Cuttingly tailored seven-seater

“XT6 is more than just a three-row XT5”

“XT6 is a spotless three-row luxury crossover”

“XT6 was born with a substantial resolution aiming to bridge the gap between the smaller XT5 and the all-mighty Escalade”, said Issam.

If we go back in time to year 2004, we all remember that Cadillac was one of the first luxury automakers to produce three-row, mid-sized crossovers. At that time, it was the famous SRX. Though Cadillac uninhibited this model and replaced it with the XT5, a five-passenger model with two seating rows. That’s why the XT6 was born with a substantial resolution aiming to bridge the gap between the smaller XT5 and the all-mighty Escalade.

Driving Impressions

From a professional perspective, when in the cars industry, some vehicles are amazingly addictive to look at, some others don’t have attractive bodies, and others have neutral looks that you won’t remember for long. That’s what the XT6 is all about. Although, when I first drove the Cadillac XT5 back in Berlin in 2016, I really liked it, but my concern was the more feminine front fascia of the vehicle. Regarding the XT6 that I drove in Dubai, it just looks like any three-row crossover with some makeovers to make it look like a Cadillac. I appreciated the effort made by Cadillac in terms of design to at least make it fit both genders.

When you jump inside the cockpit, you can see how remarkable the material used is, not to forget the interior panels covered with leather and suede in the loaded Premium Luxury version we drove. The other Sport model, that we also had the chance to drive, gets real carbon fiber trim with copper wires woven into the material for a metallic glint. Shift paddles are made from real metal and you get an agreeably enhanced infotainment system called CUE.

The six-or seven-passenger XT6 is powered by a 310-hp V6 engine. It is available with either front-wheel drive or with one of two all-wheel-drive systems and comes with 9-speed automatic transmission as standard. It’s based on the two-row XT5, but has gained 23 cm in overall length, along with minor increase in height and width to provide extra seating.

In terms of tech features, the XT6 has a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and integrated Wi-Fi hotspot with wireless charging for smartphones. Driver-assistance features are also available such as: automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, and an optional peripheral vision camera system that provides an aerial view of the vehicle, making maneuvers and obstacles easier to perform.

The rear-view mirror has a rear-view camera available as an option to eliminate obstacles that could obscure the view provided by a conventional rear-view mirror, such as passengers, head rests or the vehicle’s own structure.

The driving experience was extremely soft with no sound at all; the interior cabin is really noise-free especially when driving on the highway. Tech features and driving assistance features are really helpful and convenient. To all of you who might ask about the sport’s version package: No, don’t expect it to fly above the clouds like a V-Series sedan, but the XT6 Sport definitely delivers a competent and fun ride unlike the premium luxury. As for the steering, I could feel the road feel, however the steering wheel felt a bit light in my hands. Surely it’s not the steering wheel of the outgoing SRX but somehow didn’t meet my expectations.

Verdict

The XT6 is available in showrooms and dealers now across the Middle-East.

Overall, it is honestly a fine and perfectly-made family vehicle. It does have agreeable features and everything but doesn’t compare to the three-row luxury crossover rivals’ pack. I can say that Cadillac fans will love it and rush to grab one and add it to their garage. I can see them using it to pick up their children from a football game or camping arena in style and luxury, while having the super sedans or even the big-daddy Escalade parked. From my point of view, I think Germans still make slightly better three-row SUVs. However, don’t underestimate the Swedish and Japanese vehicles (which can be on your shortlist too).

Rivals: Infiniti QX60, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90

Pros: Multi-gender taste of the exterior design, comfortable cabin, excellent sound proofing, high-quality interior materials

Cons: Light steering wheel, more technology can be implemented to reach German standards

One word: Luxe carrier

3.5 / 5 stars

Specs

3.6-liter V6, 310 hp @ 6600 rpm, 367 Nm @ 5000 rpm

9-speed automatic, FWD/4WD

0-100 kph: 7.2 secs, top speed 233 kph, fuel consumption: 11.8 L / 100km

Weight: 2,127 kg