Compare the2024 Mercedes GLSVS 2024 Cadillac XT6

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
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 Mercedes GLS 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 GLS offers an optional Post 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.

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

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLS’ standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The XT6 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the GLS and XT6 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLS has Active Brake Assist (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 GLS’ 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 GLS 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 799 to 1858 pounds more than the Cadillac XT6. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Engine

The GLS has more powerful engines than the XT6:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLS 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Maybach GLS 600 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	550 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
XT6 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	235 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6	310 HP	271 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6:

	GLS	XT6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	93.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The GLS has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLS has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 22 gallons).

The GLS has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLS	XT6
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.4 inches

The GLS stops much shorter than the XT6:

	GLS	XT6
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the XT6 (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 235/55R20). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT6 (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 265/45R21).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT6’s standard 65 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT6. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the XT6, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XT6.

The GLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The XT6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLS’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XT6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 10.7 inches longer than on the XT6 (123.4 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the GLS is .2 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XT6.

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the XT6 Sport AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT6 Sport AWD (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 3.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (10.1 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 4.6 inches higher than on the XT6 (11.3 vs. 6.7 inches).

Cargo Capacity

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the XT6.

	GLS	XT6
Behind Third Seat	17.4 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.7 cubic feet	78.7 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLS easier. The GLS’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.8 inches, while the XT6’s liftover is 33 inches.

The GLS has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The XT6 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Towing

The GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (7716 vs. 1000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLS 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

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT6, the GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLS’ 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 GLS the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the XT6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The XT6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The XT6 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

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

The XT6’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLS’ 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.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The XT6 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Cadillac doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the XT6.

The GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally 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 GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The XT6 doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The GLS offers optional massaging front and second row seats, which keep the driver and middle row passengers. Massaging seats aren’t available in the XT6.

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

The GLS 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.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLS 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 GLS than the XT6, including $155 less for a muffler and $684 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLS third among large premium 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.

The Mercedes GLS outsold the Cadillac XT6 by 26% during 2023.