Compare the2022 BMW X7VS 2022 Cadillac XT6

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XT6 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X7 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT6 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X7. But it costs extra on the XT6.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X7’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X7’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X7 and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The BMW X7 weighs 707 to 1498 pounds more than the Cadillac XT6. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the XT6’s (12 vs. 6 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT6.

Reliability

The battery on the X7 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the X7’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The XT6’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X7’s reliability 26 points higher than the XT6.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 third among large premium suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The XT6 isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 9 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The X7 has more powerful engines than the XT6:

	Horsepower	Torque
X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	335 HP	331 lbs.-ft.
X7 M50i 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Alpina XB7 4.4 turbo V8	612 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
XT6 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	235 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6	310 HP	271 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6:

	X7	XT6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96.8 MPH	93.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the X7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT6 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X7 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The XT6 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

	X7 xDrive40i	X7 M Sport	XT6
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.4 inches

The X7 stops much shorter than the XT6:

	X7	XT6
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the XT6 (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 235/55R20). The Alpina XB7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT6 (F:285/35R23 & R:325/30R23 vs. 265/45R21).

The X7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT6’s standard 65 series tires. The Alpina XB7’s optional 285/35R23 front and 325/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT6. The Alpina XB7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The XT6 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X7 Alpina has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The XT6 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XT6, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Alpina XB7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XT6.

The X7 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X7’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XT6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X7’s wheelbase is 9.5 inches longer than on the XT6 (122.2 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

The X7 xDrive40i handles at .86 G’s, while the XT6 Sport AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X7 xDrive40i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT6 Sport AWD (26.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a 2.05 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (8.7 vs. 6.65 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The X7 has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .7 inches more rear shoulder room and 3.8 inches more third row legroom than the XT6.

Cargo Capacity

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the XT6.

	X7	XT6
Behind Third Seat	12.8 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.6 cubic feet	43.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	90.4 cubic feet	78.7 cubic feet

The X7’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The XT6’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The X7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (5950 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT6 is only 4000 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7500 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X7 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT6. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT6, the X7 offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X7’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the X7 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the XT6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X7 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT6 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The X7’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The XT6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the X7’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the XT6’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The XT6’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X7’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Cadillac doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the XT6.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

The X7 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT6.

Economic Advantages

The X7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X7 will retain 45.71% to 47.24% of its original price after five years, while the XT6 only retains 38.34% to 38.37%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X7, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT6 isn't recommended.