Tale of two Cadillacs. The 2022 Cadillac impresses from the outside with its stunning body that’s sure to grab plenty of stares. Inside, though, things aren’t as gawk-worthy. Add to this a vanilla base four-cylinder engine, and you have a Caddy with some identity issues.
Strong first impression wanes inside. The 2022 Cadillac XT6’s exterior boasts a strong and aggressive look with its upright design, pronounced grille, glaring headlights, and sharp body lines. It truly looks the part of a muscular luxury crossover to rival the BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class.
Inside, the Cadillac falls relatively flat, failing to make good on its executive exterior. Instead, the interior feels far more middle management with its soft curves, simple color schemes, and basic setup. It’s nice, but a big downgrade from what the body offers.
Plus, the seats, even in their top-of-the-line semi-aniline covering, feel less luxurious than non-luxury rivals like the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride.
V6 is worth the upgrade. The base 2022 Cadillac XT6 has all the features one would expect, including an eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, and more. The only downside is it comes standard with the 237-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
It’s well worth the small price to upgrade to the Premium Luxury trim, which includes the 310-hp V6, real leather upholstery, power-folding third-row seats, and more.
The Aviator, X5, and Hyundai Palisade all come with potent V6 engines, leaving the XT6 in their collective dust.
Roomy cabin, sans the third row. The 2022 Cadillac XT6 has a roomy first and second row of seats, but the third row gets very tight with just 29.5 inches of legroom. This falls far behind nearly every competitor other than the Aviator’s 29.2 inches.
Buyers seeking a more functional third row will find 33.5 inches in the Buick Enclave and 31.4 inches in the Hyundai Palisade.
The XT6’s third row also squishes the cargo room to just 12.6 cubic feet. The closest competitor to this is the Hyundai Palisade with 18 cubic feet. Buyers who want a third row with cargo room can get 23.6 cubes in the Enclave and 22.6 cubes in the Aviator.
Fold-down the XT6’s rear seats, and its cargo area grows to a more respectable 43.1 cubes to the second row and 78.7 cubes behind the first row. This is still well behind the Enclave, but it’s about in line with the other competitors.
Final thoughts. Buyers seeking a unique outward appearance from their luxury SUV will find this in the 2022 Cadillac XT6. Sadly, this powerful look is all for show as its interior and base four-cylinder engine leave us desiring a lot.
Buyers seeking a sleeker interior will find this in the GLE-Class or Hyundai Palisade. Plus, these models include much more base power.
