Mercedes-Benz GLS 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 formal, almost chauffeur-like vibe, making it feel like a vehicle suited for high-profile passengers. The XT6’s design was attractive but somewhat bland, with towering front running lights and simple vertical taillights that gave it a conservatively tailored image. Despite its premium materials and sophisticated driving assistance technology, the interior didn’t quite match the luxury expectations set by its price tag, feeling more akin to other GM crossovers.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 had a more subtle and less flashy look compared to its competitors. The base model featured a refined design without excessive chrome, while the AMG and Maybach versions offered more visual drama with flared wheel arches, chrome accents, and larger wheels. The interior of the GLS 450, though basic by GLS standards, still felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well-integrated, providing a high-quality feel without being overly fragile.

The Cadillac XT6 employed the same engines as the GMC Acadia. The base model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which was less powerful than the base engines of its competitors. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims used a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. While the V6 provided sufficient power and a pleasant sound, the XT6’s driving dynamics leaned more towards serenity than excitement. The adaptive-damping suspension and 20-inch wheels offered a smooth ride, but the overall driving experience was not particularly engaging. The XT6 V6 with AWD had an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle returned 19.5 mpg.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, assisted by the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. This setup provided ample power and smooth performance, making the GLS 450 feel well-suited for a luxury SUV. The GLS also offered a 7,700-pound towing capacity, though some competitors had higher ratings. However, the air suspension exhibited poor body control, leading to excessive bouncing and leaning in corners, which detracted from the overall comfort. Despite this, the inline-six engine’s smoothness and the electric assist’s seamless integration made the GLS 450 a strong performer.

The 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 provided good legroom when slid back, but the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with a small dashboard cubby and center armrest bin. The XT6 offered 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 43.1 cubic feet with the seats folded and a maximum of 78.7 cubic feet.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version featuring second-row captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for easier access to the third row. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower the vehicle for easier loading, and the one-touch power-folding seats and power tailgate added convenience. However, the touchscreen was difficult to reach, and some ergonomic issues detracted from the overall experience.

The Cadillac XT6 offered a mix of impressive and outdated technology. It featured a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free driving-assistance system. However, it lacked digital gauges, instead using analog gauges with a driver information display. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was smaller than competitors’ but had excellent software, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and intuitive voice recognition. Usability issues included touch-sensing buttons, counterintuitive seat ventilation indicators, and hard-to-read steering wheel buttons. The Bose Performance Series audio system sounded great, but the head-up display was underwhelming.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS came with the MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, navigation, SiriusXM, and natural-language voice recognition. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with an optional head-up display. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was too sensitive. The touchscreen and instrument cluster had good graphics, but the navigation system had some issues, including suggesting a longer route unnecessarily.

The Cadillac XT6 offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including 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 in certain conditions. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA in crash tests.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS came with standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, surround-view camera, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.