Cadillac XT6 vs Chevrolet Traverse: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Chevrolet Traverse burns about $2,650 of fuel annually against $2,950 for the Cadillac XT6. That $300 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,500 over five years and $2,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Cadillac XT6 is the stronger commuter at 21 mpg city, while the Chevrolet Traverse pulls ahead on the interstate at 27 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Cadillac XT6 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Chevrolet Traverse with 1 (SIDI). Across 22 recorded Cadillac XT6 configurations and 30 for the Chevrolet Traverse, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Cadillac XT6 is offered with Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Chevrolet Traverse with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Cadillac XT6 emits 386 g/mile of CO2 versus 387 g/mile for the Chevrolet Traverse. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.