Compare the2023 Kia TellurideVS 2023 Cadillac XT6

Both the Telluride and XT6 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The XT6’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

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

Both the Telluride and XT6 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Telluride has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

The Telluride’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 Telluride 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 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 Kia Telluride is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Telluride its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT6 has not been fully tested, yet.

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XT6’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the XT6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT6 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 37 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Telluride has a standard 800-amp battery. The XT6’s 730-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Telluride’s reliability 29 points higher than the XT6.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 8th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 8 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 56 more horsepower (291 vs. 235) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Telluride FWD gets better fuel mileage than the XT6 3.6 DOHC V6 FWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT6 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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

The Telluride stops much shorter than the XT6:

For better traction, the Telluride has larger tires than the XT6 (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R20).

The Telluride LX/X-Pro’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT6’s standard 65 series tires.

The Telluride has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XT6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Telluride’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the XT6 (114.2 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Telluride is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the XT6.

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a 1.35 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (8 vs. 6.65 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Line/X-Pro’s minimum ground clearance is 1.75 inches higher than on the XT6 (8.4 vs. 6.65 inches).

The Kia Telluride may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Cadillac XT6.

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the XT6 can only carry 7.

The Telluride has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 8.8 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 1.9 inches more third row legroom, 4.2 inches more third row hip room and 1.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The XT6’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Telluride easier. The Telluride’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the XT6’s liftover is 33 inches.

The Telluride’s cargo area is larger than the XT6’s in every dimension:

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (5000 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Telluride’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.

The Telluride 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.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Telluride’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XT6’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The XT6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Telluride SX Pro/SX Prestige has a 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 Telluride owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Telluride will cost $1050 to $2975 less than the XT6 over a five-year period.

The Telluride will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Telluride will retain 54.84% to 55.57% of its original price after five years, while the XT6 only retains 43.43% to 43.61%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the XT6 because it costs $10 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride than the XT6, including $13 less for a water pump, $242 less for a muffler, $42 less for fuel injection and $88 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Telluride will be $14328 to $17971 less than for the Cadillac XT6.

Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac XT6 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The XT6 isn’t in the top three in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The XT6 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The XT6 has never been chosen.

The Kia Telluride outsold the Cadillac XT6 by almost five to one during 2022.