The Cadillac CT6 and XTS Raised the Bar for Full-Size Luxury Sedans

After a seven-year production run beginning in 2013, the Cadillac XTS was discontinued after the 2019 model year.  The XTS served as the brand’s flagship full-size luxury sedan until the introduction of the CT6 in 2016. While both cars technically reside in the same class, there are a plethora of differences between the CT6 and the XTS luxury sedans. By highlighting the unique features of each model, we aim to help you determine which full-size Cadillac sedan best suits your lifestyle.

Is The 2019 Cadillac XTS A Good Car?

It’s a shame that the XTS has been discontinued because it’s still one of the best full-size luxury sedans available in 2020. While you can no longer order the XTS directly from Cadillac, brand new 2019 XTS models can still be found at your local Cadillac dealership. The XTS is built on the FWD based Epsilon II chassis shared with GM’s full-size Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Impala. 

2019 Cadillac XTS Trim Levels

With a starting MSRP of $47,890, the 2019 XTS is offered in five different trim level.

• Cadillac XTS Base
• Cadillac XTS Luxury
• Cadillac XTS Premium Luxury
• Cadillac XTS Platinum
• Cadillac XTS V-Sport Platinum 

GM’s tried-and-true 3.6L V6 is the standard powertrain on the XTS—with the V-Sport Platinum the lone exception. With 304 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque, the 3.6L V6 features start/stop technology designed to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions output. While front-wheel drive is standard on the Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum trims, all-wheel drive is available for an additional $2000-$2200 depending on the model. 

The Cadillac brand has long been associated with its superior ride quality, and the XTS doesn’t disappoint with its standard Magnetic Ride Control on Premium Luxury, Platinum and V-Sport Platinum trims.

Cadillac XTS V-Sport Highlights Brand’s Performance Heritage 

The V-Sport Platinum, available only in all-wheel-drive configuration, is at the very top of the XTS food chain. With a starting MSRP of $73,990, the V-Sport is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6L V6 that makes 410 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. With a zero-to-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds, you should have no trouble making it back home from the grocery store before the ice cream melts in the trunk. In addition to hauling groceries, the XTS’ trunk is in a league of its own and cavernous in size—featuring 18 cubic feet of space.

Cadillac XTS Technology & Safety Features

The XTS features the latest in GM’s safety and technology, including an upgraded CUE infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi with wireless device charging. An available 14-speaker Studio Surround Sound system and heated/ventilated front-bucket seats with 22-way adjustability and massaging capabilities create an environment buyers will find extremely inviting.

The XTS’s advanced safety suite includes standard LED headlights and taillamps, Brembo brakes, and available Surround Vision10, Automatic Park Assist10, and Driver Awareness/Driver Assist Package10— featuring options such as adaptive cruise control, automatic braking and side blind zone and rear cross traffic alert.  

How Is The 2020 Cadillac CT6 Different Than The XTS?

The Cadillac CT6, which was discontinued in early 2020, carried on the 2019  XTS’ legacy as the brand’s full-size luxury sedan for another year. The CT6 is built on GM’s Omega platform and is Cadillac’s first full-size RWD chassis sedan since the Fleetwood departed in 1996. The CT6 is both longer and wider than the XTS, resulting in four-inches of additional front legroom and a palatial interior cabin-feel. Whereas the XTS featured the poise of traditional Cadillac luxury and comfort, the CT6’s world-class platform results in sharper, crisper handling characteristics and overall execution.

Offered solely in all-wheel drive configuration for 2020, the CT6 is available in four trim levels—Luxury, Platinum, Platinum Luxury, and the CT6-V. With a starting MSRP of $58,995, the 2020 CT6 eclipses the 2019 XTS starting MSRP by more than $11,000. But Cadillac has absolutely packed the CT6 full of standard features that more than validates the price gap.

An improved 3.6L V6 yields 335 horsepower and 284 ft-lb of torque in the CT6, and it’s paired to a new 10-speed automatic transmission that is more efficient than the six-speed automatic in the outgoing XTS. Cadillac’s safety suite is now standard equipment with LED headlights and taillamps, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, front and rear park assist, and safety alert seat with lane departure warning and side blind zone alert.

Cadillac CT6-V: Super Sedan in a Tux 

Like the XTS V-Sport, the CT6-V raises the bar for Cadillac’s flagship full-size performance sedan even higher. Under the hood lies a specially tuned version of the CT6’s exclusive 4.2L twin turbo Blackwing V8 that produces a gargantuan 550 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. The Blackwing’s layout is extremely unique, with its turbochargers mounted between the engine’s cylinder banks. Its 3.8-second zero to 60 mph time encroaches on supercar territory—an impressive feat for a sedan its size.

The CT6-V starts at $92,790. It’s production was extremely limited, and owners are sure to experience a feeling of exclusivity that’s unmatched in the segment.  Each Blackwing V8 engine is hand built at the Performance Engine Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Upon completion, it receives a plaque featuring the signature of the engine’s designated builder.

While the engine is certainly the crown jewel of the CT6-V, Cadillac also equipped the model with four-piston Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, and a mechanical limited-slip differential that increases traction during spirited driving and heavy acceleration.

Regardless of which model appeals to your taste, the XTS and CT6’s iconic vertical LED lighting, bold stance and svelte styling are sure to make a statement. Cadillac’s performance pedigree and penchant for lavish luxury construct the DNA of both models, leaving prospective buyers in the segment with two highly sophisticated sedans guaranteed to turn heads.

The good news is that Orr Cadillac Of Fort Smith still has brand new 2019 XTS sedans in stocks, but they won’t last forever! Visit our Fort Smith Cadillac dealership or shop our inventory of full-size luxury sedans online to find the Cadillac that’s right for you.

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