Subaru Crosstrek vs Cadillac XT6

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” As car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, Subaru imbued its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV, giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch. The Crosstrek featured black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height, affording 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Subaru also offered more vibrant colors on the Crosstrek, including Plasma Yellow Pearl for the 2021 model year.

Underneath, the Crosstrek rode on the same Subaru Global Platform as other models like the Legacy/Outback, Ascent, and Forester, providing a greater level of polish and refinement. The interior, virtually unchanged from the Impreza hatchback, was functional but somewhat plain-looking. The Sport-trim-level test car had Plasma Yellow Pearl accents that clashed with the Horizon Blue Pearl exterior, and the simulated carbon-fiber trim pieces looked cheap. However, the model did get water-repellant StarTex upholstery, which was handy for trips to the beach.

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 one feel like they should be dressed in a black suit and tie, ready to whisk someone famous off to the airport. The XT6 was attractive in a blandly inoffensive way, with towering front running lights that tapered inward, making it look too tall and narrow. The taillights were similar to those used by GMC, and the XT6’s proportions conveyed a conservatively tailored image fitting with the rest of Cadillac’s lineup.

Cadillac sold the XT6 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels, with prices starting just under $50,000. Our test vehicle, loaded with options including Super Cruise and Night Vision technologies, had an MSRP of $73,565. Despite the high price, the XT6’s interior didn’t look like it belonged in a luxury SUV of this cost. The rich materials were visually appealing, but the controls, displays, and overall layout could have been from any GM crossover SUV. The XT6 had analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen display, which, while functional, lacked the sophistication expected in this segment.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek offered a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine on the Sport and Limited trim levels, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trim levels continued with the previous 2.0-liter boxer-four, which made 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid, available since 2019, was not updated for 2021. The boxer engine, a Subaru trademark, provided a lower center of gravity, improving handling. However, the SUV-like stance negated some of that benefit.

A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while the Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only. All trim levels featured standard AWD with torque vectoring and X-Mode, designed for loose surfaces and incorporating hill descent control. The new Sport trim level also had Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. Despite these features, most Crosstreks likely spent their lives on pavement, where they exhibited predictable handling and a comfortable ride. The new 2.5-liter engine, despite its additional power, didn’t feel dramatically different, with adequate acceleration accompanied by CVT droning.

The Cadillac XT6 employed the same engines as the GMC Acadia. The standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivered 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque to the XT6 Luxury’s front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims used a 3.6-liter V6 engine, making 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. AWD was available with both engines, and our test vehicle had it, allowing for FWD or AWD mode selection, along with Tour and Sport driving modes.

The V6 was sufficiently powerful, and the XT6’s adaptive-damping performance suspension upgrade paired with 20-inch wheels provided a remarkably athletic performance on twisty roads. The XT6 handled speed humps and bumps with ease. However, the XT6 wasn’t particularly enjoyable to drive, with sensations leaning toward serenity rather than excitement. The official 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 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. It had 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made the Crosstrek competitive against other small crossovers in passenger space but not cargo space. CVT-equipped models had a rear-seat reminder to prevent leaving children or pets unattended. Up front, a handy cubby hole ahead of the shifter provided space for a phone, but storage space was minimal, with only two USB ports available.

The driving position felt higher than an Impreza’s, but the Crosstrek didn’t allow for towering over other vehicles like traditional crossovers or SUVs. However, outward visibility was good, thanks to a large amount of side glass and a car-like front fascia and hood.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6’s interior was not as roomy as expected. The power-adjustable front seats were comfortable but lacked the range of adjustment or massage function found in some rivals. The second-row captain’s chairs offered good legroom in their rearmost position, but the third-row seat was uninhabitable for adults. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with a small cubby on the dashboard and a bin under the center armrest.

The XT6 provided 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, with a sizable storage compartment under the cargo load floor. Power-folding the third-row seats created a 43.1 cubic-foot cargo area, with a maximum volume of 78.7 cubic feet.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate and responsive, with large analog knobs and buttons for vital functions like audio volume and climate control. Chunky buttons on the steering wheel controlled EyeSight driver-assistance features.

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 fell short with its analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The software powering the infotainment system was excellent, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and an available embedded navigation system. The intuitive natural voice recognition technology was terrific, but some usability issues persisted, such as gloss-black, touch-sensing buttons and counterintuitive indicator lights.

The XT6’s available Bose Performance Series premium audio system sounded great, and the digital rear camera improved rear visibility. However, the head-up display had a small viewing area and wasn’t as impressive as what General Motors offered in other vehicles.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model a “Top Safety Pick” rating, with the highest “good” rating in all crash tests and for front-crash prevention tech. EyeSight driver-assist features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. However, the positioning of EyeSight’s cameras limited the system’s functionality.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, with its optional Platinum Package, had every available driving-assistance and collision-avoidance system. Standard features included 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 available Super Cruise system, a highway driving-assist system that allowed for hands-free driving on approved highways. However, Super Cruise had limitations, such as inconsistent braking and difficulty with certain road conditions.

The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in every crash-test evaluation from the NHTSA, plus a commendable four-star rollover resistance rating.