2022 Cadillac XT6 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior followed the same restrained approach, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury test vehicle arrived with polished 20-inch alloy wheels, Stellar Black paint, and a Jet Black semi-aniline premium leather interior. The XT6 had a conservatively tailored image, with towering front running lights and simple vertical taillights. Cadillac offered the XT6 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims, with prices starting just under $50,000. Our test vehicle, loaded with options like Super Cruise and Night Vision technologies, had an MSRP of $73,565. Despite the rich materials and sophisticated driving assistance technology, the interior didn't look like it belonged in a luxury SUV of this price range. The analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen display were less sophisticated than competitors, and the overall layout could have been from any GM crossover SUV.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, average for the segment.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 employed a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in its base Luxury trim, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims used a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. AWD was available with both engines, and our test vehicle had an adaptive-damping performance suspension upgrade. The XT6 was athletic on twisty roads and handled speed bumps with ease. However, it wasn't particularly enjoyable to drive, leaning more towards serenity than excitement. The V6 with AWD had an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle returned 19.5 mpg.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, interior storage options were limited.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6's interior felt narrower than expected, with comfortable power-adjustable front seats wrapped in semi-aniline leather. The second-row captain's chairs offered good legroom, but the third-row seat was cramped for adults. The XT6 provided 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 43.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.7 cubic feet. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with small bins and difficult-to-access trays.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse's infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The rearview camera mirror and HD surround-view camera system were useful features, and USB ports were standard in all rows.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 featured a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free driving-assistance system. However, it lacked digital gauges, using analog gauges with a driver information display instead. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and an available navigation system. The system was intuitive but had usability issues, such as touch-sensing buttons and counterintuitive indicator lights. The available Bose Performance Series audio system sounded great, but the head-up display was small and unimpressive.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with many features only available as options.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, equipped with the optional Platinum Package, had a comprehensive list of driving-assistance and collision-avoidance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The star feature was the Super Cruise system, which allowed hands-free driving on approved highways. However, it had limitations and required the driver to be ready to take control at any time. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all crash-test evaluations from the NHTSA.