Compare the2025 Cadillac XT6VS 2025 Hyundai Palisade

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Palisade doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Palisade doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT6 and the Palisade 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 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

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 Cadillac XT6 is safer than the Hyundai Palisade:

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the XT6 has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Palisade’s 180-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Palisade isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Cadillac higher than Hyundai.

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 19 more horsepower (310 vs. 291) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (271 vs. 262) than the Palisade’s 3.8 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6 is faster than the Hyundai Palisade:

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT6’s fuel efficiency. The Palisade doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The XT6 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Palisade (22 vs. 18.8 gallons).

The XT6 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Palisade doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT6, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Palisade.

The XT6’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Palisade are solid, not vented.

The XT6 stops much shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Palisade (265/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Palisade’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Palisade’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Cadillac XT6’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Hyundai Palisade only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The XT6 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Palisade doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The XT6 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Palisade’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The XT6 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Palisade doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The XT6 Sport AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the Palisade SEL HTRAC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The XT6 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Palisade Limited HTRAC (27.2 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

The front grille of the XT6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Palisade doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The XT6 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Palisade doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the XT6. The Palisade doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 64% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

The XT6’s front and rear power windows all lower 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 Palisade’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

On a hot day the XT6’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Palisade can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The XT6’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Proximity Key standard on the Palisade doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the XT6 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Palisade doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Cadillac XT6 and Hyundai Palisade offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The XT6 features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Palisade’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Cadillac XT6 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Palisade.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT6 is less expensive to operate than the Palisade because typical repairs cost much less on the XT6 than the Palisade, including $51 less for front brake pads, $9 less for a starter, $223 less for a fuel pump, $112 less for front struts and $408 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac XT6 and the Hyundai Palisade, based on reliability, safety and performance.