2021 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 exuded sophistication with its elegant styling cues shared with the Cadillac XT4 and XT5 crossovers. The vehicle came in three trims: Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport. The XT6 Sport, in particular, showcased a traditionally-styled grille with darkened accent pieces, complemented by new-for-2021 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. It featured sharp lines and slim all-LED headlights that highlighted its premium status. Cadillac offered the XT6 in seven paint colors, with most requiring an additional fee. The interior mirrored the XT5 but was slightly larger due to the XT6's overall size. It came in Jet Black, Cirrus, and Maple Sugar color options. The seats, especially with the optional Platinum Package, were luxurious, featuring semi-aniline leather upholstery and premium touches throughout the cabin. However, some areas of the dashboard appeared less premium, detracting slightly from the overall upscale feel.

Contrastingly, the 2022 Ford Explorer offered eight models, ranging from the base trim to the luxurious King Ranch. The Explorer King Ranch, our test vehicle, included unique emblems, 20-inch shiny wheels, and quad exhaust outlets. Visually, it resembled other Explorer models, but its long, tall hood, rakish roofline, and tapering greenhouse gave it an athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch trim boasted exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and the King Ranch branding. However, the interior showed a mix of high-quality and questionable materials. The chocolate brown over caramel leather was the only available color combination, adding a unique touch to the King Ranch trim.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine was also standard in the XT6 Premium Luxury trim, while the base XT6 Luxury model had a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine generating 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine provided ample power, but the XT6 Sport felt heavy, impacting its driving dynamics. Weighing 4,690 pounds, it was comparable to other three-row SUVs. The XT6's fuel economy was on par with competitors, with the V6 achieving 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and slightly lower figures with all-wheel drive.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive optional. A hybrid drivetrain was available for the Explorer Limited, combining a 3.3-liter V6 engine to deliver 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier King Ranch, ST, and Platinum trims featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, generating 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a 10-speed automatic. The King Ranch 4WD model averaged around 20.6 mpg. The Explorer boasted robust off-road capabilities with a Trail setting and 7.9 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for various terrains.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 offered seating for seven, with an option for second-row captain’s chairs. The seats were comfortable but not as plush as competitors like the Acura MDX. The third row could accommodate adults, which was a plus, but overall space in all three rows was less than some rivals. The interior storage was limited, especially for front-row occupants, and the deep-pocket wireless charger was not user-friendly. However, the XT6 excelled in cargo space, offering ample room behind the third row, made accessible with standard power liftgate and power-folding third-row seats.

The 2022 Ford Explorer provided ample comfort for a family of four, with an option for a second-row bench seat to accommodate five. The third-row seat was suitable only for children due to limited space. The King Ranch trim featured massaging front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. However, practical storage space was limited. The cargo space measured 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows down, slightly less than the XT6.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 featured a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Upgrades included a 14-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and a comprehensive suite of driver-assist technologies. However, the infotainment screen was smaller than competitors, which could appear crowded or lacking information depending on the scenario.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system, an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch portrait-style screen. The King Ranch trim included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system. However, the voice recognition system was inconsistent, struggling with navigation commands. The Explorer also featured Active Park Assist 2.0 and a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 came equipped with numerous standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and IntelliBeam headlights. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional packages included adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT6 received a five-star frontal crash test rating and a four-star rollover rating from NHTSA, while IIHS named it a "Top Safety Pick+."

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS. It came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. However, the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model year.