Detroit 2019: 2020 Cadillac XT6: Comments

[Drew Dowdell]

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Cadillac released images and information on their all-new 2020 Cadillac XT6 today.  Based on the same chassis as the GMC Acadia, the new XT6 slots between the XT5 and the Escalade in terms of size and price.  Two trims are available, Premium Luxury and Sport.

The XT6 is powered by the familiar 3.6 liter V6 with 310 hp. Active fuel management comes standard and allows the engine to run in 4-cylinder mode when V6 power is not needed.  All-Wheel Drive is available on the Premium Luxury and is standard on Sport. The Sport model's AWD is a more advanced active twin-clutch design.  Sport also comes with Continuous Damping Control (note: Not Magnetic ride control - DD) and a faster steering ratio for more enthusiastic performance.  Power is fed through a 9-speed automatic transmission with Electronic Precision Shift. 

Inside the XT6 provides the driver and all passengers with "the best seat in the house". A contemporary interior aesthetic surround occupants with semi-aniline leather seating surfaces, carbon fiber trim on the Sport, and wood on Premium Luxury models.  Additionally available interior features include an in-cabin air ionizer, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats,  and a standard heated steering wheel. All models come with 6 USB ports for charging devices.

Cadillac's CUE Infotainment system now includes 1-touch pairing with users' phones via near field communication and a new rotary controller with intuitive jog functionality. CUE will now allow drivers to store their profile in the cloud for customization across compatible vehicles. 

Additional CUE features include:

• Updated navigation functionality with natural address entry.
• Capable of supporting SiriusXM 360L.
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi® hotspot (includes 3GB or three months of data, whichever comes first).
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for compatible smartphones.
• Next-generation, 15-watt wireless charging.
• Teen Driver.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6  will be built in Spring Hill TN and will go on sale later this year.

2020 Cadillac XT6 Debut.pdf

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[Robert Hall]

Interesting that they went with the short Acadia/Blazer wheelbase on this (according to the Car & Driver article). I guess they are saving the longer Traverse/Enclave wheelbase for a future XT7.   C&D called out the interior materials as being cheap and common.  How does it look in person? 

Edited January 13, 2019 by Robert Hall

[ocnblu]

Should be roundly panned for being so lazily presented.  Not competitive in the class.  Lincoln shows how it is done in this market space.  Profoundly terrible.  Looks like an old XC90's metrosexual brother who was conceived, miraculously, after being strained through the sheets.

[Drew Dowdell]

1 minute ago, ocnblu said:

Should be roundly panned for being so lazily presented.  Not competitive in the class.  Lincoln shows how it is done in this market space.  Profoundly terrible.  Looks like an old XC90's metrosexual brother who was conceived, miraculously, after being strained through the sheets.

Agreed, highly disappointed.

6 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Interesting that they went with the short Acadia/Blazer wheelbase on this (according to the Car & Driver article). I guess they are saving the longer Traverse/Enclave wheelbase for a future XT7. 

You're right.  Same wheelbase as Acadia, but 5 inches longer overall.

Acadia:

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase : in 112.5

Length, Overall : in 193.6

XT6

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 112.7
Overall Length: 198.8

[Robert Hall]

Should be competitive w/ the MDX and RX, though.    Just another AWD/FWD/transverse engine lease appliance gap-filler, nothing aspirational.    The Aviator seems way more compelling. 

Edited January 13, 2019 by Robert Hall

[ocnblu]

I wish I were 6'6" at times like this, I could say I cannot fit in it and that would be that.  Debuts at the bottom of the class.  Who does that?

[Drew Dowdell]

1 minute ago, Robert Hall said:

Should be competitive w/ the MDX and RX, though.    

I suppose.  I wanted Cadillac to aim higher like the Aviator. The Aviator is going to play in Land Rover's territory. This will be lucky to compete with MDX. 

[Robert Hall]

5 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I suppose.  I wanted Cadillac to aim higher like the Aviator. The Aviator is going to play in Land Rover's territory. This will be lucky to compete with MDX. 

The problem is GM won't invest in a proper RWD platform to take on Lincoln and the Europeans....so they cheaped out and put a fresh body and interior on a generic appliance platform... reheated rancid meat w/ new toppings.   Lazy, lazy, lazy.  

Edited January 13, 2019 by Robert Hall

[Drew Dowdell]

Acadilade.

[Robert Hall]

Trying to say something positive...I do like the brown color and the wheels.   Like the interior colors also. 

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I suppose.  I wanted Cadillac to aim higher like the Aviator. The Aviator is going to play in Land Rover's territory. This will be lucky to compete with Escape or Ecosport.

Fixed that for you.

44 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Trying to say something positive...I do like the brown color and the wheels.   Like the interior colors also. 

Lipstick on a pig.

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

The problem is GM won't invest in a proper RWD platform to take on Lincoln and the Europeans....so they cheaped out and put a fresh body and interior on a generic appliance platform... reheated rancid meat w/ new toppings.   Lazy, lazy, lazy.  

Once again...now that the ST twins are gone...Jeep seems to be the only domestic building things I actually want to own. This does not warm my heart towards Cadillac.

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

I wish I were 6'6" at times like this, I could say I cannot fit in it and that would be that.  Debuts at the bottom of the class.  Who does that?

Mitsubishi...so Glad that Cadillac is following the maker of the Japaneze Zero on a kamikaze path.

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

Should be competitive w/ the MDX and RX, though.    Just another AWD/FWD/transverse engine lease appliance gap-filler, nothing aspirational.    The Aviator seems way more compelling. 

Suddenly even to me Ford almost looks good. New Explorer. ..aviator...Escape is better than comparable GM offerings...they will bring out a revised Ecosport to fix that...new Bronco...wonder how much crow I would have to eat if I actually started being positive about Ford?

But if this is GMs nrw direction...Hyundai Santa Fe looks better than this.

[regfootball]

I don’t have much time right now to go full throttle on this like I want to but why does this approach remind of a “Cadillac XL7 “. Practically same dimensions. Pedestrian 3.6 v6. Badge engineered stretched common crossover to plug a showroom hole. Done on the cheap. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/suzuki/xl7/2007/specs/xl7-awd-4dr-luxury-w3rd-row-287331

except they’ll probably sticker it at 70k 

The Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator will wipe Cadillacs ass off the floor   I never thought I would go back to Ford products but it’s hilarious to see this train wreck  

but we also should not be shocked if this becomes Cadillacs main seller  grandma and grandpa would have bought an XT5 if it had a third row, you know 

 

Edited January 13, 2019 by regfootball

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

Should be roundly panned for being so lazily presented.  Not competitive in the class.  Lincoln shows how it is done in this market space.  Profoundly terrible.  Looks like an old XC90's metrosexual brother who was conceived, miraculously, after being strained through the sheets.

In a one star hotel with meth addicts on the sidewalk outside no less.

[Drew Dowdell]

3 minutes ago, regfootball said:

I don’t have much time right now to go full throttle on this like I want to but why does this approach remind of a “Cadillac XL7 “. Practically same dimensions. Pedestrian 3.6 v6. Badge engineered stretched common crossover to plug a showroom hole. Done on the cheap. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/suzuki/xl7/2007/specs/xl7-awd-4dr-luxury-w3rd-row-287331

except they’ll probably sticker it at 70k 

It's worse than that @regfootball I'll explain more when I'm not driving

[William Maley]

11 minutes ago, regfootball said:

I don’t have much time right now to go full throttle on this like I want to but why does this approach remind of a “Cadillac XL7 “. Practically same dimensions. Pedestrian 3.6 v6. Badge engineered stretched common crossover to plug a showroom hole. Done on the cheap. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/suzuki/xl7/2007/specs/xl7-awd-4dr-luxury-w3rd-row-287331

 

 

And oddly, almost the same design profile

[daves87rs]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

Should be roundly panned for being so lazily presented.  Not competitive in the class.  Lincoln shows how it is done in this market space.  Profoundly terrible.  Looks like an old XC90's metrosexual brother who was conceived, miraculously, after being strained through the sheets.

I kinda agree, and at the same time I like the funky front end....

Wonder if it will grow on us in time?

[Robert Hall]

12 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

I kinda agree, and at the same time I like the funky front end....

Wonder if it will grow on us in time?

Unusual to see a Cadillac w/ horizontal headlights..been a while.  

The kick up in the quarter window reminds of where Jeep has been going w/ recent designs like the Renegade and Compass.  I bet the next Grand Cherokee greenhouse will resemble this. 

Edited January 13, 2019 by Robert Hall

[A Horse With No Name]

7 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Unusual to see a Cadillac w/ horizontal headlights..been a while.  

The kick up in the quarter window reminds of where Jeep has been going w/ recent designs like the Renegade and Compass.  I bet the next Grand Cherokee greenhouse will resemble this. 

Except at 70 K for a Grand Cherokee Jeep will do everything short of having the girl at the reception desk perform an unmentionable act for me.  70K for Cadillac and people at the Bar will wonder why I put a junkyard Cadillac front clip on a Traverse.

20 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

I kinda agree, and at the same time I like the funky front end....

Wonder if it will grow on us in time?

In the same way bacteria on a petri dish grow in a alb.

26 minutes ago, William Maley said:

And oddly, almost the same design profile

Cadillac Grand Vitara....has a better ring to it than XT6.

Upon further reflection...one legacy brand did not die. Look at this...Spring Hill is still building Saturns!

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Except at 70 K for a Grand Cherokee Jeep will do everything short of having the girl at the reception desk perform an unmentionable act for me.   

HahaL...true, the Jeep will still have a proper platform I assume... from what I've read, they aren't going w/ the stretched Stelvio platform plan but a revised version of WK2 (as WK3) with short and long wheelbase versions...2021 supposedly. 

Edited January 13, 2019 by Robert Hall

[Suaviloquent]

I think it looks better than the XT5, I just didn't mesh with the really stubby proportions of that car.

I tried an experiment where I looked at the photo here that is front head -on 3/4 of it... I covered the light blade with my finger and then I realized... where have I seen this before? 

I think this car will sell pretty well, and I think this is what Cadillac purchasers (not customers) ultimately want. This is the XTS replacement. The interior is nice, the outside isn't ugly, and I almost think that Cadillac has realized that their crossover buyers don't cross shop  with the Germans, as Cadilllac doesn't offer anything except the Escalade that can get into really high price ranges and engines bigger than a V6.

[frogger]

Like an Ikea imitation of a 3 row luxury SUV, likely to be priced much higher than it merits.

 

[Robert Hall]

38 minutes ago, Suaviloquent said:

I

I think this car will sell pretty well, and I think this is what Cadillac purchasers (not customers) ultimately want.  

Yes, it's just a lease appliance for upscale suburban moms, targeting the RX...should do well with that niche.  Not an enthusiast vehicle.   

Edited January 13, 2019 by Robert Hall

[Cmicasa the Great]

I said it before and I'll say it again WE FAILED CADILLAC. Well I didn't cause I actually went out and bought every iteration of Art and Science since 2005 to 2016. Performance was their focal point and many BITCHED AND COMPLAINED.. Cadillac cars are exceptional performers.. possibly the best in the world. CTS, ATS. CT6... come on.. Even the XTS was a helluva performer.. WE BITCHED. Where are the sales? The sales came tho.. they came in the form of the XT5.. and Cadillac... on the brink at one point, is looking to emulate that success. The vehicle will most likely bring in new conquest buyers. 

How much?? I'm betting, considering the XT5 starts at $41K.. this will undercut the GLE by about $6K and start at $48K. the AWD version will come in at about $53K or about the same as the Avenir Enclave. I could be off by about $1000. 

We knew what this was. We did. Its a longer version of the XT5.. The Lincoln Aviator is a better vehicle in technical presentation.. but I think that this is the better vehicle for sales. U can not have your cake and eat it too. We saw this with the cars. Lexus and Mercedes prove this with appliance vehicles and some performance on the fringe. Cadillac's EV announcement is going to be their fringe. BlackWing will be their other. I also bring attention to the fact that the MKC, MKX, and MKT sales results don't even beat the singular XT5. The lauded CONTINENTAL has failed to outshine the CT6, despite the fact that the CT6 wasn't even the real competitor to it on Caddy's lot.. that always being the XTS, which certainly has outsold it. We'll see.. but its a strong possibility that GM is actually doing the right thing in its move to be different.

My only real unexpected disappointment with this is that it doesn't at least debut with any WOW ENGINE when Caddy has them on shelf. The 3.6LTT from the XTSVSport should have been optional from the start of the press release. I'm not even thinking the Blackwing.. I saying that the XT6 should have debuted with the base engine and the LF3. That simple. That simple. That simple. Exterior looks are very nice IMO. One of teh best looking in the segment. Far better looking than a GLE or GX.. Damn sure better looking than an MDX. The interior comments are ridiculous. Even if the transplanted the XT5's interior its still a very nice interior to be. Some writers are full of $#!+ . The XT5's interior has been praised many times over.

I expect 60K XT4, 55K XT5, and 45K XT6 sales.. Escalade remaining in the 35K range. 

Edited January 13, 2019 by Cmicasa the Great

[Suaviloquent]

Well optioned but not fully loaded XT6 or Denali Acadia?

I'll take the nicer interior, standard V6, better looks, better ride and more room every time. XT6 there for sure. I don't like the Buick aesthetic, but the Enclave needed to be the hauler like the Traverse so no wrong move by GM there.

This will be better than the RX-L, will match up well against the MDX and style wise above the GLE by a small margin. 

XC90 stomps the XT6 tho, and I agree with @Cmicasa the Great, that the Aviator being from a lower cachet Lincoln brand needs to be the better technical product to make a splash. Exactly how the CT6 is better than the Continental in terms of a more finished, developed car.

Though I think a Black Label Aviator vs Platinum XT6 will walk away the winner every single damn time. Cadillac could throw in the LF3 even... 

 

 

 

[smk4565]

Pretty bland and boring, looks sort of like a Hyundai Santa Fe for double the money which isn’t going to excite anyone or stir up buyers.  I would hope they price this in the high $40s, they better have some incentives ready to roll too.

Out of the gate they are less competitive to the X5, GLE, Q7,MDX, Aviator and XC90. How do you launch at the back of a segment, just think of this vehicle come 2025 when it is still on sale in its current form.

[regfootball]

cadillac needs to understand they can't just put plain old 3.6 in all their cars.  they have to circulate more of that twin turbo 3.0 around the horn, if even as optional.

 

at a minimum cadillac should have an all new completely knockout interior in this thing

 

in the end it still comes down to gramma and grampa wanted an XT5 with a third row....  in fairness, some or lot of elderly do have smaller garages and can't handle vehicles with larger wheelbases quite as well.  I love the Enclave but admit for some folks this as a three row may be easier to park and pilot to the pharmacy and back.

Edited January 13, 2019 by regfootball

[Suaviloquent]

Hey you can also pay XT5 money to get this engine in the Blazer! 

That means it has to be a luxury engine! Trickle down! Just like the Camaro getting the Alpha chassis!

[oldshurst442]

Apart for this being a CUV and obviously having a shytty name, I dont get the hate for it.

1. Its a 3 row cute ute made to sell in huge numbers

    a) Because that is what the consumers want

    b) Because that is what sells.

2. Its a  cute ute.  There is nothing any designer COULD do to make cute utes...cute. They are ungodly ugly things by nature. 

     a) either they get to be a box (with a hatchback)

     b) either they get to be rounded off boxes (with a hatchback)

3. Maybe Cadillac Deville would be a better name for this CUV? 

With that being said, Cadillac really dug into its past to design the rear 3/4 panel area.

I give you late 1960's Cadillac rear window designs

1968

1970

2019

The 2019 looks like a combo of that 1968 and 1970 design rear window...

I think it looks the part of a modern soccer mom station wagon. I think it looks OK for what it is and I think it looks good for a Cadillac CUV. 

No...it will NEVER be a classic Cadillac car, but hey, North Americans want to be able to sit their old fat asses (even if they are not old or fat or both) in their CUVs with ease...

You reap what you sow...

Dont be complainin' about how crappy lookin' transportation pods have become, because ya'll be buying them by the boat loads, these fancy cute ute vehicles you be buyin' because you be favorin' how you get in and out of them...

 

Edited January 13, 2019 by oldshurst442

[regfootball]

why wasn't this platform flexible enough to stretch the wheelbase even 2, 3, 4 inches......

[Cmicasa the Great]

2 minutes ago, regfootball said:

why wasn't this platform flexible enough to stretch the wheelbase even 2, 3, 4 inches......

Because they don't have to stretch the platform because they could have used Cxx Long (Traverse /Enclave) instead of Cxx short (Acadia) but also want to sell Escalades and a possible XT7. 

[Suaviloquent]

3 minutes ago, regfootball said:

why wasn't this platform flexible enough to stretch the wheelbase even 2, 3, 4 inches......

Because the next step up for Cadillac in size and what they want to offer the customer is not a longer Acadilade, but the Escalade EXT. 

1 minute ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Because they don't have to stretch the platform because they could have used Cxx Long (Traverse /Enclave) instead of Cxx short (Acadia) but also want to sell Escalades and a possible XT7. 

We replied at the same time LOL?

[Cmicasa the Great]

1 hour ago, regfootball said:

 

in the end it still comes down to gramma and grampa wanted an XT5 with a third row....  in fairness, some or lot of elderly do have smaller garages and can't handle vehicles with larger wheelbases quite as well.  I love the Enclave but admit for some folks this as a three row may be easier to park and pilot to the pharmacy and back.

Real quick.  I'mma need U to never sound like one of the silly clowns in the media again who actually know that the XT5 and Cadillac as a whole, is no longer a "grand ma/PA" company. The XT5's demo is actually 35-50 year old women 

[regfootball]

i only asked because proportionally for styling a few extra inches would look better.  GM platforms must not have any flexibility.

1 minute ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Real quick.  I'mma need U to never sound like one of the silly clowns in the media again who actually know that the XT5 and Cadillac as a whole, is no longer a "grand ma/PA" company. The XT5's demo is actually 35-50 year old women 

just judging by what i see casually in traffic its more like 50-65 yo women

[Robert Hall]

2 minutes ago, regfootball said:

i only asked because proportionally for styling a few extra inches would look better.  GM platforms must not have any flexibility.

Well, they have the short wheelbase, used by the Blazer, Acadia and XT5.  They have the long wheelbase, used by the Traverse and Enclave.  Don’t know why they went with the short wheelbase for this, unless they want to do a long wheelbase XT7 in the future. 

5 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

Real quick.  I'mma need U to never sound like one of the silly clowns in the media again who actually know that the XT5 and Cadillac as a whole, is no longer a "grand ma/PA" company. The XT5's demo is actually 35-50 year old women 

Yah, the XTS is their grandpa car.   This is for upscale suburban moms.  

[smk4565]

I think for 2020 and moving forward 100% of Cadillacs should have standard Super Cruise, turbo engine, 9-10 speed transmission and all wheel drive.  Unless of course it is an EV.  Yesterday’s Chevrolet V6 and front drive isn’t going to do jack squat to win buyers. 

Also their interiors are behind Lincoln who still trails Volvo and the Germans and maybe Lincoln has caught up to Lexus, but that still puts Cadillac in the back of the pack.

[Cmicasa the Great]

45 minutes ago, regfootball said:

i only asked because proportionally for styling a few extra inches would look better.  GM platforms must not have any flexibility.

just judging by what i see casually in traffic its more like 50-65 yo women

Can't go by what U see all the time. I was in an area of Maryland yesterday where U wild swear that the Cruze and Malibu were the best selling vehicles in the world. 3 of every 5 cars I saw were those 

[Robert Hall]

30 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

 Yesterday’s Chevrolet V6 and front drive isn’t going to do jack squat to win buyers. 

I doubt most people that lease such CUV appliances are even aware of what is under the hood or which wheels drive it.  They aren’t car enthusiasts.  So GM’s LCD approach should suffice in this niche.  

[smk4565]

37 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

I doubt most people that lease such CUV appliances are even aware of what is under the hood or which wheels drive it.  They aren’t car enthusiasts.  So GM’s LCD approach should suffice in this niche.  

Maybe so, but if they drive the Cadillac then drive any other luxury SUV they might not be as impressed with the Cadillac, even if they don't know what is under the hood.  I think a bigger problem for Cadillac (aside from brand image) is the interiors.

[ocnblu]

XT6 is nowhere near special enough to wear the crest.  I was going to say wreath and crest there for a second.

[surreal1272]

In a word, disappointing. (FWD AND only the 3.6L, that is available on almost everything GM offers). An AWD only TT V6 would change this perception. 

 

In another word, uninspiring (boring design). Too plain on the outside and the interior gets spanked by “lesser” CUVs (think Mazda CX-9).

 

That is all I have for yet another CUV that does nothing for me (Not CUV does, in fairness). 

[Robert Hall]

Surprised they aren’t offering the 2.0 also. 

[surreal1272]

The rear 1/4 of it honestly looks like an afterthought, like it was just slapped on there. I’ll take the Art and Science approach over this any day. That’s how unattractive this thing is.

[Robert Hall]

The rear 3/4 would look better without the black trim on the rear edges of the d-pillars...I guess it's there to try and make the rear window look wider, but it seems pointless.  Extending the taillights up the pillars ala Escalade would have been more interesting.

Edited January 14, 2019 by Robert Hall

[frogger]

Sad that  we can only say it is bette than the MDX and RX-L, I think those are two old designs, the MDX must be due for a full refresh within a year or two.   The Kia Telluride might be more interesting than this if they fit it with the Stinger GT motor.

 

[Paolino]

This is extremely boring!

[Suaviloquent]

It doesn't do anything new because it doesn't have to in order to be competitive. 

 

We can't blame GM for extracting the returns here to atleast continue to make excellent Camaro's and Corvettes for those that want real drivers cars, and if you want something truly baller you can get Denali and Escalade (till they still make'em CT6 and VSeries cars) which have a cachet far above the product itself offers

[daves87rs]

9 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

Unusual to see a Cadillac w/ horizontal headlights..been a while.  

The kick up in the quarter window reminds of where Jeep has been going w/ recent designs like the Renegade and Compass.  I bet the next Grand Cherokee greenhouse will resemble this. 

That is very true....

[Cmicasa the Great]

1 hour ago, ocnblu said:

XT6 is nowhere near special enough to wear the crest.  I was going to say wreath and crest there for a second.

OH!!! I see your issue.. U hate change. The Wreath is dead.. for like half a decade. Sales have been up globally and has attracted a younger demo. 

[ocnblu]

11 minutes ago, Cmicasa the Great said:

OH!!! I see your issue.. U hate change. The Wreath is dead.. for like half a decade. Sales have been up globally and has attracted a younger demo. 

Nah I was just saying it is not good enough to be what a Cadillac SHOULD be.  And I think the Lincoln Aviator is a much nicer vehicle, spec wise and looks wise, because I have nothing else to go on.