2021 Cadillac XT6 vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 exuded sophistication with its design, mirroring the styling cues of the XT4 and XT5 crossovers. The XT6 Sport trim, in particular, featured a traditionally-styled grille with darkened accents, 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and slim all-LED headlights, giving it a premium and distinctly Cadillac appearance. The SUV was available in seven paint colors, with most options incurring an additional surcharge. Inside, the XT6's cabin closely resembled the XT5 but was slightly larger, offering three color options and the luxurious Platinum Package, which included semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microsuede headliner.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport captured a modern retro feel, reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup. Its design emphasized off-road capability with short front and rear overhangs, tall fender wells, and minimal adornments to avoid trail obstructions. The Bronco Sport's front end echoed the larger Bronco, with bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate. The SUV's wheels varied by trim, with options ranging from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels to 18-inch machined-face aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires. The interior was rugged yet uncluttered, featuring an 8-inch infotainment screen, a rotary gear selector, and a range of seating options from cloth to leather-trimmed sport-contour bucket seats.

The 2021 Cadillac XT6 Sport was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. This engine was also standard in the Premium Luxury trim, while the base Luxury model featured a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The XT6 offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options, with the Sport model exclusively available with AWD. However, the XT6 Sport's weight of 4,690 pounds made it feel less dynamic, especially in comparison to competitors like the Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride. Fuel economy for the XT6 varied, with the turbo-four engine achieving up to 27 mpg on the highway, while the V6 engine offered up to 26 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices: a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque for the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque for the Badlands and First Edition trims. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD, along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, the 2.0-liter engine provided a better driving experience, while the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The Cadillac XT6 offered comfortable seating for seven, with the option to upgrade to captain's chairs in the second row. Adults could fit in the third row, but the XT6 had less overall space compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Interior storage was limited, and the wireless phone charger design was not ideal. However, the XT6 excelled in cargo space, with power-folding third-row seats and a standard power liftgate, making it easy to utilize the rear cargo area.

The Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and a catalog of over 100 accessories for outdoor activities. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds. The cargo hold included smart features like a flip-up rear glass, a slide-out work table, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though taller drivers might struggle with visibility due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The Cadillac XT6 came with a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, tri-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buyers could upgrade to a 14-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and enhanced wireless charging. However, the infotainment screen was smaller than competitors and could appear crowded or lacking information.

The Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system, a 360-degree camera, and additional G.O.A.T. modes for off-roading. The terrain management system provided various drive modes, and trail control technology allowed for a cruise-control-like feature on trails. Intelligent access with push-button start and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel were available on higher trims.

The Cadillac XT6 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and a high-definition rearview camera. Premium Luxury and Sport models added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Buyers could opt for the Driver Assist Package, which included adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The XT6 received a five-star frontal crash test rating from the NHTSA and was named a "Top Safety Pick+" by the IIHS.

The Ford Bronco Sport included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features as standard, with pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated navigation system. All Bronco Sport models featured AWD and a terrain management system with traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control. Crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.