Kia Sorento vs Cadillac XT6

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. It exuded a sense of sophistication, making us feel like we should be dressed in formal attire, ready to chauffeur someone important. The XT6's design was attractive but somewhat bland, with towering front running lights that made it look too tall and narrow. The rear taillights were similar to those on GMC models, and the overall conservative design fit well with Cadillac's lineup.

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. While the interior materials were rich and the driving assistance technology sophisticated, the XT6's interior didn't look as luxurious as expected for its price. The analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen display felt outdated, and the overall layout was reminiscent of other GM crossovers.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, especially with the X-Line package, had a stylish and rugged appearance. Our test vehicle featured the X-Line package with AWD, Wolf Gray paint, and Rust-colored leather, bringing the total MSRP to $45,310. The base LX trim with FWD started at $29,590, making the Sorento more affordable. Regardless of the trim, the Sorento exuded quality, from the leather upholstery to the transmission shifter. The cabin reflected rock-solid construction, with impressive attention to design detail even in the most affordable models.

The Sorento's interior was luxurious, with a 14-way power driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in the SX Prestige X-Line. The second-row captain's chairs were designed for kids, with cupholders, USB ports, and rear air conditioning vents. However, the third-row seat was cramped and uncomfortable for adults. The Sorento offered 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 38.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down, and 75.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats down. The "smart" power tailgate made loading easier when your arms were full.

The Cadillac XT6 employed the same engines as the GMC Acadia. The standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivered 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which was less than the base versions of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. AWD was available with both engines, and our test vehicle had it, allowing us to switch between FWD and AWD modes. The V6 engine was powerful, and the adaptive-damping performance suspension provided a smooth ride. However, the XT6 wasn't particularly enjoyable to drive, with a focus on serenity rather than excitement. The EPA fuel economy rating for the XT6 V6 with AWD was 21 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle returned 19.5 mpg.

The Kia Sorento's standard engine was a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which took almost 9.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, available starting with the EX trim, generated 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, making it more enjoyable to drive. The turbo engine was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, and AWD was available. The Sorento with the turbo engine could reach 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. The SX Prestige X-Line had 20-inch alloy wheels and a well-tuned suspension, providing a blend of compliance and composure. The Sorento's fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 20.5 mpg.

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

The Kia Sorento's interior was luxurious, with a 14-way power driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in the SX Prestige X-Line. The second-row captain's chairs were designed for kids, with cupholders, USB ports, and rear air conditioning vents. The third-row seat was cramped and uncomfortable for adults. The Sorento offered 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 38.5 cubic feet with the seats folded down, and 75.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats down. The "smart" power tailgate made loading easier when your arms were full.

The Cadillac XT6 offered impressive features like a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free highway driving-assistance system. However, it lacked digital gauges, and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system felt outdated. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and an available navigation system. The voice recognition technology was excellent, but some usability issues persisted, such as touch-sensing buttons and counterintuitive indicator lights. The Bose Performance Series premium audio system sounded great, but the head-up display was small and unimpressive.

The Kia Sorento's infotainment system featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base LX trim had an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration. The infotainment system was intuitive, but the font style, graphics, and colors might not appeal to everyone. The voice recognition system in Kias was not as good as in Hyundai models. The SX Prestige X-Line had a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system and wireless smartphone charging.

The Cadillac XT6 test vehicle had every available driving-assistance and collision-avoidance system, including Teen Driver, Night Vision, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Super Cruise system allowed for hands-free highway driving but had limitations. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The Kia Sorento's safety features varied by trim level, with our test vehicle having the full list of features. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to monitor the interior, and Junction Assist could brake the SUV to prevent a collision. The Blind View Monitor system showed live video feeds of the blind spots, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist adjusted speed according to posted limits. The Highway Driving Assist system provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. The Sorento received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.