Compared: 2023 Volvo XC90 vs. 2023 Cadillac XT6
While Volvo tempts buyers with a strong design, Cadillac aims to make its three-row crossover a value proposition.
Volvo | Cadillac
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The Volvo XC90 and Cadillac XT6 compete in the luxury midsize SUV segment, each boasting three rows of seats and top safety ratings. The XT6 bests the XC90 in price but lags behind in fuel economy and standard equipment.
Volvo
Starting Price for XT6 Much Lower Than XC90's
The XC90 lineup opens at around $57,000 with the Core trim level and Volvo's 247-hp powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, supported by a 48-volt hybrid system that helps smooth out automatic stop/start operation and increases fuel efficiency. The Swedish automaker also offers a more powerful version of that engine across the range. Called the B6, this powertrain makes 295 horsepower and brings the Core model's price to $62,000. The tow rating for the B5 and B6 is 5,000 pounds. There's also the 455-hp XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrid. It can travel up to 35 miles on electricity alone and begins at just under $73,000. All-wheel drive is standard on all models.
Cadillac
The cost of admission for the XT6 is about $50,000, roughly $7,000 less than the XC90's. That's for the Luxury trim, complete with a 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. Moving up to the mid-level Premium Luxury trim for $6,000 more or lineup-topping Sport model with a base price of about $62,000 brings a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 and an increase in towing capacity, from 1,000 pounds to 4,000. All-wheel drive costs $2,000 extra on the two lower trims and comes standard on the Sport.
Volvo
Both Volvo and Cadillac Are Rich in Interior Features
The XC90 Core seats seven, though Volvo offers captain's chairs in Plus and Ultimate models. Kids will feel right at home in the third row, with almost 32 inches of legroom, but taller adults might feel the pinch. Standard features include a 12.0-inch instrument panel, a 9.0-inch infotainment display with Google built in, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, blind-spot monitoring, and leatherette seating. Buyers seeking a leather interior and a 360-degree camera will need to step up to the XC90 Plus or better trim, and Volvo reserves front-seat ventilation, a head-up display, and a premium Harman Kardon sound system for the top model.
Cadillac
The XT6 comes standard with seven seats and gives buyers the option of captain's chairs on the top two trims — just like the XC90. The base model boasts leatherette seats, a panoramic sunroof, and blind-spot monitoring as well, but the Cadillac's infotainment screen is an inch smaller than the Volvo's, and its instrument cluster features a relatively small display flanked by analog gauges. Adaptive cruise isn't on the menu until you reach the Premium Luxury trim, but that model costs less than the entry XC90. It also opens the door to luxe features such as leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and Cadillac's Super Cruise hands-free-driving tech.
The Volvo XC90 and the Cadillac XT6 both earned the highest rating of Top Safety Pick Plus from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Volvo
XC90 and XT6 Evenly Matched in Fuel Economy
The XC90 with the entry powertrain returns 25 mpg on the EPA's combined test cycle. When equipped with the higher-power B6 setup, Volvo's midsize crossover sees 22 mpg. The Recharge, meanwhile, puts those numbers to shame. It manages 66 MPGe combined.
Cadillac
Whether you choose front- or all-wheel drive, the four-cylinder-equipped XT6 achieves an EPA combined estimate of 23 mpg, and the V6 model sees 21 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
