Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Cadillac XT6

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XT6 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Front Pedestrian Braking, the GMC Acadia is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Cadillac XT6, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Acadia	XT6
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-7 MPH
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-4 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-22 MPH	-1 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
37 MPH Brights	-16 MPH	-13 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	1.9 sec	1.8 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-16 MPH	-10 MPH

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Cadillac XT6 has not been tested.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Acadia AT4’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the GMC Acadia’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Cadillac XT6.

Both the Acadia and XT6 have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Acadia has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (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 Acadia’s optional 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 Acadia and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 front parking sensors.

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

	Acadia	XT6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	167
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	25%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	187 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	28 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	161/358 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Acadia is much safer than the XT6:

	Acadia	XT6
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	118	223
Neck Injury Chance	19%	27%
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 GMC Acadia is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

	Acadia	XT6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	98
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	117 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	113	180
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches

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

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 GMC Acadia is much safer than the XT6:

	Acadia	XT6
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	55	61
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.75 in
Shoulder Force	-156 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.1 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	4 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	POOR
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.61 in
Shoulder Force	-312 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	2.2 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The GMC Acadia achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The XT6 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many GMC dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Cadillac.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks GMC 1 place higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (328 vs. 235) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (328 vs. 310) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 271) than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia FWD gets better fuel mileage than the XT6 3.6 DOHC V6 FWD (20 city/27 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Acadia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT6 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops much shorter than the XT6:

	Acadia	XT6
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia has larger standard tires than the XT6 (255/55R20 vs. 235/55R20). The Acadia Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT6 (275/45R22 vs. 265/45R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia Denali offers optional 22-inch wheels. The XT6’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 8.2 inches longer than on the XT6 (120.9 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Acadia is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XT6.

For greater off-road capability the Acadia Elevation has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (6.8 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Acadia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Acadia AT4’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the XT6 (7.8 vs. 6.7 inches).

Passenger Space

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

The Acadia has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front legroom, 9.1 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room, 4.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom, 2.6 inches more third row legroom, 9.1 inches more third row hip room and 4.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Acadia	XT6
Behind Third Seat	23 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.3 cubic feet	43.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	78.7 cubic feet

Towing

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

Ergonomics

The Acadia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The XT6 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the Acadia the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the XT6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Acadia’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XT6’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Acadia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

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

The Acadia 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.

Recommendations

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

The GMC Acadia outsold the Cadillac XT6 by over two to one during 2024.

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