Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 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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With its standard Front Pedestrian Braking, the Chevrolet Traverse is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Cadillac XT6, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Traverse	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 Chevrolet Traverse 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 Traverse Z71’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Traverse and XT6 have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Traverse 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 Traverse’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 Traverse 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 around view monitors.

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 Traverse is much safer than the XT6:

	Traverse	XT6
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
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

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 Chevrolet Traverse is much safer than the XT6:

	Traverse	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 Chevrolet Traverse 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 over 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 5 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The Traverse’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 Traverse’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 Traverse 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 Chevrolet Traverse 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 Traverse stops shorter than the XT6:

	Traverse	XT6
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Traverse has larger standard tires than the XT6 (255/65R18 vs. 235/55R20). The Traverse’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 Traverse 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 Traverse’s wheelbase is 8.3 inches longer than on the XT6 (121 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XT6.

For greater off-road capability the Traverse has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (6.8 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Traverse to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Traverse Z71’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the XT6 (7.8 vs. 6.7 inches).

Passenger Space

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

The Traverse has 7.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XT6 (157 vs. 149.9).

The Traverse has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front legroom, 8.6 inches more front hip room, 4 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room, 4.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 2.6 inches more third row legroom, 9.1 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Traverse	XT6
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	56.6 cubic feet	43.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.6 cubic feet	78.7 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Traverse easier. The Traverse’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the XT6’s liftover is 33 inches.

Towing

The Traverse’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT6 is only 4000 pounds. The Traverse offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Traverse’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.

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

The Traverse 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 Chevrolet Traverse has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

The Traverse offers an optional 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 Chevrolet Traverse and the Cadillac XT6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Cadillac XT6 by almost five to one during 2024.

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