Far too often, luxury brands charge high prices for vehicles that don’t quite deliver on the hype. The 2023 Cadillac XT6 hasn’t fallen into this trap, however, and has several features owners are crazy about. One has to do with the way they feel while driving it, and here’s why the experts agree.

Owners report this is their second favorite feature

Owners were very vocal about their favorite parts of the 2023 Cadillac XT6 in a survey released by J.D. Power. The J.D. Power 2022 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study gave owners 10 features and asked them to rank them from the most pleasing to the least.

These include exterior styling, driving feel, feeling of safety, powertrain, driving comfort, interior design, setting up and starting, getting in and out, infotainment system, and fuel economy.

The driving feel, which is one of the most important aspects of a vehicle to have, was the second most favored feature of the 2023 Cadillac XT6. This is crucial because very few drivers now are willing to spend money on a vehicle that doesn’t drive well, no matter how dreamy it may look. 

Expert reviewers from J.D. Power feel the same way

The consumers and experts aren’t always in agreement, but in this case, J.D. Power’s team felt the same as the owners. Some features which the XT6 earned praise for included the infotainment system, supercruise, and the ease of getting in and out. The ease of driving was the third feature to make this list.

In the review, Christian Wardlaw, an independent expert, stated how he particularly loved the adaptive damping suspension and quiet ride. Wardlaw went on to praise the 2023 Cadillac XT6 for its ability to handle winding roads. While it’s not the type of vehicle one would take off-road, some owners may be eager to go spend some time in the mountains to get away for a while.

The XT6 will not leave you with a feeling of drama and excitement that a smaller vehicle would, but it’s also not stressful as you power through curves.

Does the 2023 Cadillac XT6 stand out?

Just because a vehicle is made by a luxury automaker doesn’t mean that it has that luxury feel. The XT6 does indeed manage to deliver on this, but given the sheer amount of competition, it has landed somewhere in the middle of the pack. In fact, during the 2022 APEAL Study from J.D. Power, the 2023 Cadillac XT6 only took sixth place out of 12 models.

That isn’t exactly good news for Cadillac, but given how crowded the market is, only the best of the best secure the coveted top slots. By delivering a vehicle that feels like a luxury ride, the XT6 has held its own, however. 

Even so, the 2023 XT6 is worthy of consideration if you are interested in buying a luxury SUV. J.D. Power did warn that nothing much has changed in the past three years as far as upgrades go, so if you really want an XT6, you may want to check out some older models.