THE CADILLAC XT6 VS BMW X7
Two of the best crossovers out there, the BMW X7, and the Cadillac XT6 go head to head to prove which one's worthier of the title "the ultimate luxury crossover SUV".
With Escalades legacy to match, and the benefit of having been introduced just three years ago, making the model brand-new in every form, the XT6 manages to score a surprising number of points against its more established competitor.
Will there be enough to take the win, though?
Straight off the bat, the enormous difference in price between the two cars makes it almost impossible for the BMW to be the winner. The Cadillac is $18,000 cheaper than its rival, and that number is so absurdly big it would take an equally absurd difference between the two cars to justify it.
Not only is there a wide gap between the two cars, but in many aspects, the Cadillac is better than the pricy BMW.
Let's take things one by one.
The XT6 is a very new model, being introduced as the first Chevrolet crossover just three years ago. This means designers had a blank drawing board to begin with and had no mandatory old features to include. What resulted is a remarkably modern-looking car, endowed with sharp curves that give it a pleasant air of subdued aggressiveness.
The X7 has that unmistakable BMW exterior look and feel, which is definitely a plus, but it also makes it a shade outdated. It's a case of good against fabulous, as Chevrolet easily wins the first round.
Engine power goes to BMW with its 3.0-liter inline-6 that will produce 335 horsepower as compared to Cadillac's 310 horsepower coming from their 3.6-liter V-6 gas engine. The BMW also has a 4.4-liter V-8 available that pumps out 456 hp. Impressive figures that take a huge blow form the price tag. Prospective buyers will be expected to shell out a little under $100.000 for the V-8 equipped model, and that price hike is simply impossible to justify.
For the price of a V-8 X7, you can almost afford two XT6s. If that doesn't tell you the whole story, I don't know what will.
1-1 So far, the BMW is still $18,000 pricier, so let's look at interior comfort and features to see if the difference is justified.
The interior look and feel for both cars is spot on, perfect examples of what a luxury crossover should be. Premium materials as far as the eye can seem, impeccable craftsmanship, as nothing seems out of place or cheap. Everything is well thought, and both the X7 and the XT6 deliver incredibly comfortable and enjoyable rides for any of their passengers.
Standard features don't make things easier for choosing a real winner as both cars are bridled with technology. The base X7 model comes equipped with LED headlights, synthetic leather seats, 16-way power-adjustable heated front seats, twin 12.3-inch displays, keyless ignition, a power tailgate, parking sensors, blind-spot monitors, wood trim, wireless smartphone charging, Apple CarPlay, and a panoramic moonroof.
Not to be outdone, the XT6 base model offers 8-way power-adjustable, heated front seats, an 8.0-inch touchscreen that controls the infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, 6 USB ports, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, remote start, a sunroof, keyless ignition, power tailgate, LED front lights, wireless smartphone charging, and an impressive 8-speaker BOSE sound system that can be upgraded to a 14-speaker set.
The race between the XT6 and the X7 is close, and considering there is an infamously good crossover in the form of the BMW, Cadillac has done an amazing job at being able to rival the German manufacturer in their only third year of being present in the crossover segment. Not only that, but they pulled it off with a price tag that's a whopping $18,000 lower.
