Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
164 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 174
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 188
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 190
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 197
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 205
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 216
Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Night Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 235
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 235
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 237
Surround Vision Recorder . . . . . . . 239
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 242
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 165
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 244
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 255
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 256
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage.
Here are some driving tips to get the
best fuel economy possible.
. Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them off
when not required.
. On AWD vehicles, use Tour Mode
when conditions permit.
. Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid abrupt
stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed limits
or drive more slowly when
conditions require. .
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
. Combine several trips into a
single trip.
. Replace the vehicle's tires with the
same TPC Spec number molded
into the tire's sidewall near
the size.
. Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and
can take your focus from the task of
driving. Exercise good judgment and
do not let other activities divert your
attention away from the road. Many
local governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
174 DRIVING AND OPERATING
and you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping equipment
in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper tread
depth. See Tires0289.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape. .
Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let
the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear. .
Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 175
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0200.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0197.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 202 and
All-Wheel Drive 0196.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside Assistance. See
Roadside
Service 0353. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0189.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
200 DRIVING AND OPERATING
HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must come to
a complete stop on a grade for HSA to
activate.Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of
the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. On an
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle in
AWD or Sport Mode, the system will
operate if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning
wheels and reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
system senses a discrepancy between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to help steer the
vehicle in the direction which you are
steering.
If cruise control is being used and TCS
or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit
wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road conditions
allow. TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC will
automatically turn on when cruise
control is set.
Both systems come on automatically
when the vehicle is started and begins
to move. The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This is
normal and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary to
turn TCS off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0176 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
AWD :AWD Mode provides drive
torque to all four wheels. Select AWD
to improve traction and control on
slippery road surfaces, such as gravel,
sand, wet pavement, snow, and ice For
more information on AWD Mode, see
All-Wheel Drive 0196.
Snow/Ice (FWD Vehicles Only) :
Snow/Ice Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice covered
roads. This mode will adjust
acceleration to optimize traction on a
slippery surface. The accelerator pedal
will reduce engine torque at small
pedal inputs.
Off-Road : Use this mode for off-road
recreational driving. When active,
Off-Road Mode modifies accelerator
pedal response, AWD torque, TCS,
ABS and ESC settings. Choosing
Off-Road Mode also engages AWD.Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph).
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system begins to limit
wheel spin while using cruise control,
cruise control automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0200. If a
collision alert occurs when cruise
control is activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System 0226. When road
conditions allow cruise control to be
safely used, it can be turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if either
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
204 DRIVING AND OPERATING
J:Press to turn the system on and
off. A white indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, move the thumbwheel up
briefly to resume that speed or move
the thumbwheel up and hold to
accelerate. If cruise control is already
active, use to increase vehicle speed.
To increase speed by 1 km/h (1 mph),
press RES+ to the first detent. To
increase speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press RES+ to the second detent.
SET− :Move the thumbwheel down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease vehicle
speed. To decrease speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press SET− to the first detent.
To decrease speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press SET− to the second detent.
*:Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from
memory. Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET−
or
RES+ could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
Joff
when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Move the thumbwheel down toward SET− and release. The
desired set speed briefly appears
in the instrument cluster.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When cruise control has been set to
the desired speed, a green cruise
control indicator appears on the
instrument cluster and a cruise set
speed message appears on the
Head-Up Display (HUD), if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If cruise control is set at a desired
speed and then the brakes are applied
or
*is pressed, cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory. Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES+ briefly.
The vehicle returns to the previous set
speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.
Move the thumbwheel up toward
RES+ until the desired speed is
reached.
. To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, briefly press RES+ to
the first detent. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h (1 mph)
faster.
. To increase vehicle speed in larger
increments, briefly press RES+ to
the second detent. For each press,
the vehicle speed increases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12984300) -
2020 - CRC - 3/19/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. SeeInstrument Cluster 0113.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
. Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET− until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
small increments, briefly press
SET− to the first detent. For each
press, the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, briefly press
SET− to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle speed
decreases to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer.
The cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the
vehicle. The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See
Instrument Cluster 0113.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase
the vehicle speed. When you take your
foot off the pedal, the vehicle will slow
down to the previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly moving the
thumbwheel down toward SET− will
result in cruise set to the current
vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well cruise control will work on
hills depends upon the vehicle speed,
load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you might
have to step on the accelerator pedal
to maintain speed. When going
downhill, the cruise control system
may automatically brake to slow the
vehicle. Also, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. If the brake pedal is
applied, cruise control disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if
the ignition is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped, Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC) allows the cruise control set
speed and following gap to be
selected. Read this entire section
before using this system. The
following gap is the following time
between your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in your path,