The Cadillac XT6 is a luxury three-row crossover SUV boasting an upscale appearance and ample space. However, a recent J.D. Power study shows that opinions are split on one aspect of this luxury SUV. The site praises the infotainment system in the Cadillac XT6, but owners aren’t as satisfied. 

Consumers are not fans of the Cadillac XT6 infotainment system

J.D. Power conducts APEAL Studies for various car models, which involve surveys of vehicle owners. “APEAL” stands for “Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout.” In these studies, vehicle owners rank aspects of their vehicles from most to least favorite. 

According to J.D. Power, in the Cadillac XT6 APEAL Study, consumers ranked the XT6 infotainment system as the second-worst aspect of the SUV. The only thing survey respondents liked less than the infotainment system was the fuel economy. Car and Driver reports that the Cadillac XT6 gets 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, so it makes sense why consumers would be disappointed with the XT6’s gas mileage. 

As for aspects of the Cadillac XT6 that consumers ranked highly, the SUV’s exterior style earned the number-one spot in the survey. This luxury SUV successfully incorporates Cadillac’s signature luxury into its three-row design, resulting in an appealing exterior. The XT6’s driving feel was the second-ranked aspect in the survey. 

Critics love the Cadillac XT6 infotainment system

In addition to showing the results of the APEAL Study survey, J.D. Power also reviewed the Cadillac XT6, and the company had a completely different opinion about the infotainment system from the survey respondents. According to the review, the automaker’s infotainment system, the “Cadillac User Experience,” was once a major issue, but that’s no longer the case. Now, it’s intuitive and easy to use, including in the Cadillac XT6. 

The Cadillac User Experience allows drivers to connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly and includes voice recognition. Cadillac also has the helpful Teen Driver feature, allowing XT6 owners to view reports about how young drivers perform behind the wheel.

The Cadillac XT6 displays infotainment features on an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Its size doesn’t impress, but J.D. Power’s review notes that the screen looks exceptional and is highly responsive.

Why do consumers and critics disagree on this feature?

It might seem odd that the surveyed owners generally dislike the Cadillac XT6’s infotainment system, but there are valid reasons. The likeliest explanation is that J.D. Power reviewers use more infotainment systems than the average consumer, so they have different expectations for how a system should look and perform.

J.D. Power’s reviewers have likely experimented with infotainment systems on many vehicles, so they have probably experienced an unintuitive system. Consumers likely have only used a few infotainment systems, so they have less understanding of what makes one good or bad.

It’s also important to note that although critics and consumers disagree on one aspect of the XT6, they share the same opinion of other features. For instance, owners listed the XT6’s driving feel as one of its best aspects, as did J.D. Power. The reviewer also notes this SUV is quiet and comfortable and performs well on city streets and even twisty roads.