-drive models managed just 1 mpg more. Cadillac planned a plug-in hybrid XT6 to improve these figures and low-end torque.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB came in GLB 250 and GLB 250 4Matic specifications, both equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds, but the wide torque band and snappy eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission made it feel faster. The DCT powered the front wheels unless optioned with 4Matic AWD, which optimized grip and performance. The GLB test vehicle, equipped with adaptive damping suspension and 20-inch AMG wheels, delivered a soft, pillowy ride in Comfort mode and a more responsive, sporty feel in Sport mode. The GLB's unusual driving position and big windows made it fun to drive on mountain roads, despite its modest engine specifications. However, the brakes faded prematurely during enthusiastic driving, cutting short an otherwise enjoyable experience. The GLB achieved 21.4 mpg on the testing loop, falling short of the EPA's 26-mpg estimate.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 offered a livable third-row seat, with decent knee room, USB ports, cupholders, and air vents. The third row power-folded down and up, while the second-row seats mechanically dropped down from an electric latch. Headroom was good in all seating positions, and the second row was spacious with optional heated cushions and backrests. Total cargo volume measured 12.6 cubic feet with all seats raised, 43.1 with the third row down, and 78.7 with both rows down. Visibility was good, and the digital mirror using a widescreen camera helped shrink blind spots. The XT6's instrument cluster, improved touchscreen infotainment system, and alternative rotary controller made it simple to operate at speed.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB offered generous interior dimensions, easily carrying four adults in comfort with ample headroom, tall seating positions, and large windows. The second-row seat slid forward and back, allowing for extra space for third-row passengers or more cargo. The front seats offered power adjustment but lacked heating and ventilation. The third-row seat was an $850 option, missing from the test vehicle. Cargo space measured 22 cubic feet behind the second-row seat, expanding to 62 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The GLB's traditional SUV roofline provided more space compared to SUV coupes.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 featured an infotainment system that was a significant improvement over the old CUE system. It offered cloud-based voice commands, a built-in app store, and driver profiles that could migrate to other GM vehicles. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a suite of driver assists. Optional features included 360-degree cameras, night vision, and LED matrix headlights. However, the XT6 lacked Super Cruise, massaging seats, and a reconfigurable digital instrument panel. The Bose stereo and infotainment screen were also mediocre for the segment.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB's Premium Package, costing an extra $2,200, upgraded the standard 7-inch screens to twin 10.25-inch displays with lush graphics and fast response. The MBUX infotainment system offered natural voice recognition, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Multimedia Package added a navigation system with augmented video, and the Parking Assistance Package included a high-definition surround-view camera system and semi-autonomous active parking assistance. The 12-speaker Burmester premium sound system was also available, providing excellent sound quality and stylish aluminum speaker grilles.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but top scores were expected. The Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package included rear pedestrian detection, a digital rear-view mirror, and 360-degree cameras. The Driver Assist Package added forward emergency braking, emergency braking in reverse, adaptive cruise control, and seat-belt tightening.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB came standard with a driver monitoring system, backup camera, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and Pre-Safe front collision preparation. Optional features included second-row side-impact airbags, blind-spot monitoring with Exit Warning Assist, and the Driver Assistance Package, which added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assistance, and automatic emergency stop assistance. Enhancements to Pre-Safe technology included rear-impact preparation and ear damage protection at the moment of impact. Neither the NHTSA nor IIHS had crash-tested the GLB at the time of publication.