Compare the2023 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2023 Cadillac XT6

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening 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.

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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.

The Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT6 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT6.

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

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 Highlander Hybrid’s reliability 49 points higher than the XT6.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 21st.

The Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 8 more horsepower (243 vs. 235) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the XT6:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Highlander Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Cadillac XT6 (6 to 7). This means the Highlander Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XT6 every 15,000 miles.

The Highlander Hybrid 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.

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

The Highlander Hybrid stops shorter than the XT6:

For better maneuverability, the Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the XT6’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander Hybrid has a 1.35 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (8 vs. 6.65 inches), allowing the Highlander Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander Hybrid is 3.6 inches shorter than the XT6, making the Highlander Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

The Highlander Hybrid has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 7.1 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room, 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 6.1 inches more third row hip room and 1.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

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

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Highlander Hybrid easier. The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.2 inches, while the XT6’s liftover is 33 inches.

The Highlander Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (3500 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the XT6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid’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 Highlander Hybrid Platinum’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 Highlander Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Highlander Hybrid Bronze/Limited/Platinum 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.

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

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Cadillac XT6 by almost 13 to one during the 2022 model year.