2020 Cadillac XT6 Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

Cadillac has been in the SUV market for some time now. In fact, it has been over 20 years since the company introduced its first luxury SUV. This would be the continually popular Escalade.
Since then, the auto manufacturer has introduced several more models. Staying in the luxury mode, they shifted away from model names. Instead, they categorize them simply with letters and numbers, similar to the way it’s done at luxury SUV companies like Audi and BMW. Thus, in later years, Cadillac introduced the XT4 and XT5 to the world. Yet, with a long history of this type of vehicle under its belt, Cadillac never gave consumers a economical three-row SUV.

Enter the 2020 Cadillac XT6 -- the company's first third-row crossover. Yes, the Escalade has a third row, but it's a full-size SUV. The XT6 is smaller with a sedan-based chassis. Overall, it now takes a spot between the mid-size XT5 and the Escalade.

The XT6 comes with two trims with front-wheel and all-wheel-drive sub-trims. The MSRP starts at $54,000 for the basic trim and reaches $58,000 at the top end. This guide demonstrates the key differences between the trim levels in order to help buyers decide on the right XT6 configuration that works best for their needs.

Compare the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury FWD vs Premium Luxury AWD Trims.  What is the difference?

There aren't many differences between these two trims beside a $2,000 MSRP bump for all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, it's good that consumers understand to make the right decision. For instance, though they may have never considered an AWD SUV in the past, they may decide to do so with the XT6.

Under the hood, both trims come with a 3.6L V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing (VVT). This is a process within the powertrain that alters the timing of a valve lift to improve performance and fuel economy. The engine provides 310 horsepower and a torque of 271 pounds per foot. Pretty impressive for a crossover model.

This is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission on both trims. Installed with next-generation Electronic Precision Shift interface, shifts are both smooth and precise. The Premium Luxury AWD trim has one addition to this -- the ability to switch drive modes. This feature allows the driver to alternate between standard and AWD modes with a flick of a switch.

As standard between front-wheel and all-wheel-drive, there's a difference in fuel economy, although slight, between the Premium Luxury trims of the 2020 Cadillac XT6. Where the front-wheel-drive version gets 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, the all-wheel-drive gets one mile less for each. However, to compensate, the AWD trim has a 22-gallon gas tank as opposed to the 19-gallon tank on the FWD.

Both trims come standard with antilock disc brakes and an electronic parking brake. This is engaged by pressing a button instead of pushing down on an extra pedal. Then, it automatically releases once the vehicle accelerates.

There are no differences in the XT6's exterior between the two trims. Each comes with 20-inch alloy wheels with a polished finish and a windshield that is acoustically designed to mute outside sounds. They also feature a driver's side-view mirror with three functions. It's heated to quickly melt snow and ice, it auto dims once the sun goes down, and it contains integrated turn signal indicators.

Comfort and convenience continue on both trims with a hands-free power liftgate, deep tinted glass for cabin privacy, and a power sunroof. Standard on all trims, this feature has double-sized glass that opens over the first row. In addition, it offers a power sunshade to block light and keep the interior cool.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 continues to get the luxury treatment on the inside as well as the exterior. It starts with power adjusting front seats. Both the driver and passenger have eight ways to move their seat forward and back, up and down, and recline. It's paired with a two-way lumbar control to support the backs of front row users.

When in the car, the driver won't have to touch a cold steering wheel in the winter as its heated in both the FWD and AWD trims. Furthermore, the humidity won't seep in the cabin during the summer and winter thanks to sensors that continually read temperature conditions. As it detects humidity issues, the airflow is automatically adjusted.

Cargo space is also the same on both of these trims. When the second and third-row seats are completely folded down, the 2020 Cadillac XT6 contains almost 79 cubic feet of space. While not as voluminous as the truck-sized Escalade, it has plenty of room to store various-sized cargo.

Audio features and connectivity are the same on both trims. Each comes standard with a Bose eight-speaker audio system with an optional package to go up to 10 speakers. The driver and passengers can stream their favorite songs on this system with a built-in 4G LTE hotspot. When the power on their smart devices goes down, they are able to restore it through wireless charging and six USB ports.

The Premium Luxury FWD and AWD trims also come with the Cadillac user experience package. This includes an eight-inch infotainment touch screen with voice recognition technology. It helps pair mobile devices to the audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.

Both trims have extensive safety and driver assist features. Seven airbags are placed throughout the cabin to cover the driver and passengers in all rows. A HD rear vision camera provides clear views of the area directly behind the vehicle to help park and avoid objects. The review mirror automatically dims when it senses bright light from behind.

Another feature is a safety alert driver's seat. This warns the consumer through seat-bottom pulses instead of beeps when it comes to crash avoidance. In addition, these 2020 Cadillac XT6 trims come with a teen driver configuration. When activated, it can limit certain vehicle features until the teen performs various actions. It also generates an in-vehicle report card with information on driving habits.

Standard driver assist features on both trims include a rear cross traffic alert that displays warning triangles on the rear vision screen. Assistant signals and alerts warn the driver if they are veering out of their lane or if there's a vehicle in their blind zone as they merge. Forward alerts detect imminent collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles.

The warranty for both trims doesn't change. It comes with a free maintenance visit and a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Also standard is a roadside assistance program and protections for corrosion and the powertrain.

Overall, the choice between the Premium Luxury FWD and AWD trims on the 2020 Cadillac XT6 doesn't depend on its features, which are nearly identical. It comes down to use. If the consumer will drive this mostly in the city and highway, then the FWD trim is sufficient. However, if they live in an environmentally harsh area or will frequently travel on rougher terrains, then the AWD trim is the way to go. However, if it's in the consumers budget, spending the extra $2,000 to go from one drive train to the other may be worth it for future investment.

Compare the 2020 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury AWD vs Sport AWD Trims. What is the difference?

Besides the $3,000 price difference, there are only a few contrasts between these two trims. Most of them fall under the power/drive trains and design.

For instance, the Sport AWD trim comes with a 170-amp alternator instead of the 155-amp one that is installed in the Premium Luxury AWD. Because the engine can heat up while the vehicle is in AWD mode across rough terrain, the Sport trim comes standard with a heavy-duty cooling system. This helps dissipate the excess heat to maintain performance.

Another inclusion in the Sport AWD trim is a chassis with real-time damping suspension. This seamlessly adjusts to road conditions every two milliseconds. The all-wheel-drive also gets a boost with sport control and twin clutch. The twin equipment distributes even torque to the right and left tires for a smoother ride.

The Sport AWD's exterior comes standard with 20-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels instead of the six-spoke version featured on the Premium Luxury AWD trim. Also part of the main package are body-color door handles and gloss black roof rails.

Inside, everything is the same with standard features and optional packages. For instance, consumers can order ventilated front row seats, Surround Vision record to save images from the camera, and a powered universal tablet holder. If the buyer is looking for passenger entertainment, then they can purchase a rear seat infotainment system with DVD player for both trims.

Because the differences between these two AWD trims are minor, it's best to go with the Premium Luxury version instead of the Sport. That is, unless the consumer intends to use the vehicle on rough terrains most of the time. Then, it's worth the extra money to bump up to the Sport trim. Not for the interior or exterior design. Rather, for the extra controls that distribute torque evenly between the tires and mute the bumps and ruts of off-road travel.

Which Trim to Choose?

In the end, the consumer can't go wrong with the Premium Luxury AWD trim of the 2020 Cadillac XT6. Thanks to manageable fuel efficiency for a crossover three-row SUV as well as a small MSRP increase, it works for buyers that want the chance to drive all types of road surfaces.

To break it down, The Premium Luxury AWD trim is a better deal than the Sport. One would expect the latter trim to have much more enhancement, particularly in exterior and interior designs. However, save for one or two minor differences, it's the same. Thus, it doesn't merit a $3,000 price difference.

On the other hand, the $2,000 increase in MSRP is a good deal between the Premium Luxury FWD and AWD trims. Should a consumer with front-wheel-drive want to switch to an all-wheel drive train, then the upgrade cost is going to be much more than $2,000. Furthermore, they will still maintain all of the luxury standards identical in both trims.

However, this is only if the consumer thinks they'll utilize AWD at some point. If they intend to purchase the crossover SUV simply for its seven-passenger capacity, then it's probably not worth the extra money from their budget. Going to the AWD version of the Premium Luxury trim is only if they want to start making the move toward driving on rougher terrains.

Whatever trim the consumer decides on, be aware that the price of the 2020 Cadillac XT6 can increase significantly above the standard MSRP. There are enough optional packages across all features to jump the costs several thousand dollars. Some of these extras are cosmetic. However, there are others in the safety, comfort, and driver assist areas that could entice buyers. In the end, it's best to shop wisely once a test drive is completed to determine what works for them and their budget.