4 Best & Worst Cadillac XT6 Years (Stats & Examples)

The XT6 is basically a three-row version of the Cadillac XT5.

As such, many of the issues were caught early in the smaller SUV.

As you explore the XT6, whether you’re buying new or used, there are some model years that are better than others.

The Cadillac XT6 is one of the cheapest Full-Size SUVs.

The Best and Worst Years for Cadillac XT6 Are:

The 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years are the best. Meanwhile, since 2020 is the first model year to be released, it has the most issues and should be carefully considered before you buy one. The Cadillac XT6 was released in 2020 and is continuing to release into 2023 and beyond.

What Cadillac XT6 Years are the Most Reliable?

First, check our list of the best and worst years for the Cadilac XT5 (it’s very identical in some ways).

Reliability is critical as you explore a Cadillac XT6.

The SUV was built to be a larger version of the XT5. This ensures that it provides plenty of seating as well as cargo space.

When you consider reliability, you need a vehicle that doesn’t have a lot of recalls and that isn’t going to be in and out of the mechanic’s shop. Cost of ownership has to be a top factor as you shop for any SUV.

Some model years tend to be more reliable because of the features that are offered and how well-made they are. Reviews indicate that there are three model years that are preferred when shopping for the XT6.

2021 Cadillac XT6

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 is part of the first generation. It’s the second model year of the XT6.

Essentially, this is the first year after all of the kinks have been worked out. It’s considered highly reliable because there aren’t many recalls.

Only two recalls affected the 2021 XT6, and both are considered minor. The first has to do with the coaxial cables of the optional Surround Vision feature. The second is a potential for the fuel supply lines to be improperly seated. Both issues were discovered – and with recalls, it makes it easy to get the issues addressed.

JD Power provided a quality award to the midsize SUV.

Plus, it has been recognized for its safety on many occasions, including the IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

In the 2021 model year, an extra trim level was added – Luxury.

This now provided three trim levels in total, including:

1. the Premium
2. Luxury
3. and Sport options.

There’s a lot of flexibility for people to get the space that they want. A second row can be swapped for captain’s chairs.

While it drops the seating to six (down from seven), it offers more legroom.

There are also a lot of safety features that are provided standard, adding to the reliability.

Such features include emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and forward collision warning.

Finding a used 2021 Cadillac XT6 can offer you a reliable SUV with a bit of a cost savings compared to a new one.

Plus, you can count on it having low miles since it is only going to be a few years old.

2022 Cadillac XT6

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 is the one that is most commonly found available since it is one of the newer ones.

Most of what you find in the used lots will only have a small number of miles on the odometer.

The 2022 model year makes the list despite there being three recalls.

It’s not a large number of recalls, and most that you find will likely have already been recalled and fixed.

The issues didn’t stop it from getting the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ seal of approval.

The issues have to deal with an improper seal on the fuel tank rollover valve, a toe link that may not have been tightened properly on the left-rear suspension, and a missing warning label on the reservoir cap of the brake fluid.

These minor issues won’t impact the ability to drive and enjoy what the XT6 has to offer.

Reviews on the XT6 focus on a sharp exterior, a powerful V6 engine, as well as it providing a comfortable ride for the driver and passengers alike.

The Premium Luxury trim is when you can truly fall in love with the XT6. It offers a lot for the upgrade, including a more powerful V6 engine, upholstery that is made of real leather, and power-folding third-row seats.

Even without a trim upgrade, Cadillac manages to give you quite a bit for your money.

You’ll have:

• heated front seats,
• driver-assist technology,
• and Apple CarPlay.

The 2022 may be found new or used.

While used won’t be a huge cost saving since it isn’t going to be too heavy on mileage, it could still offer a savings of $5k or more off of the MSRP.

With so few recalls and no real complaints about performance issues, there’s nothing to worry about.

You only have to compare the three trim levels to determine which one suits your needs best.

The Cadillac XT6 is a highly sought-after SUV. It only hit the market in 2020, so there’s still not a significant amount of data. It is still in its first generation of vehicles.

Although the XT6 is still new, many people are eager to get behind the wheel of the seven-seater vehicle.

The 2022 offers a lot of luxury features to provide you with:

• comfort,
• convenience,
• and entertainment.

2023 Cadillac XT6

The 2023 Cadillac XT6 is the latest and greatest of the model years.

It still falls within the first generation as Cadillac has not chosen to make any major upgrades or revisions to the three-row SUV at this time.

There’s only one recall at this time.

Of course, that can change once more of the XT6 models are bought and released onto the roads.

The recall won’t have any bearing on the performance. Instead, the recall is because there is a certification label on the inside of the driver’s door that contains tire size information. That label may be illegible.

There are also no reviews that would be cause for concern.

Any negativity found in reviews on the XT6 focus on the lack of space in the third row as well as issues with the interior not being luxurious enough for the price tag.

The starting MSRP for the 2023 Cadillac XT6 is $48,595.

This will go up depending on the trim level and any optional equipment you add.

It’s important to realize that the MSRP is lower than many of the other luxury SUVs. Especially one with a third row. That means that you can still get quite a bit for your money.

With many of the other model years receiving the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status, it’s only expected that the 2023 will receive the same.

One of the most impressive awards that the 2023 Cadillac XT6 has won already is the JD Power Upper Midsize Premium SUV award.

Many awards don’t come out until mid-2023.

So, there’s no telling how many more Cadillac will be able to get as the XT6 seems to have had its best year since its release.

What Cadillac XT6 Years Should You Avoid?

One thing you never want is to buy a car, new or used, and have countless problems with it.

It’s why you do your research. You can often avoid buying a problematic vehicle.

The XT6 hasn’t been out for long, but it’s clear that one model year should be avoided. The 2020 is the first year and the one that is considered to be the most problematic.

Since its first year, it’s clear that Cadillac has gained its stride with this SUV.

2020 Cadillac XT6

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 debuted at the end of 2019 – and it fell short in a number of ways.

It is considered to be the larger SUV in the Cadillac lineup, being an entire row larger than the XT5.

Cadillac had hoped that the XT6 would be considered competition for the Lincoln Aviator as well as some of the luxury SUVs out of Europe.

While it offers a comfortable ride and has plenty of luxurious features throughout the interior, it is not memorable.

Consumer Reports found that there wasn’t anything unique so that it could stand out from the other luxury SUVs in its segment.

Some of the issues were about the aesthetics – it has large windows and a boxy form. And much of the SUV’s style was stolen from the Cadillac Escalade, including the lighting and the front-end design.

There isn’t a lot of legroom in the second or third row, leaving it cramped for full-size adults.

Some of the controls on the steering wheel are hard to reach.

And then, it’s important to look at the recalls. There were four in total – a relatively high number for a single model year.

For the XT6 models that were equipped with the optional Surround Vision feature, there was crimping found on some of the coaxial cables, causing the camera to fail intermittently.

There may also be issues with the powertrain. A recall was issued because some of the start/stop accumulator endcaps were missing bolts.

Another recall had to do with the fuel system. Some of the XT6 models had a plastic burr inside the jet nozzle of the fuel pump. This caused a blockage that resulted in insufficient fuel being supplied to the engine.

The final recall was safety-related. A diffuser component of one of the airbag inflators may have been crimped, making it impossible for the airbags to properly deploy.

While the recalls allow the vehicle to get fixed at no charge, they’re still issues – and many wonder what other issues may still be out there that have yet to be discovered.

Considering that a 2020 model year XT6 won’t provide that much cost savings in comparison to a 2021 or 2022, it may be best to avoid the model year.

What Are Some Typical Problems with the Cadillac XT6 Models?

The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t have a lot of problems – and there haven’t been any serious recalls out for the model, either.

It is important to note that there have only been four model years of the Cadillac XT6.

Over time, the number of problems may grow. Right now, there are only a few problems that you should worry about:

• Issues with the Surround Vision (optional feature)
• Improper seal in the fuel tank rollover valve
• Issues with the overall suspension

When you want to learn more about the typical problems, we have an in-depth article for you to read up on.

Also, the Cadillac XT6 is an SUV with very low ground clearance.

Sources

Common Problems & Repairs

Awards & Recognition

Go back to select best and worst year for every Cadillac model.

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ⓘ  The information in this article is based on data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall reports, consumer complaints submitted to the NHTSA, reliability ratings from J.D. Power, auto review and rating sites such as Edmunds, specialist forums, etc. We analyzed this data to provide insights into the best and worst years for these vehicle models.