Compare the2023 GMC AcadiaVS 2023 Cadillac XT6

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XT6 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Acadia AT4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Acadia and the XT6 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 GMC Acadia is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

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 GMC Acadia is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

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

There are almost 3 times as many GMC dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Cadillac.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 5 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 75 more horsepower (310 vs. 235) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Acadia 2.0 Turbo’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT6 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Acadia stops shorter than the XT6:

For greater off-road capability the Acadia has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (7.2 vs. 6.65 inches), allowing the Acadia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GMC Acadia may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 200 pounds less than the Cadillac XT6.

The Acadia is 5.1 inches shorter than the XT6, making the Acadia easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Acadia has .2 inches more front headroom, 5.6 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row legroom, 3.4 inches more third row hip room and .8 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

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

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Acadia’s available exterior PIN entry system. The XT6 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Acadia’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The XT6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Acadia offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Acadia owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Acadia will cost $1515 to $3270 less than the XT6 over a five-year period.

The Acadia will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Acadia will retain 44.46% to 48.31% of its original price after five years, while the XT6 only retains 44.29% to 44.34%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Acadia is less expensive to operate than the XT6 because it costs $46 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Acadia than the XT6, including $52 less for a water pump, $337 less for a muffler, $24 less for a starter and $127 less for fuel injection.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Acadia will be $6712 to $18240 less than for the Cadillac XT6.

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

The GMC Acadia outsold the Cadillac XT6 by over three to one during the 2021 model year.