Volkswagen Atlas vs Cadillac XT6

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 presented itself with a polished exterior and a luxurious interior, featuring 20-inch alloy wheels and a Jet Black semi-aniline leather interior. Its design was reminiscent of a formal black-tie event, exuding a sense of sophistication and elegance. However, the XT6's exterior design was somewhat conservative, with towering front running lights and taillights that mirrored those of GMC models. Despite its conservative styling, the XT6 maintained a tailored image consistent with Cadillac's lineup. The XT6 was available in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims, with prices starting just under $60,000 in Canada. The test vehicle, equipped with advanced technologies like Super Cruise and Night Vision, had a price tag of $84,747, including delivery charges. While the interior materials were of high quality, the design lacked the luxury feel expected at this price point, with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen that felt outdated compared to competitors.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over from the previous year's updates with minor modifications. It was available in four trims in Canada: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, and Execline. The Execline trim, which was tested, featured R-Line design elements and 21-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its bold and upscale appearance. The Atlas's interior design was simple yet premium, though some materials felt cost-effective, with hard plastics detracting from the overall quality. Despite this, the Atlas offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample room for passengers and cargo. The pricing for the Atlas ranged from $41,595 to $57,695, plus a $1,950 destination charge. While the Atlas's interior materials could have been improved, its spaciousness and practicality made it a strong contender in its class.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 shared its engines with the GMC Acadia, offering a standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine provided sufficient power, and the XT6 offered a choice between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive modes, along with Tour and Sport driving modes. The adaptive-damping performance suspension and 20-inch wheels contributed to the XT6's athletic performance on twisty roads. However, the driving experience leaned towards serenity rather than excitement, with smooth steering and responsive brakes. The XT6's fuel economy was rated at 11.5 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with a test result of 12.0 L/100 km.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive. The turbo-four's towing capacity was limited to 907 kilograms, and it required premium fuel for maximum power. The optional 3.6-litre V6 engine, standard on the Execline trim, produced 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. While the V6 could tow up to 2,268 kilograms, its acceleration was leisurely, and the engine design felt dated. The Atlas offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, along with Active Control calibrations for various conditions. The 4Motion AWD system could decouple the rear wheels to improve fuel economy, with a combined fuel consumption estimate of 12.2 L/100 km. The Atlas's driving dynamics were sound, but the ride quality felt softer and more compliant than previous models, with some road noise making its way into the cabin.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6's interior was narrower than expected, with a driving position that felt tall and narrow. The power-adjustable front seats were comfortable, especially with the optional semi-aniline leather, but lacked the range of adjustment and massage functions found in some competitors. The XT6's second-row captain's chairs offered good legroom, but the third-row seat was cramped for adults. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with a small cubby on the dashboard and limited access to the tray under the console's control bridge. The XT6 provided 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 2022 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in interior space and comfort, seating seven people with ample head and legroom, even in the third row. The step-in height was low, making it easy to enter and exit the vehicle. The Atlas offered numerous storage areas, though many were unlined, leading to unwanted noise. Cargo space was exceptional, with 583 litres behind the third row, 1,572 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,741 litres with the second row down. The Atlas's interior was spacious and accommodating, making it a standout in its class.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 featured impressive technologies like a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free highway driving-assistance system. However, it lacked digital gauges, offering analog gauges with a driver information display instead. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was intuitive, with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services. The Bose Performance Series premium audio system provided excellent sound quality, but the head-up display was small and unimpressive. The XT6's dashboard controls included touch-sensing buttons, which were reminiscent of Cadillac's earlier infotainment systems.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas came standard with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, featuring an 8-inch display that expanded to 10.25 inches on higher trims. The Atlas's infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and multiple USB ports. The MIB3 infotainment system offered wireless connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Car-Net connected services. However, the user experience was hindered by slow loading times and a cumbersome process for tuning radio stations. The voice recognition system struggled with certain commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto a more reliable option for navigation.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driving-assistance and collision-avoidance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The standout feature was the Super Cruise system, which allowed for hands-free highway driving on approved roads. However, Super Cruise had limitations, such as difficulty with lane markings and sudden braking. The XT6 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a range of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The Atlas's Lane Assist technology had issues with old construction markings and exit ramps, and disabling it required navigating through the digital instrumentation. The Atlas received four-star ratings in frontal-impact tests from the NHTSA but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.