2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Cadillac XT6

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 looked sophisticated with design cues reminiscent of the XT4 and XT5 crossovers. It was offered in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trim levels. The XT6 Sport was particularly striking, featuring a traditionally-styled grille with darkened accents at the lip between the grille and hood, as well as around the lower bumper. The window surrounds, roof rails, and rear bumper got a similar darkened treatment. Its look was further enhanced by 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with Android Satin finish pockets introduced in 2021. The sharp lines and slim all-LED headlights reinforced a premium appearance characteristic of a Cadillac SUV. The XT6 was available in seven paint colors, though only the standard gray was surcharge-free. A sunroof came standard across all models.

Inside, the XT6’s cabin mirrored that of the XT5 but was slightly larger due to overall size differences. It was available in three color options—Jet Black, Cirrus (light grey), and Maple Sugar. The most luxurious aspect of the interior was the seating, especially with the available Platinum Package, which added semi-aniline leather upholstery, a microsuede headliner, and premium floor mats. Although the dashboard area was less premium compared to the seats, it still maintained a decent aesthetic with pleasant steering wheel and console surfaces.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander presented a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design. The flared fender arches and elevated third-row window contributed to a more compact outward appearance. However, it had a spacious interior with clever storage solutions. The XSE trim, in particular, featured bold red optional leather within a more sedate navy blue exterior. This trim level also included unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension.

Toyota's Highlander came in several trims: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The base L trim offered valuable features like 18-inch alloy wheels, pushbutton start, proximity keyless entry, and a three-zone climate control system. As trims advanced, additional features like LED fog lights, smart key systems, synthetic leather upholstery, and wireless device charging were included. The XSE trim brought sporty elements, including revised bumpers and 20-inch alloy wheels. Higher trims like the Limited and Platinum brought luxury touches such as heated and ventilated front seats, JBL premium stereo system, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was driven by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produced 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. This engine also powered the Premium Luxury trim, whereas the base Luxury trim came with a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine producing 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine ensured smooth performance. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, it delivered power effectively without gear-hunting issues.

Cadillac offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) as optional. The XT6 Sport came exclusively with AWD. The heaviest in its lineup at 4,690 pounds, this made the XT6 Sport feel weighty and less dynamic, particularly during parking, winding roads, and harsh accelerations. While other three-row SUVs, like the Toyota Highlander, had better weight distribution, the XT6 was somewhat compromised.

Fuel economy figures were comparable to similar vehicles. The turbocharged four-cylinder delivered 21 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 23 combined. The V6 FWD version achieved 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, with AWD versions losing roughly 1 mpg across the board.

Conversely, the 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. It used an eight-speed automatic transmission routing power to either FWD or AWD. The transmission featured tap-shift functionality with steering-mounted paddle shifters on certain trims. The drive-mode button offered Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, while AWD included Mud/Sand and Rock modes.

This generated fine performance in various scenarios, with plenty of pickup for highway overtakes, albeit somewhat less lively from a standstill. The sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim minimized body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride over bumps, exhibiting well-weighted steering on turns. Properly equipped, the Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds, which was average for the class. Its max payload was 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The Cadillac XT6 allowed seating for seven as standard, with optional second-row captain’s chairs at an additional cost. While its seats were comfortable and the first two rows could be heated, it underperformed compared to competitors like the Acura MDX. Nonetheless, adults could fit into the third row—though less comfortably than in rival models—and the small-item storage in the front row was not ideal, lacking convenient spaces for personal items.

Cargo space was a bright spot for the XT6, offering more overall cargo room than many rivals. The power liftgate was standard, with hands-free available on higher trims, complemented by power-folding third-row seats. Remote-folding second-row seats were an upgrade option. The cargo floor was high, but typical for its class, requiring the third-row seats to be down for larger storage.

Meanwhile, the Toyota Highlander offered ample cargo space—84.3 cubic feet with all seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and 16 cubic feet behind the third row. Removing second- and third-row seats was easy, thanks to quick-release latches and pull straps, and higher trims featured a hands-free power liftgate. The base L trim had an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and plentiful storage in deep door pockets and versatile center trays.

Second-row captain’s chairs in the XSE trim facilitated accessibility to the third row and provided extra space, which was helpful for families on long trips. The second row was spacious enough for adults, but the third row remained only adequate for short journeys.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6's technology was solid but unremarkable. The SUV featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, tri-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with six USB ports. Upgrades included an air ionizer, a 14-speaker Bose audio system, heated/ventilated front seats, and navigation. However, the screen size was smaller than rivals and could feel cluttered.

In comparison, the 2022 Toyota Highlander included a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. It integrated hard buttons for ease of use, which might become more appreciated as more functions transition to touchscreens. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and both USB and USB-C ports. Upgrades could include a digital instrument panel screen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

Safety was robust in the Cadillac XT6 with standard features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, a high-definition rearview camera, and the Safety Alert Seat. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional packages included adaptive cruise control, automatic seat belt tightening, and enhanced emergency braking. The XT6 received high safety ratings—five stars for frontal crash tests and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS.

The Toyota Highlander also shone in safety, coming standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite. This included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included front/rear parking sensors and a surround-view parking monitor.