Cadillac XT6 vs Hyundai Ioniq 9

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 presented itself with a polished exterior, featuring 20-inch alloy wheels and a sleek Stellar Black paint job. Inside, the Jet Black semi-aniline premium leather interior exuded a sense of luxury, though it felt more akin to a well-dressed chauffeur vehicle than a standout luxury SUV. The XT6's design was conservative, with towering front running lights and taillights reminiscent of GMC's style, which contributed to its tall and narrow appearance. Despite its premium materials and sophisticated driving assistance technology, the XT6's interior lacked the distinctiveness expected in a luxury SUV, with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen that felt outdated compared to its competitors.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 boasted a distinctive design that divided opinions. Its aerodynamic shape, inspired by smooth pebbles and midcentury modern sofas, housed a spacious interior for seven passengers. The Ioniq 9's dimensions, slightly shorter than a Honda Pilot but with a longer wheelbase than a Chevy Tahoe, provided ample interior volume. However, its swooping roofline and stubby rear end, inspired by a ship's stern, created a unique but not universally appealing aesthetic. The Ioniq 9 offered a range of paint colours and wheel designs, with the interior featuring a flat floor and a panoramic sunroof in higher trims, creating an airy and spacious environment.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 offered two engine options, starting with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims upgraded to a 3.6-litre V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. While the V6 provided sufficient power, it lacked the turbocharged excitement found in some competitors. The XT6's adaptive-damping performance suspension and 20-inch wheels contributed to its athletic handling, but the driving experience leaned more towards serenity than excitement. Fuel economy was rated at 11.5 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with our test vehicle achieving 12.0 L/100 km.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured a 110.3-kWh battery pack on Hyundai's e-GMP platform. The base Essential trim offered rear-wheel drive with a 160-kW electric motor producing 215 horsepower, while other trims featured dual-motor all-wheel-drive systems with power outputs ranging from 303 to 422 horsepower. The Ioniq 9 impressed with its energy efficiency, often exceeding the estimated 500-kilometre range. Its chassis provided a smooth and quiet ride, though its weight and soft suspension limited its cornering capabilities. The Ioniq 9 offered towing capacities of 1,587 kilograms for RWD and 2,268 kilograms for AWD models, with charging options including NACS superchargers and CCS-port Level 3 chargers.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6's interior, while comfortable with power-adjustable heated and ventilated seats, felt narrower than expected due to its relationship with the GMC Acadia. The second-row captain's chairs provided good legroom, but the third-row seat was cramped for adults. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with 357 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 1,200 litres with the rear seats folded, and a maximum volume of 2,229 litres.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 prioritized family-SUV practicality with seating for seven or six with the Ultimate Calligraphy Package. The sliding centre console and spacious middle row with 1,086 millimetres of legroom enhanced accessibility. Dual-zone climate control, air vents in all rows, and a heat pump were standard. Cargo space was generous, with 620 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,323 and 2,462 litres with the seats folded. The small front trunk was best suited for storing the charging cable and adapter.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 offered advanced features like a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision, and Super Cruise, but lacked digital gauges and had an 8-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot, with intuitive voice recognition. However, usability issues arose with touch-sensing buttons and counterintuitive indicator lights. The Bose Performance Series audio system impressed, but the head-up display was less so.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 featured dual curved 12.3-inch displays, standard SiriusXM Satellite Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad. Six USB-C ports provided ample charging options. The 14-speaker Bose audio system delivered crisp sound, though the charging pad struggled to keep up with high-demand devices.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The standout feature was Super Cruise, a highway driving-assist system allowing hands-free driving on approved highways. However, it had limitations in certain situations. The XT6 received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 included a robust array of standard advanced driver assistance systems, such as collision avoidance, lane-guidance technologies, and Highway Driving Assist 2. The Preferred AWD's Luxury package and Preferred AWD+ trims added a surround-view monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Crash-test ratings were not yet available.