Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 215
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 224
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 237
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 238
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 244
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Super Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 276
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . 278
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . 279
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Night Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 296
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 296
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 298
Surround Vision Recorder . . . . . . . 299
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Recommended Fuel (2.0L L4Turbo Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Recommended Fuel (3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 302
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 305
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 315
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 316
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.
.Do not use a phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a hands-free
method to place or receive
necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take
notes, or look up information on
phones or other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
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232 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
for longer than two seconds, or press
twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator
Light) :This mode allows you to use
some electrical accessories when the
engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP once without
the brake pedal applied will place the
ignition system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after 10 minutes
to prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) : This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off and the
brake pedal applied, pressing ENGINE
START/STOP once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START.
Once engine cranking begins, release
the button. Engine cranking will
continue until the engine starts, and
the ignition will then remain ON. See
Starting the Engine 0232. Service Mode
This mode is available to verify the
proper operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required for
emissions inspection purposes and for
service and diagnostics.
With the vehicle off, and the brake
pedal not applied, pressing and
holding ENGINE START/STOP for
more than five seconds will place the
vehicle in Service Mode. The
instruments and audio systems will
operate as they do in ON/RUN, but
the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The engine will not start in
Service Mode. Press ENGINE START/
STOP again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper
gear, P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart
the engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral).
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment
0316.
To start the vehicle: 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter must be in the
vehicle. Press ENGINE START/
STOP with the brake pedal applied.
When the engine begins cranking,
let go of the button. The idle speed
will go down as the engine warms
up. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
2022 - CRC - 10/22/21
234 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.The outside temperature is not in
the required operating range.
.The vehicle transmission is shifted
out of D (Drive) to any gear other
than P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have been
selected. SeeDriver Mode Control
0 248.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or
grade.
.The driver door has been opened or
the driver seat belt has been
unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the
maximum allowed time. Auto Stop Disable SwitchThe automatic engine Stop/Start
feature can be disabled and enabled
by touching the
hsymbol. Auto Stop
is enabled each time you start the
vehicle.
When the light next to the
his
illuminated, the system is enabled.
Engine Heater
The engine heater, if available, can
help in cold weather conditions at or
below −18 °C (0 °F) for easier starting
and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Plug in the engine
heater at least four hours before starting the vehicle. An internal
thermostat in the plug end of the cord
will prevent engine heater operation
at temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked in
a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal injury
may result. Always park the vehicle
in a clear open area away from
buildings or structures.
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 237
3. Press and hold the shift lockrelease button on the shift lever.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position. For N (Neutral) hold the
lever in the N (Neutral) position
until the N indicator
illuminates red.
5. The P indicator will turn white and the gear indicator will turn red
when the vehicle is no longer in
P (Park).
After releasing the shift lever, it will
return to the center position.
If the vehicle cannot shift from
P (Park), a Driver Information Center
(DIC) message may be displayed.
Check that the ignition is on, the
engine is running, the brake pedal is
applied, and the shift lock release
button is pressed when you are
attempting to shift out of P (park).
If all of these are met but the vehicle
will not shift out of P (Park), see your
dealer for service.Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the vehicle
and ignite. Do not park over papers,
leaves, dry grass, or other things
that can burn.
Active Fuel Management
This vehicle's engine may be equipped
with Active Fuel Management, which
allows the engine to operate on either
all of its cylinders, or in reduced
cylinder operation mode, depending
on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as
cruising at a constant vehicle speed,
the system will operate in reduced
cylinder operation mode, allowing the
vehicle to achieve better fuel economy.
When greater power demands are
required, such as accelerating from a
stop, passing, or merging onto a
freeway, the system will maintain
full-cylinder operation. If the vehicle has an Active Fuel
Management indicator, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) for more
information on using this display.
Extended Parking
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running,
be sure it will not move and there is
adequate ventilation.
See
Shifting Into Park 0236 and
Engine Exhaust 0238.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
outside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to 15 minutes.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
inside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to 30 minutes.
The vehicle could turn off sooner if it
is parked on a hill, due to lack of
available fuel.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 243
Manual Mode
Tap ShiftCaution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Tap Shift, could damage the vehicle.
Always upshift when necessary
while using Tap Shift.
If equipped, vehicles with Tap Shift
have controls on the back of the
steering wheel to manually shift the
automatic transmission. Permanent Tap Shift Mode
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back on the shift lever to activate
M (Manual Mode). The M in the
shift pattern will illuminate in red,
and the D will switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
3. Pull the control toward you to shift. Pull the left control to
downshift, and the right control to
upshift.
To exit Permanent Tap Shift Mode: 1. To exit M (Manual Mode) and return to D (Drive), pull back on
the shift lever. The D in the shift
pattern will illuminate in red, and
the M will switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
M (Manual Mode) can be exited to
return to D (Drive) at any speed by
pulling the lever rearward from the
center position. It is not necessary to
stop the vehicle or shift to N (Neutral)
or P (Park) prior to shifting back to
D (Drive). Temporary Tap Shift Mode
To enter Temporary Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the transmission in D (Drive) and not in Permanent Tap Shift
Mode, the Tap Shift controls will
activate a Temporary Tap Shift
Mode, allowing the transmission to
be manually shifted.
2. To deactivate, hold the right control briefly. Automatic shifts
return after no manual shifts have
been done for seven to 10 seconds.
While using Tap Shift, the vehicle will
have firmer, quicker shifting. This can
be used for sport driving or when
climbing or descending hills, to stay in
gear longer, or to downshift for more
power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow
shifting into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine revolutions
per minute (rpm). If shifting is
prevented for any reason, the M or D
will flash in the instrument cluster.
The transmission will not
automatically shift to the next higher
gear if the engine rpm is too high.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
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244 DRIVING AND OPERATING
It will only automatically shift to the
next lower gear if the engine rpm is
much too low.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can operate
in All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode. See
Driver Mode Control0248.
Press MODE to activate AWD. AWD is
active in both AWD and Sport Modes.
The AWD system delivers power to all
four wheels and the system adjusts as
needed to improve traction. The AWD Mode will stay selected
until the mode is changed. If the
vehicle is placed in Sport Mode, see
Driver Mode Control
0248.
Sport Mode is canceled with each
ignition cycle. See Driver Mode Control
0 248.
When operated in Tour Mode, the
vehicle will deliver power to the front
wheels only and may provide better
fuel economy.
If Tour Mode is selected see Driver
Mode Control 0248.
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric brake
boost have hydraulic brake circuits
that are electronically controlled when
the brake pedal is applied during
normal operation. The system
performs routine tests and turns off
within a few minutes after the vehicle
is turned off. Noise may be heard
during this time. If the brake pedal is
pressed during the tests or when the electric brake boost system is off, a
noticeable change in pedal force and
travel may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See
Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 118.
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15218998) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 247
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA) prevents
the vehicle from rolling in an
unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes
release when the accelerator pedal is
applied. If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes, the
Electric Parking Brake will apply. The
brakes may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle.
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 conditionsallow. 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 0226 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
The indicator light for both systems is
in the instrument cluster. This
light will: