2020 XT6 Offroad

We take the Buick Enclave, I mean Chevy Traverse, I mean GMC Acadia, I mean Cadillac XT6 for a little off-road test. Overall it's pretty capable but that big price tag doesn't separate it enough from it's three siblings.
Engine Adventures strives to explore and test the AWD and 4WD systems of all crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. To do this we test vehicles in real world environments in a way that allows viewers to cross shop and explore any vehicle they may be interested in learning about.

[@haroldbeauchamp3770]

Great video. A KZbin first! No other channel tests GM awd vehicles like this. Excellent video and fantastic camera work.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for the support! Trying to improve everyday!

[@jamesboone14]

This is a really good video showing the underside mechanics and testing of each mode on this hill climb. I know that most people won't take a vehicle like this offroad, but it does help to know that is somewhat capable of light offroad work.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@jarrodmcdaniel]

Walked up that hill way easier than I thought it would. Modern traction control systems are getting better and better. Looking to the future, electric motors and their plethora of instant torque should make these traction systems even more responsive.

[@EngineAdventures]

I'm excited to see what Rivian has to offer as they claim their vehicles will be very offroad capable. I'd also love to test the Bollinger vehicles, to see if they will be worth their price.

[@johndez9398]

So perfect for weekend warriors and the occasional 6-8” of snowfall. Thanks.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for commenting!

[@amerrr3368]

I never thought I would ever say this but That offroad mode made things seem almost as good as an actual diff lock would

[@EngineAdventures]

It does a really good job, but the problem is how much torque it takes from the system to brake the spinning wheels. Most vehicles without a low range transfercase struggle to get enough torque on this climb and the XT6 actually did better than a lot of other vehicles. It wouldn't make the hard line though.

[@hughfh]

I'm genuinely surprised at how capable this was, especially considering it did not have the twin clutch setup. The main limitations appeared to be tyres and of course ground clearance. There's not much you can do about the latter (and why would you - if you really need it then other vehicles would be better suited) but it would be easy enough to throw on a set of decent HTs or mild ATs to achieve more mechanical grip and thereby reduce the electronics' workload.

[@EngineAdventures]

Me too! I don't know if the dual clutch would have been any better. I've tested other vehicles with dual clutch rear ends and the clutches haven't been strong enough to fully lock with the driveline. I'm kicking myself for not doing the steep hill climb with the blazer that had the dual clutch.

[@A15689]

@@EngineAdventures Greatest off-road test of the XT6 I have seen, thanks man. I just have a question whether it is possible to put a 265/50R20 wide tires on the XT6 for more grip?

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching! My guess is that tires you mentioned would fit, but I think that is the max size you could go.

[@myyoutubename152]

The XT5 and XT4 have GM's twin clutch dear differential. I'm considering buying one of these and I would LOVE to see how they work under these conditions!

[@EngineAdventures]

The XT6 does offer a sport package or trim that has the dual clutch rear. I did test the dual clutch in a 2020 Blazer, but I didn't take it up the steep hill climb. Kicking myself for that one!

[@Abbbb225]

I've watched a ton of these off-road test videos. Most are terrible; incomplete, inaccurate, not pushing systems to failure, full of manufactured drama, light on facts and meaningful tests. Yours are some of the best I have seen; no fluff, being thorough, just going through all modes and showing what vehicle can do. It's actually pretty simple, but not many people do it. I think you cover the most basic and important test, i.e. cross-camber uphill climb. Showing the general handling off-road is also nice. If you ever wanted to add you could show front and rear axle and left and right side w/o traction, or adding obstacles while climbing (brick/cinder block or log under tire) - though don't think any of that is really necessary, as this gives a pretty good idea.

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for the support and the tips. It's about time I invest in another camera or 2 so that I can get multiple angles at once!

[@Abbbb225]

@@nateallen2709 Yep. One thing I have also wondered about and hope to test one day is snow tire performance vs all-terrain or mud-terrain. I see all these off-road guys running A/T's in winter (now they have some snowpeak branded ones) and I always wonder why they don't run snow tires. Maybe they are afraid of them getting chewed up? But if you are driving primarily on snow and ice with minimal mixed terrain that shouldn't be much of a concern. Maybe they just want to run one tire year-round? Bridgestone makes a couple blizzaks in LT for higher weight loads in larger sizes, and other than commercial vehicles like the trucks that salt the roads I have never seen a single person run them. Would have to try to know for sure but I bet they would put any "winter" rated A/T or M/T to shame on snow and ice, and probably add a lot of safety and security for winter wheeling.

[@Abbbb225]

@@nateallen2709 And this channel is also good - not as real world, and more European cars, but rollers reveal a lot, and it is also no-nonsense, no story, just results. kzbin.info

[@Abbbb225]

@@nateallen2709 I used to live in Asheville and surrounding areas. I know that area pretty well. Where are you?

[@Abbbb225]

@@nateallen2709 Cool. Beautiful area. yeah, snow there is intermittent, so might not be ideal for a snow tire off road, but could still be worth a shot, and higher up parts of the mountains stay snowed in all winter.

[@joepiccirello4864]

Great video, thank you. Most informative video I have seen. I have a 2020 premium luxury awd 6 cylinder and would like to convert it to have the sport options. Is it worth doing? What is the difference between double clutch and single clutch? What are the mechanical differences between the premium luxury and the sport models?

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for watching! The dual clutch is a better system as it can torque vector by applying more power to the outside wheel while turning, essentially pushing the vehicle around corners. As far as the conversion goes I would think it's a very difficult thing to do, but I didn't know. The computer would have to be programmed for the dual clutch as it performs completely different from the single.

[@Alf-qe1ot]

Hi from Moscow ! A really good test. Respect ! I have XT5 3,6L since 2017 , and I'll never change mine to a new one of 2,0 turbo. Though the tax difference is abt. 4 (FOUR !!!) times here in Russia (where are humanist ideals , people ?!) - I 'm not going to be hooked on that. The reason is the feeling of CADILLAC driving. This name should not be associated with mass-marked engines at all. And, as far as I heard from my dealer here in Moscow (one of the biggest in Russia), people are not willing to buy new XT5's /XT6's, and the selling level is rather bad after they launched it several months ago. Besides turbo-engines has much less durability and much more risks comparing to atmospheric ones. Besides they sound much cheaper than V6. Besides 10 scnds. for 100km - this is absurd for a luxury car at all (and for Cadillac especially). Besides no more options for engines . Overall - a big mistake of the current Cadillac marketing, IMHO . (Though a very good exterior and interior and very good pricing). And finally , about off-road features: those two channel bars (to defend the fuel tank, and the same as XT5 has as well) are so light-gauge and soft that I very doubt it can defend anything at all while it happens to be really needed. The Cadillac engineers happened to let them be just a visual effect for marketing , but not a really useful thing. Anyway , I like Cadillac since I had SRX I (second edition) for 9 years of no-problems-driving, and I'm going to jump the current edition :-)). I believe the next one will be really new, but not just a more-weak-redaction of a previous model (God bless poor little soul Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg ! :-)))))). (P.S. Sorry if my English was not good enough to express the idea).

[@EngineAdventures]

Thanks for the support and input!

[@Alf-qe1ot]

Engine Adventures 🤝