2020 Cadillac XT6 A Lot Cheaper In Canada Despite Packing AWD As Standard

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 may look the same in all the countries it’s available in but GM is making sure to customize the specification to market conditions.

In China, for example, the three-row crossover is powered by a 237 HP turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine instead of the 310 HP 3.6-liter V6 the U.S. gets. As it turns out, Canada will get a slightly different 2020 Cadillac XT6 too. No, the engine remains the same as in the United States but, unlike the luxury SUV’s home market, Canada will only get it with all-wheel drive.

This is hardly surprising given the northern neighbor’s harsh winters which make AWD a necessity in Canada. Another consequence of the country’s cold climate is the fact the XT6 comes with standard heated outboard second-row seats.

Also read: Canada’s 2019 Nissan Altima Gets Standard AWD But Not The VC-Turbo Engine

Both these features remain options in the United States, where buyers have to pay $2,000 to tick the AWD box.

“All-wheel drive in Canada is so popular. According to our statistics, and for models that we offer front-wheel drive, the take rate is so low that it just doesn’t make much sense to bring in front-wheel drive,” Harry Ng, XT6 product manager for Cadillac Canada, told Autonews Canada.

The models available with front-wheel drive he’s referring to include the compact XT4 and midsize XT5. As for the larger XT6, the executive believes customers are less likely to demand FWD.

Another particularity of Canadian-spec 2002 Cadillac XT6 is the fact that the Luxury base model does not make the trip across the border. Instead, Canadian buyers get the SUV in Premium Luxury and Sport trims.

The XT6 Premium Luxury starts at CAD $64,098, the equivalent of $48,165 in U.S. money, while the XT6 Sport is priced from CAD $66,898 (US $50,280). Both prices include freight and PDI charges of CAD 2,100 ($1,575). Compared with the U.S., where the 2020 XT6 Premium Luxury starts at $54,315, the Canadian pricing is really competitive, especially considering that AWD is standard.