Volvo XC90 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 a black suit and tie, 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 reminiscent of GMC's design, and overall, the XT6 conveyed a conservatively tailored image.

Cadillac offered the XT6 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels, 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 or feel as special as its price tag suggested. The analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen display felt outdated, and the overall layout was similar to other GM crossovers.

The 2023 Volvo XC90, on the other hand, showcased how far Volvo had come from its boxy designs of the past. The XC90 looked purposeful but not boastful, with a stout front end and an assertive grille. The "Thor’s Hammer" headlights added a modern flair, and the overall dimensions leaned toward rectilinear without resembling a toaster. Our test vehicle, an AWD Ultimate trim, featured 21-inch wheels and Platinum Gray paint with brown undertones, adding richness and depth.

Inside, the XC90's design was elegant, with a gorgeous two-tone leather steering wheel, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist interior featured wood deco inlays and a clean look, with few buttons or physical controls. The XC90's interior was a delightful blend of wonderful materials, creating a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere.

The 2022 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 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, but it lacked the turbocharging found in its competitors.

Our test vehicle had AWD and offered Tour and Sport driving modes. The V6 engine was sufficiently powerful, and the XT6 handled well on twisty roads, thanks to its adaptive-damping performance suspension and 20-inch wheels. However, the driving experience leaned toward serenity rather than excitement, and the panoramic sunroof creaked and squeaked. 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.

For the 2023 model year, Volvo introduced the B5 and B6 engines with mild-hybrid technology in the XC90. The B5 engine, with a turbocharger and 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Our test car had the B6 powertrain, which combined a supercharger, turbo, and mild-hybrid tech to deliver 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and smoothness, with minimal sacrifices in horsepower and torque. The XC90's eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, and the vehicle accelerated quickly. Road and wind noise were kept at bay, and the brakes inspired confidence. The XC90's driving experience was enjoyable, with a focus on simplicity rather than customizable driving dynamics. During our test, the XC90 handled a New Hampshire snowstorm with ease, although dedicated winter tires would have provided more confidence.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6's interior felt unexpectedly narrow, with a driving position that mirrored its tall and narrow exterior. The power-adjustable seats were comfortable, especially with the Platinum option package's semi-aniline leather, but they lacked the range of adjustment and massage function found in some rivals. 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 seat, with a sizable storage compartment under the cargo load floor. With the third-row seats folded, the cargo area expanded to 43.1 cubic feet, and the maximum volume was 78.7 cubic feet. However, the interior storage space was unremarkable, with small cubbies and bins.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's front seats were peaceful and pleasant, but the minimalist design led to some storage frustrations. There was no dedicated space for a cell phone, and the center console bin was small. The second row was comfortable and spacious, but adjusting the seats was challenging. The XC90 came standard with a second-row bench seat for seven-passenger seating, but removing the middle seat for captain's chairs cost $500 and required upgrading to the B6 engine.

The third-row seat was difficult to access, and space was limited. With the third seat in position, the XC90 offered 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the third-row seats expanded the cargo area to 41.8 cubic feet, and the maximum volume was 65.5 cubic feet, which fell short of competitors like the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Genesis GV80, and Acura MDX.

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, small 8-inch touchscreen display, and some usability issues. The infotainment system was excellent, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and intuitive natural voice recognition technology. However, the gloss-black, touch-sensing buttons, counterintuitive seat ventilation indicator lights, and illegible steering wheel button markings were drawbacks.

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 those in other GM vehicles.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, with Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant as standard features. The natural-language recognition was excellent, and owners could issue commands via Google Home devices. However, too many key functions were filed within the touchscreen interface, leading to frustration. The minimalist design lacked physical buttons and redundant controls, making it challenging to adjust features like the heated steering wheel and driver's seat position.

While some of these issues might fade with daily use, the XC90's tech required a bit of time to get used to.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 test vehicle had every available driving-assistance and collision-avoidance system, including 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 hands-free highway driving on approved roads. However, Super Cruise had limitations, such as inconsistent lane-keeping and abrupt braking.

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

The 2023 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety, with a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The XC90's advanced driver safety tech included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position. These safety features were standard on the 2023 XC90.