2021 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 exuded sophistication with its design, sharing styling cues with the XT4 and XT5 crossovers. It was available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims. The XT6 Sport, in particular, featured a traditionally-styled grille with darkened accents, 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and slim all-LED headlights, giving it a premium and distinctly Cadillac appearance. The interior mirrored the XT5’s design but was slightly larger, offering three color options and the luxurious Platinum Package, which included semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microsuede headliner.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac XT5 had a styling that blended the angularity of the Lexus NX with the traditional looks of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. It featured Cadillac’s signature design elements like a bold grille and vertical taillights, but its compact footprint and tall profile made it appear somewhat ungainly. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims had distinct exterior styling cues, with the former sporting bright chrome and the latter featuring darker trim and a mesh grille. The interior, while luxurious, lacked a strong design theme and brand-specific markers, making it less distinctive compared to its competitors.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The base XT6 Luxury model had a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine provided smooth and powerful acceleration, but the XT6 Sport’s weight of 4,690 pounds made it feel less dynamic, especially in tight turns and during harsh acceleration. Fuel economy for the V6 was 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, slightly lower with all-wheel drive.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6-liter V6, standard on the Sport trim and optional on the Premium Luxury, delivered 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The V6 provided linear power delivery and smooth shifts from the nine-speed automatic transmission. The Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable ride and excellent body control. The XT5’s steering was well-suited for luxury driving, and the cabin was impressively quiet.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 offered seating for seven, with an option to upgrade to captain’s chairs in the second row. Adults could fit in the third row, but the XT6 had less head-, leg-, shoulder-, and hip room compared to competitors like the Telluride and Palisade. Interior storage was limited, and the wireless phone charger was inconveniently deep-pocketed. However, the XT6 excelled in cargo space, with power-folding third-row seats and an available hands-free power liftgate.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 had more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but less than the BMW X3. It offered more legroom in both rows compared to its German rivals but had less front legroom than the Lincoln Corsair. The seats were comfortable but could have used more padding. The XT5 provided 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, beating the Q5, X3, and GLC. A hands-free power liftgate was available, and a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen helped compensate for limited center console space.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 came with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Upgrades included a 14-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and enhanced wireless charging. The infotainment screen was smaller than competitors and could appear crowded or lacking information.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 featured an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls was cumbersome. The optional 14-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system provided excellent sound quality, enhanced by the XT5’s quiet interior.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 came standard with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and a high-definition rearview camera. Premium Luxury and Sport models added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Driver Assist Package included adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT6 received a five-star frontal crash test rating from NHTSA and was named a "Top Safety Pick+" by IIHS.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keep assist as standard. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and rear automatic braking, while the Technology Package included night vision and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.