Kia Telluride 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 within Cadillac's lineup.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line and X-Pro models featured fresh front and rear styling, updated headlights and taillights, and new wheel designs. The new paint colors and interior options added to its appeal. The X-Line replaced the Nightfall Edition, offering a raised suspension, unique grille design, and black 20-inch wheels. The X-Pro took it further with exclusive 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tires, giving it a mildly aggressive off-road look. Inside, the Telluride's updates included a digital instrumentation panel and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, providing a modern and futuristic feel.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 employed the same engines as the GMC Acadia. The base model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims used a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive (AWD) was available with both engines. The V6 provided sufficient power, and the adaptive-damping performance suspension made the XT6 athletic on twisty roads. However, the driving experience leaned more towards serenity than excitement, with an official EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving.

The 2023 Kia Telluride retained its 3.8-liter V6 engine, making 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Drivers could select from Eco, Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the AWD system offering a low-speed Lock setting. The Telluride X-Line averaged 24.1 mpg, while the X-Pro returned 20.4 mpg, including off-roading. Kia raised the suspension, improved ground clearance, and added a Downhill Brake Control system for better off-road performance. The Telluride's ride quality was soft and smooth, with some wind noise at highway speeds, but it remained delightful to drive.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6's interior felt unexpectedly narrow, with power-adjustable seats that were comfortable but lacked the range of adjustment and massage functions found in some rivals. The second-row captain's chairs offered good legroom, but the third-row seat was cramped for adults. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 78.7 cubic feet with both rear rows folded down.

The 2023 Kia Telluride accommodated seven or eight passengers, with premium Nappa leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front- and second-row captain's chairs. The second row was comfortable, with manual side-window sunshades, USB ports, and storage pockets. The third-row seat was more comfortable than in some competitors, though not as spacious as the Volkswagen Atlas. Storage space was plentiful, with a "smart" power tailgate and 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87 cubic feet with both rear rows folded down.

The 2022 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 system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and an available navigation system. The Bose Performance Series premium audio system sounded great, but the head-up display was small and unimpressive.

The 2023 Kia Telluride came standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Kia Connect services. The voice recognition system worked well, though it couldn't adjust the climate control system. The Telluride offered a Full Display Mirror, a larger head-up display, and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system. Upgrades included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless smartphone charging, and new digital-key technology.

The 2022 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 star of the show was the Super Cruise system, which allowed for hands-free highway driving. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Kia Telluride offered a long list of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction turning system, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Telluride also included adaptive cruise control, Highway Drive Assist 1.5, and Highway Drive Assist 2.0 with Lane Change Assist. The Telluride had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of this review.