Cadillac is bringing back the discontinued gas-powered XT6
Cadillac bringing back the discontinued gas-powered XT6 confirms the three-row SUV will return with a combustion engine after being pulled in early 2025 to make room for EVs. Luxury buyers still want powertrain choice, Cadillac's global VP says, so the brand will renew ICE models where demand is strong while continuing to invest in its electric lineup. The news also underscores that the XT5 crossover is staying put.
Key Takeaways
- Cadillac confirmed it is reviving the gas-powered XT6 after discontinuing the mid-size three-row SUV in early 2025.
- Global VP Kristian Aquilina said customers want more powertrain options because "choice matters."
- The next-generation XT5 is due next year with a traditional combustion engine; XT6 timing is still unclear.
- Cadillac sold about 20,000 XT6s in its final model year, a pace its electric Vistiq replacement has not matched.
For readers tracking luxury lifestyle and aspirational ownership trends, this pivot sits alongside other high-end market moves covered in our Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes hub.
Why is Cadillac bringing back the gas-powered XT6?
According to Robb Report, Cadillac's all-electric-by-decade's-end plan prompted it to drop ICE models such as the XT6 to free space for battery EVs.
By mid-decade, second thoughts were clear. Sales help explain the U-turn: Cadillac celebrated its 100,000th EV sale in May, yet Motor1.com figures cited by Robb Report show roughly 20,000 XT6 sales in the final model year—numbers the Vistiq EV has not come close to matching.
Aquilina's LinkedIn note framed the strategy as dual-track: keep investing in a robust EV portfolio across major luxury segments, while renewing internal-combustion entries where demand remains strong.
Is the Cadillac XT5 going away too?
No. Robb Report's reporting—and the story's own tease—make plain that the XT5 crossover isn't going anywhere. In August of last year, the Detroit Free Press reported Cadillac would not scrap the XT5 and would instead launch its next iteration in 2027 with a combustion engine.
Aquilina wrote that renewed ICE investment begins with that next-generation XT5 next year, reinforcing that both crossovers remain part of Cadillac's near-term mix rather than pure EV replacements.
When will the revived XT6 return to showrooms?
Cadillac has not locked an official on-sale date for the returning XT6. Robb Report says timing remains to be seen, though reports suggest the three-row SUV will likely follow the debut of the next-gen XT5.
Separately, a new CT5 sports sedan—with a naturally aspirated V-8 and manual transmission—is also said to be on the way, another signal that combustion still has a lane in Cadillac's luxury lineup.
Bottom line: Cadillac bringing back the gas XT6 is less nostalgia than market math—buyers still want three-row gasoline luxury, and the brand is answering with choice rather than an EV-only path.