Cadillac has always stood for luxury and refinement and the 2021 ST6 Sport AWD certainly fits that bill. From its sleek design to its many safety and comfort features, this crossover will make you stand up, take notice and want to take a drive (not to mention buy it!).
Now in its second year, the XTS is a marvel of design, innovation and connectivity. We loved the advanced LED lighting, both in the front and rear, and its exterior trim, including a V-Series inspired 20-inch 12-spoke Diamond-Cut wheels with dark android statin pockets mesh that reminded us of scarves floating in the air — a definite change from the more testerone-designed rims.
So many times it is the little details that make a vehicle special and for us, two things stood our.
First is that we loved the fact it had an air ionizer to assist the filtration system in reducing some air particles, including bacteria, viruses, dust, pollen and other containments. Similar to what responsible restaurants are installing in this age of COVID-19, the system generates negatively charged ions through an emitter and distributes them into the air through the heating, ventilation and cooling ducts. If outdoor pollution is high, turn on “recirculation,” which ensures the system is operating at its highest levels. This is perfect for those with allergies, asthma and other lung-related conditions. Who doesn’t love breathing the cleanest air?
The second was a space saver. Many cars today will recharge one’s phone but it’s laid down flat under the screen. That takes up a lot of space. The ST6, instead, has its phone charger positioned differently, vertically right next to the middle console. No space wasted here and your phone charges just as nicely.
Armed with a 310 horsepower V-6 engine, the handling is athletic and quick, especially for a three-row crossover. It can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.4 seconds, perfect for getting onto the highway efficiently. For its size, it’s fuel-efficient getting 21 combined miles per gallon; 18 in the city and 25 on the highway. With a gas tank of 22 gallons, you can easily make a substantial road trip without filling up on gas.
This all-wheel drive vehicle seats seven and offers more than adequate room for everyone. There is 41.2 inches of legroom in the front; 39.1 inches in the second row and 20.5 inches in the back, still sufficient for most adults. In terms of cargo space, overall it offers 78.7 inches of space and 43.1 inches when the third row is down.
All XT6 models come with touchscreen infotainment, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, onboard Wi-Fi, and wireless smartphone charging. Cadillac’s CUE (Cadillac User Experience) software is displayed crisply on an 8.0-inch screen is very responsive.
The ride was nimble and responsive, thanks to a suspension that took all the nastiness that a road can offer, and the steering was easy and stable. Helping in the handling was the Sport’s use of clutch packs that transfer and monitors the torque to the wheels that need it for instant responsiveness and impeccable handling despite inclement weather. That’s a lot of car talk but all we know is that the ride is surprisingly smooth and easy. It really was a pleasure to drive this vehicle.
The XT6 starts at about $58,000 but we drove the Sport version with added options that brought it up to about $72,000, certainly a good value for what you get.
