2021 Cadillac XT6 vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 boasted a sophisticated appearance. Its design incorporated cues from the Cadillac XT4 and XT5 crossovers, albeit with a slightly more sizeable and commanding presence. The XT6 was available in three trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. The Sport trim, in particular, featured a grille with darkened accents around the lip between the grille and hood, and similar treatments on the lower bumper, window surrounds, roof rails, and rear bumper. It rode on striking 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with Android Satin finish pockets. The sharp lines and slim all-LED headlights lent it a premium and distinctly Cadillac feel. Additionally, it came in seven paint colors, most of which incurred an extra charge above the mundane Satin Steel Metallic.

The interior of the XT6 closely mirrored that of the XT5 but offered slightly more space due to its larger size. The available color options included Jet Black, Cirrus (light grey), and Maple Sugar. The most luxurious element was the seats, especially when upgraded to the Platinum Package, which included semi-aniline leather upholstery, a microsuede headliner, and premium floor mats for $3,700. While the SUV’s seats were plush and comfortable, other elements of the dashboard and controls felt less premium but still managed to provide a good tactile experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. Its styling was far from the nondescript, amorphous look of many midsize SUVs and crossovers. The Highlander featured wide headlights, a long hood, and a trapezoidal grille that gave it a distinctive and assertive face. A character line running along the side added a sporty flair reminiscent of the Supra’s profile. The taillights, akin to those found on Lexus models, contributed to a sleek and modern rear view. The overall design made the Highlander appear longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing its size.

Toyota introduced the XSE trim in 2021, which offered a more aggressive front end, aiming to infuse a sportier aesthetic. However, our test vehicle was the Limited trim, which sat just below the Platinum in the lineup. With chrome roof rails and accents, the Limited trim looked upscale and refined, but it was the interior that truly shined, featuring near-flawless fit and finish with tan leather seats, dark brown trim, and faux wood details that exuded sophistication.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. This engine was also standard in the XT6 Premium Luxury trim, while the base XT6 Luxury trim came with a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine provided sufficient power for smooth and effortless acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission shifted seamlessly.

Cadillac offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and available all-wheel drive (AWD) for the XT6. The Sport trim was exclusively AWD. Despite its powerful engine, the XT6 Sport's driving dynamics were hindered by its weight. At 4,690 pounds, it felt too heavy, particularly in the mid-rear where the AWD mechanics were located. This led to less dynamic handling compared to competitors like the Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, and Kia Telluride, all of which exhibited better weight distribution.

Fuel economy for the XT6 was competitive with its class. The base 2.0-liter engine achieved EPA-estimated figures of 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined (with AWD). The V6 engine with FWD delivered 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the AWD slightly reduced these numbers.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in both FWD and AWD configurations, the Highlander offered a hybrid variant as well. While not the fastest in its class, the Highlander provided adequate power for confident merging and highway driving.

Handling was typical for a three-row crossover, with a tendency to feel cumbersome in corners due to its soft suspension. The XSE trim aimed to address this with tightened suspension components, although it still remained far from a performance-oriented vehicle.

The Cadillac XT6 aimed to cater to families, but faced stiff competition in terms of comfort and space. While the first two rows of seats could be heated and were notably comfortable, they fell short compared to those in the Acura MDX. The XT6 came standard with seating for seven, with the option to switch to captain’s chairs in the second row for $800. Adults could fit in the third row, which was a rarity for older midsize SUVs but now more common among new models like the Highlander, Telluride, and Palisade. However, the XT6 offered less headroom, legroom, shoulder room, and hip room compared to competitors.

Interior storage was another weak point. The front row lacked adequate storage solutions, making it challenging for drivers to store small items like phones and change. Additionally, while the wireless charger was a convenient feature, its deep-pocket design made it difficult to access one’s phone while charging.

The XT6 excelled in cargo space. It offered more cargo room than many competitors, with a standard power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats. However, the cargo load floor was relatively high, and there was limited space behind the third row, requiring seats to be folded down for significant cargo.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured practical storage solutions, like shelves ahead of the front seats that could accommodate large cell phones with a pass-through for charging cords. Wireless charging was standard on trims above the LE. Second-row passengers benefitted from seats that could slide forward and backward, maximizing legroom for either the middle or rear rows. While adults could fit in the third row, it required the second row to be moved forward, compromising comfort.

The rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, blowing directly on passengers' heads, which some might find uncomfortable. In terms of cargo capacity, the Highlander offered 16 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 84.3 cubic feet with both rows down. This made it competitive, though slightly less spacious than a minivan.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 featured a good array of technology, though it wasn’t cutting edge. It came standard with tri-zone automatic climate control, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, user profiles, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote start, and Teen Driver monitoring. Optional upgrades included an air ionizer, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, an automatic heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.

The infotainment screen was one of the XT6’s weak points. Its size was smaller compared to competitors, and it sometimes appeared crowded with information. Navigation and the upgraded Bose audio system were available for an additional $1,000.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander’s technology also catered well to modern consumers. Lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while a 12.3-inch touchscreen was optional on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly. Standard features across the lineup included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, though in-built navigation had mixed performance, struggling with points of interest but handling specific addresses well.

The 12.3-inch unit was particularly impressive, offering bright, crisp, and fast displays. However, only certain apps utilized the full width of the screen. The JBL audio system, while good, was not overly impressive.

Safety was a strong point for both vehicles. The 2021 Cadillac XT6 came with a suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, a high-definition rearview camera, Safety Alert Seat, IntelliBeam headlights, and rear park assist. Premium Luxury and Sport models added lane change alert with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional advanced safety features included adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking, and reverse automatic braking. The XT6 received a five-star frontal crash test rating and a four-star rollover crash test rating from NHTSA, and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander also excelled in safety, with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received five out of five stars from NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.