Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2023 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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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Ascent have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The XT6 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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

The Ascent Limited/Touring’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 Ascent and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Ascent	XT6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	25%
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	28 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	161/358 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	210	305
Neck Injury Risk	33%	38%

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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

	Ascent	XT6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	98
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	117 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	180
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	41 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	292
Hip Force	637 lbs.	666 lbs.

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 Ascent 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.

Warranty

There are over 12 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Ascent’s reliability 14 points higher than the XT6.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 10 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (260 vs. 235) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 271) than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The XT6 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
XT6
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent 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.

Transmission

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The XT6 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Ascent	XT6
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.4 inches

The Ascent stops much shorter than the XT6:

	Ascent	XT6
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

The Ascent’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.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ascent’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the XT6 (113.8 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the XT6’s (38 feet vs. 39.1 feet).

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

Passenger Space

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

The Ascent has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 7.6 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room, 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.2 inches more third row legroom, 6.4 inches more third row hip room and 3.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	XT6
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	43.1 cubic feet

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

	Ascent	XT6
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.3”/48”/82.9”	15.5”/48”/80.2”
Max Width	50.5”	50”
Min Width	45.9”	43”
Height	34”	32.5”

Towing

The Ascent’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT6 is only 4000 pounds. The Ascent offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent 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

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). 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 Ascent 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 Ascent’s headlight performance “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 Ascent’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XT6’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The XT6’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Ascent’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 Ascent to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Ascent Touring has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the dashboard, 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $2670 to $4025 less than the XT6 over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 52.78% to 54.99% 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 Ascent is less expensive to operate than the XT6 because it costs $191 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the XT6, including $59 less for a water pump, $640 less for a muffler, $23 less for front brake pads, $208 less for fuel injection, $776 less for a timing belt/chain and $514 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $16898 to $20113 less than for the Cadillac XT6.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Cadillac XT6 by over three to one during 2022.

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