Cadillac has formally put the XT6 on discover, confirming the three-row luxurious SUV will exit the stage by the tip of this yr. For a lot of, this would possibly seem to be a stunning transfer, particularly in a market nonetheless obsessive about crossovers and SUVs. However for us, it’s extra of a quiet “lastly.” Regardless of being positioned as a premium household hauler, the XT6 by no means fairly delivered on the promise Cadillac made — particularly when measured in opposition to the long-lasting standing of the Escalade.
Let’s be trustworthy — the XT6 at all times felt prefer it was constructed to fill a spot in Cadillac’s lineup somewhat than to push the envelope of luxurious or design. Since its 2019 debut, it performed catch-up in a fiercely aggressive midsize luxurious SUV section, but by no means actually caught the momentum we anticipated. Whereas final yr’s U.S. gross sales hit 20,225 models — a modest 5.8% enhance over 2023 — these numbers are nonetheless lower than half of what the Escalade pulled in. For a model that prides itself on status, that’s telling.
Cadillac’s future is leaning closely electrical, with new EVs just like the Optiq, Vistiq, Lyriq-V, and the Escalade IQL already making headlines. But Cadillac continues to be strolling a twin path — an up to date gas-powered Escalade has simply hit the streets, and inside combustion isn’t disappearing from the model’s plans till after 2030.
So the place did the XT6 fall quick? For starters, it lacked the distinctive character and upscale presence we anticipate from Cadillac. The inside design, whereas competent, didn’t really feel particular — actually not when in comparison with rivals just like the Lincoln Aviator, Audi Q7, or Acura MDX. And regardless of being a three-row SUV, it felt extra like an overgrown XT5 than a real step towards Escalade-level opulence. It was a car that checked packing containers somewhat than turned heads.
This information additionally comes on the heels of Cadillac retiring the smaller XT4 and prepping to sundown the XT5 in 2026. Curiously, these fashions will proceed on in China, the place Cadillac’s three way partnership with SAIC retains them related — and even refreshed. The Chinese language-market XT5 simply obtained a facelift, however don’t anticipate that up to date model to make its means stateside.
Cadillac is clearly drawing a line between its previous and its future. The XT6, together with its XT4 and XT5 siblings, represented an period of typical luxurious crossovers. However the model is transferring towards a portfolio that appears sleeker, extra tech-forward, and — not less than in idea — extra becoming of a luxurious nameplate attempting to reinvent itself in a post-combustion world.
Whereas the XT6 was a stable household choice with a premium badge, it by no means reached for extra. And that’s why, because it disappears from showrooms, we’re not precisely mourning the loss. Cadillac’s future seems to be extra daring — and that’s precisely what it wants.