Cadillac has a surprisingly full line-up, with models spanning nearly every segment in both combustion and electric models. That line-up will be getting a bit smaller, though, according to a report from CNBC. The news outlet reports that the three-row Cadillac XT6 will end production this year at the brand’s Spring Hill, Tennessee, factory. This probably means we won’t be seeing the updated version for China at American dealers. CNBC also reports that the smaller two-row XT5 taking up some of the production slack while it runs out the clock. We’ve reached out to Cadillac for official confirmation, and will update when we hear back. Truthfully, we’re not terribly surprised at any of this.
XT6 Was Old And Slow-Selling
The XT6 launched all the way back in 2019, and it has soldiered along with only minimal updates. Meanwhile, nearly every one of its platform-mates, particularly the three-row ones, have been fully redesigned. That includes the Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave. Plus, it never really impressed us even from the start. It was a perfectly competent SUV, but that wasn’t enough to stand out in the incredibly crowded and competitive three-row SUV market. That goes double today, more than half a decade from its launch.
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But will it matter to SUV-crazy buyers?
The sales reflected the XT6’s middling execution. Its best year for sales was 2020 with 22,609 units. After that, it hovered in the ranges of 19,000 and 20,000 units. At the end of last year, it was Cadillac’s worst-selling SUV, save for the Escalade IQ. The XT5, meanwhile, was Cadillac’s third-best seller, just behind the Lyriq, and well behind the conventional Escalade.
Cadillac Effectively Has An Electric Replacement
The other problem the XT6 has is the fact that the new Vistiq fills the three-row slot in Cadillac’s line. The electric SUV, built in the same plant, is dramatically more expensive with a price tag of more than $75,000 to the roughly $50,000 of the XT6. However, it offers a far more modern and luxurious interior, plus more than 600 horsepower from dual electric motors. This might mean some potential XT6 buyers are left out, but they would likely be better suited by one of the offerings from Chevy, GMC, or Buick, not to mention the myriad other options in the segment. We wouldn’t be surprised if Cadillac eventually adds less-powerful and more affordable variations of the Vistiq in the near future. Plus, a modern, high-tech, expensive three-row SUV is better for Cadillac’s image than an ancient, arguably budget-friendly model. It’s just time for the XT6 to go.
Source: CNBC
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