Introducing the Cadillac XT6

For more than 20 years, a desire to own a Cadillac and move more than five people at a time meant there was only one choice: spend close to $100,000 on an Escalade.

With the arrival of the Cadillac XT6, buyers who want a smaller vehicle with three rows of seating have a new option.

The XT6 completes Cadillac’s SUV lineup, which along with the Escalade also includes the compact XT5 and the new subcompact XT4 introduced late last year.

It shares its naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 with the XT5 as well as the Chevrolet Blazer and the GMC Acadia, which is the General Motors product against which the XT6 is most comparable in size.

In the XT6, this engine is estimated to produce 310 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm and is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

Unlike many Cadillac products, no entry-level grade is planned for the XT6 at launch. Instead, two approximately equivalent higher grade levels will be offered: Premium Luxury and Sport. Standard equipment across both lines includes seven-passenger seating with a power-folding third row, LED headlights with automatic high beams plus LED daytime running lamps and tail lights, 20-inch wheels, a heated and power-adjusting leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power sunroof, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless charging pad, subscription-based on-board 4G LTE Wi-Fi. A six-seat configuration with second-row captains’ chairs is also available with both models.

A long list of safety equipment is also standard and includes forward collision alert, following distance indicator, low-speed forward automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, the General Motors haptic safety alert seat, and the rear seat reminder and teen driver features.

The Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package adds an 8-inch colour gauge cluster display, colour head-up display, Cadillac’s rear camera mirror with a lens washer, a surround camera, rear pedestrian alert, and automatic parking assist with braking.

A Driver Assist Package is also available, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic seat belt tightening, and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The Comfort and Air Quality Package incorporates Cadillac’s in-vehicle air ionizer, automatic heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row outboard seats. The night vision feature is an extra-cost option, as is a 14-speaker Bose sound system.

The models are differentiated through visual and material accents. A metallic highlight that Cadillac calls Bright Galvano is used on XT6 Premium Luxury, while Sport makes use of gloss black features set against more aggressive visual details. In the interior, Premium Luxury receives real wood inserts and Sport will feature carbon fibre.

The Sport model also uses an advanced dual-clutch all-wheel drive system and an active sport chassis suspension along with available 21-inch wheels.

Pricing for the XT6 Premium Luxury will start at $60,995 in Canada, while the XT6 Sport is priced from $63,795. First drives and arrival in dealerships will begin later this summer.

Stephanie Wallcraft is an award-winning automotive journalist based in Toronto who was raised by a full-time autoworker and believes that Canada’s diversity is its strength.