Cadillac’s first three-row crossover delivers enough power for all your driving needs. The 2021 Cadillac XT6 is sophisticated and expressive with its distinctive and responsive performance. The 2021 Volvo XC90 is elegant inside and out with an impressive list of features and power of its own. Look at what they both have to offer.
Design
The XT6 features style and distinction that sets it apart from the crowd. It is spacious, with seating for seven and the option to seat six with captain’s chair configuration. All three rows are comfortable and have plenty of head and legroom for adult passengers; and it is easy to get in and out of the back seats. The XT6 comes standard with a sunroof, roof rails, leather upholstery, heated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, and 18-inch wheels. 20-inch wheels are standard on the Premium Luxury and Sport trim, and the Sport trim adds premium leather. The XT6 features a high total cargo capacity, with 78.7 cubic feet of room behind the front seat, but behind the third-row seat there is just 12.6 cubic feet.
The XC90 is a three-row SUV with a spacious interior and an attractive and elegant design inside and out. Volvo’s biggest vehicle gives you seven-passenger seating plus plenty of cargo space. The front seats and second row provide plenty of room and ample headroom and legroom. The third row is best suited for children. It has 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third-row seats, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row down, and 85.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. Synthetic leather upholstery and power-adjustable front seats are standard; and genuine leather upholstery, heated and massaging front seats, heated second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel are available. Standard 19-inch alloy wheels come with the Momentum (Inscription Expression), and the R-Design and Inscription come with 20-inch wheels.
Power, Trims, Price
The Cadillac XT6 provides enough power for your driving needs. A new turbocharged four-cylinder joins the XT6 lineup for 2021. Buyers can choose from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 237-horsepower or a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine that can tow up to 4,000 pounds. Both come with a nine-speed automatic transmission and can have front- or optional all-wheel drive. The 310-hp V6 is still standard on the Premium Luxury and Sport models. The XT6 estimates an average 18/25 mpg in the city and on the highway with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive models get 17/24 mpg city/highway. There are three XT6 trims: Premium, Premium Luxury and Sport. The Luxury’s starting price is $47,995, Premium Luxury starts at $52,795 with front-wheel drive and $54,695 with all-wheel drive. The Sport starts at $58,420 for its all-wheel drive.
Every XC90 comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with three engine versions – T5, T6, and Recharge, which is a plug-in hybrid. The T5’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine gives 250 hp and 258 lb ft of torque. The T6 has a supercharged version of that engine with 316 hp and 295 lb ft of torque. The Recharge is the same as the T6 but adds an electric motor and battery pack to make 400 hp and 472 lb ft of torque. You will be able to go about 18 miles on all-electric power before it switches over to all gasoline power. All XC90 engine variants are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. These powertrains can be matched with three trim levels: Momentum (Inscription Expression for Recharge powertrain), R-Design, and Inscription. The Momentum starts out at $49,995 and pricing ranges to a starting price of $64,245 for the Inscription and $64,445 for the Recharge Inscription Expression.
Safety and Technology
The Cadillac XT6 features its CUE infotainment system with an easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen display, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, two USB ports for each row of seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Navigation is an optional feature, as is a rear-seat entertainment system with a DVD player and a 14-speaker premium audio system. Its driver assistance features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian direction, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, and Teen Driver system. It also offers plenty of available features plus a hands-free liftgate and power folding third-row seats.
A 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard in all XC90s. Included are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, 10-speaker audio system, wireless charging pad; and a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot is optional. A navigation system is included in the T6 and Recharge trim. It also is loaded with driver-assistance technology including standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, as well as a hands-free liftgate. A 360-degree camera system, and head-up display is included in the Advanced package option.
Conclusion
Cadillac is in a class of its own and the XT6 is part of that class. It features style, a roomy interior and a lengthy list of standard and available features. The 2021 Volvo XC90 has some style of its own and provides many standard features also. Both deliver power in their turbocharged engines, but the XC90 also features a plug-in hybrid option that creates more power. Whether you want the class of the Cadillac with its spacious interior or the hybrid option of the XC90 at a higher price tag, the choice is yours.