2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Cadillac XT6

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a familiar yet appealing design, fitting well within Ford's SUV lineup. Its exterior bore a sporty, raked beltline and distinctive squinting visages, making it hard to distinguish from the Edge at a quick glance but unmistakable among other brands. The Explorer offered six trim levels, each with varying grille designs and price points ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. Inside, it featured three rows of seats as standard, with the base model providing cloth upholstery and a clean dashboard layout dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen. The XLT trim, the most popular, added a power front passenger seat and nicer finishes, while higher trims like the Limited and ST offered leather upholstery and more advanced features.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, on the other hand, exuded a conservatively tailored image with its polished 20-inch alloy wheels and Stellar Black paint. Its vertical exterior lighting made it appear tall and narrow, a preview of its interior space. The XT6 came in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims, with prices starting just under $50,000. Our test vehicle, equipped with almost every option, including Super Cruise and Night Vision technologies, reached an MSRP of $73,565. While the interior materials were rich and the driving assistance technology sophisticated, the XT6's controls and displays felt more akin to those in lower-priced GM crossovers, lacking the special touch expected in a luxury SUV.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing in at 4,345 pounds at its lightest, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed the Kia Telluride's V6, despite the latter being lighter. All trims came with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, producing 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with the sport-oriented ST trim pushing it to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing, capable of pulling between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 shared its engines with the GMC Acadia. The base model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Premium Luxury and Sport trims upgraded to a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Both engines offered all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. Our test vehicle, equipped with AWD and an adaptive-damping performance suspension, handled well on twisty roads and absorbed bumps with ease. However, the XT6's driving experience leaned more towards serenity than excitement, with a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg for the V6 AWD model, slightly underperforming at 19.5 mpg during our tests.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain’s chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of second-row legroom, competitive within its segment. With the third row deployed, the Explorer still offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though this was less impressive compared to some competitors.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, despite its tall and narrow appearance, felt cramped inside. The front seats, especially with the Platinum package's semi-aniline leather, were comfortable but lacked advanced adjustments and massage functions. The second-row captain’s chairs offered decent legroom when slid back, but the third row was tight and difficult to access. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, expanding to 43.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.7 cubic feet, slightly less than the Explorer.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came well-equipped even at the base level, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and up to 14 speakers. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 offered advanced features like a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision, and Super Cruise, but lagged in instrumentation and infotainment. It lacked digital gauges, featuring analog ones instead. The 8-inch touchscreen, though powered by excellent software, felt small compared to competitors. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and an available navigation system. However, usability issues with touch-sensing buttons and counterintuitive controls detracted from the experience. The available Bose Performance Series audio system and digital rear camera were highlights, but the head-up display was underwhelming.

The 2021 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The base model included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, featuring auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, equipped with the Platinum Package, included a comprehensive list of safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The standout feature was the Super Cruise system, offering hands-free highway driving assistance. However, it had limitations, particularly in complex driving conditions. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA in all crash tests, with a four-star rollover resistance rating.