Compare the2023 Cadillac XT6VS 2022 Lexus RXL

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RXL doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the XT6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The RXL doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT6 and the RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	XT6	RXL
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	167	194
Neck Injury Risk	25%	33.2%
Neck Stress	187 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	161/358 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	305	305
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	40.1%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	267 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	9/6 lbs.	403/457 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Lexus RXL:

	XT6	RXL
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	249 lbs.	594 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	666 lbs.	685 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XT6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the XT6’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the XT6 has a standard 730-amp battery. The RXL’s 580-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 2 more horsepower (310 vs. 308) than the RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6 is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

	XT6	RXL
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.1 MPH	89.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT6 gets better mileage than the RXL:

			MPG
XT6
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
RXL
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT6’s fuel efficiency. The RXL doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regardless of its engine, the XT6’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RXL Hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT6 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL’s standard fuel tank (22 vs. 19.2 gallons).

The XT6 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RXL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT6 higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Lexus RXL (5 to 7). This means the XT6 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RXL every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT6, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RXL.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT6 stops shorter than the RXL:

	XT6	RXL
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (265/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional 21-inch wheels. The RXL’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cadillac XT6’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lexus RXL only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT6 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The RXL doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The XT6 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The RXL’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the XT6’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the RXL (112.7 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XT6 is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

The XT6 Sport AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XT6 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the XT6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RXL doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT6 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RXL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The XT6 has .6 inches more rear headroom, 8.2 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 6 inches more third row legroom and 7.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

The front step up height for the XT6 is 2 inches lower than the RXL (18.5” vs. 20.5”). The XT6’s rear step up height is 1.8 inches lower than the RXL’s (19” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	XT6	RXL
Behind Third Seat	12.6 cubic feet	7.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.1 cubic feet	23 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	78.7 cubic feet	58.5 cubic feet

Towing

The XT6’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (1000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RXL is only 3500 pounds. The XT6 offers up to a 4000 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the XT6, using the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RXL.

Ergonomics

The XT6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The RXL doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT6 is less expensive to operate than the RXL because typical repairs cost much less on the XT6 than the RXL, including $631 less for a water pump, $22 less for front brake pads, $338 less for a starter, $105 less for a fuel pump, $972 less for a timing belt/chain and $1343 less for a power steering pump.