Compare the2024 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2024 Cadillac XT6

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander 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.

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

Both the Grand Highlander and XT6 have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The XT6’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Grand Highlander’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 Grand Highlander 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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Grand Highlander is much safer than the XT6:

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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 Grand Highlander’s warranty.

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 16th.

The Grand Highlander has more powerful engines than the XT6:

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6:

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

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

The Grand Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT6. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

The Grand Highlander offers an available 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 Grand Highlander’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

The Grand Highlander stops shorter than the XT6:

For better traction, the Grand Highlander has larger tires than the XT6 (255/65R18 vs. 235/55R20).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the XT6 (116.1 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the XT6’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (8 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Grand Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the XT6 can only carry 7.

The Grand Highlander has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XT6 (153.3 vs. 149.9).

The Grand Highlander has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 6.4 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room, 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 4 inches more third row legroom, 6.2 inches more third row hip room and 4 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

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

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

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

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

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Grand Highlander has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

The Grand Highlander 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.