The Hyundai Palisade and the Cadillac XT6 would rarely have been compared before the pandemic. But supply shortages and dealer markups have turned two seemingly unrelated models into direct competitors. While Cadillac dealers have largely held the line on pricing, Hyundai showrooms are sometimes seeing staggering premiums over MSRP. Though the Palisade never intended to play in the premium space, it manages to challenge the XT6 in more ways than one.
Interior Space and Passenger Comfort
Despite being seven centimeters shorter than the Cadillac, the Palisade is the more spacious of the two. Adjusted for a 5’11” driver, the differences are immediately noticeable:
- Second-row knee room: 130 mm (Palisade) vs 70 mm (XT6)
- Headroom: 80 mm (Palisade) vs 100 mm (XT6) — a slight edge for the Cadillac
- Rear door openings: Larger on the Palisade, making entry and exit easier
- Second-row seat: Softer, better suited for three adults, with wide ranges of fore-aft and backrest angle adjustment
The second row slides further back, making third-row access significantly easier than in the XT6. Back there, the Palisade offers more space in every direction — headroom is generous, and a slight forward nudge of the middle row frees up additional legroom. The Cadillac forces such an extreme middle-row adjustment that adult comfort up front is compromised.
Cabin Quality: Luxury Feel vs. Everyday Practicality
This is where the two vehicles take very different approaches. The Cadillac prioritizes premium materials throughout:
- Soft leather on seats, front panels, and door trims
- Natural wood accents and Alcantara headliner
- A distinctly upscale feel and scent
However, the XT6 lets itself down with a climate control panel that has noticeable play and a sticky cupholder curtain between the front seats — small details that undercut the luxury experience. The Hyundai, by contrast, is more consistently assembled with uniform textures throughout. The trade-off? Paying a premium price for what is, ultimately, a plastic-heavy interior can be hard to justify.
Ride Quality and Handling: How Do They Compare on the Road?
Neither crossover is perfect in motion, but the Cadillac carries itself with more refinement on smooth surfaces:
- Sound insulation: Noticeably better in the XT6, especially at highway speeds
- Adaptive suspension: The Cadillac’s dampers absorb fine road texture more gracefully
- Rough patches: The XT6 handles broken pavement well in most situations
The Palisade, however, struggles on choppy roads — heavy 20-inch wheels amplify impacts, and the SUV can feel unsettled when potholes come in rapid succession. That said, the Palisade generates less vibration from unsprung masses under normal driving conditions. When both hit a deep pothole, neither escapes unscathed, but the Cadillac’s suspension reacts harshly at the bottom-out point, sending a shock wave through the body. The XT6 also bounces stiffly over even modest speed bumps.
Steering and Braking Feel
The Cadillac’s driving dynamics feel disconnected in several key areas:
- Steering: Detached and imprecise, with a tendency to change direction in stages on high-speed bends — front first, then rear, like an articulated bus
- Brakes: Pedal effort is high from the outset, and repeated stops leave a lingering sense that the brakes are fading — even though heat resistance holds up during spirited driving
The Palisade fares better overall on twisty roads — it enters corners more willingly, tracks through them more confidently, and rolls and pitches less. However, it shares a common Korean car trait: steering that feels vague and artificially weighted. Under hard braking, the Palisade’s brakes also fade faster than ideal. In normal everyday use, though, the braking feel is more intuitive and confidence-inspiring than the Cadillac’s.
Engine and Transmission Performance
Each crossover takes a distinct approach to its powertrain:
- Cadillac XT6 — 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, 200 hp, paired with a nine-speed automatic. 0–60 mph: 9.8 seconds (one occupant, half tank). The low-end torque and responsive gearbox shine in urban traffic, with quick, smooth downshifts on demand. The engine discourages aggressive driving on the highway.
- Hyundai Palisade — Naturally aspirated 3.8L V6, paired with an eight-speed automatic. 0–60 mph: 8.5 seconds. The gearbox can feel sluggish in stop-and-go traffic, with hesitation on quick starts and delayed kickdowns. However, above 4,500–5,000 rpm the V6 comes alive with a satisfying growl and genuinely strong acceleration.
Which One Should You Buy? Final Verdict
At its recommended retail price, the Hyundai Palisade is a compelling value — a spacious, well-equipped three-row SUV with a capable V6 engine, genuine passenger room, and a practical, generous trunk. But once dealer markups push it into Cadillac territory, the calculus shifts. At those prices, buyers rightly expect more: richer materials, a quieter cabin, and a more refined ride.
The Cadillac XT6, for its part, offers a more composed character and a higher level of driving refinement — even with a modest four-cylinder engine and brakes that demand patience. Its calm, unhurried personality and superior NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) control make it feel like the more grown-up choice on long highway trips.
- Choose the Palisade if: You prioritize passenger space, third-row usability, and value at or near MSRP
- Choose the XT6 if: Cabin refinement, highway comfort, and a premium feel matter more than raw space or performance
This is a translation. You can read the original here: https://www.drive.ru/test-drive/cadillac/hyundai/60d33856f5bf930983cc1a67.html
Published June 02, 2022 • 5m to read
