3-Row Cadillac XT6 SUV Likely to Debut in Detroit

Cadillac appears poised to get a three-row SUV that slots between the mid-size XT5 and full-size, truck-based Escalade. The XT6 will debut Jan. 13, on the eve of press days for the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

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Cadillac spokeswoman Tara Kuhnen confirmed to Cars.com the SUV’s name and unveiling date. The brand’s parent company GM noted in an Oct. 31 earnings report that it plans to introduce a new Cadillac model “every six months through 2020, continuing next with the three-row XT6.

GM’s luxury brand hasn’t offered a three-row SUV below the Escalade in a decade. The last SUV to fill that spot was the first-generation SRX, which Cadillac sold from the 2004 to 2009 model years. But three-row luxury crossovers are flourishing: The Acura MDX is perennially popular, and Lexus now has a three-row version of the RX. In September, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a redesigned GLE-Class with an optional third row — the first time Mercedes’ mid-size SUV has offered wayback seats since the early 2000s. And just weeks ago, BMW introduced a dedicated three-row SUV in the new X7.

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Plenty of space exists in Cadillac’s lineup for the XT6. The regular-length Escalade is 14.4 inches longer than the XT5, and an extended-length version is larger still. The full-sized SUV is also much pricier: With destination, the XT5 starts at $42,690 and tops out with factory options in the mid-$70,000s — right about where the Escalade starts. Expect an XT6 to land somewhere in between, with plenty of overlap into both models’ price ranges.

Automotive News expects the XT6 to hit dealers sometime in the middle of 2019. Stay tuned for our coverage of Cadillac’s unveiling on Jan. 13, as well as plenty more from the 2018 North American International Auto Show.

Editor’s note: This story was updated Dec. 14, 2018, with confirmation of the XT6 reveal from Cadillac.

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