Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Cadillac XT6

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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

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 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.

The GMC Acadia outsold the Cadillac XT6 by over three to one during 2023.