After a busy spring, June marks a quieter month for new-vehicle arrivals in Canada. In fact, General Motors is the only manufacturer adding models to its showrooms: Two of them are pickup trucks and the third is the latest Cadillac SUV.
We’re also saying goodbye in June to one of the automotive industry’s most iconic cars, the Volkswagen Beetle.
2020 Cadillac XT6
The Cadillac XT6 is the luxury brand’s latest mid-size crossover with three rows of seating, filling the gap between the compact XT5 and the full-size Escalade.
As a seven-seater (or six-seater, depending on options), the XT6 follows up the original SRX of the mid-2000s, which was available with a third row of seats. Cadillac downsized that model to a five-seat compact that later evolved into the XT5.
Cadillac’s angular styling cues give the XT6 a more-than-passing resemblance to the Volvo XC90. But where that Volvo and many of Cadillac’s other competitors in this field use relatively small turbo engines, Caddy puts a 3.6L V6 under the XT6’s hood. It makes a competitive 310 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque, which goes to the road through a nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
As we write this, Cadillac has not published a full list of the XT6’s standard features. However, it has set prices, which start at $60,998 for the Premium Luxury trim and $63,795 for the XT6 Sport. Standard kit includes 20-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel with power adjustments, LED headlights, and power-folding third-row seats.
Standard safety features include a back-up camera with integrated washer, forward collision alert with low-speed automatic braking, front and rear park assist, blind-spot monitor with lane-change and rear cross-traffic alerts, and lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning.
The XT6 also introduces a new Cadillac rotary infotainment controller, NFC phone pairing, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air software updates.
2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD
Chevrolet follows up last year’s redesigned Silverado 1500 with an all-new Silverado HD for 2020. Chevy clearly set out to make a statement with this truck: if it’s not actually the largest heavy-duty pickup on the market, it certainly looks that way.
Standard models leave off Chevy’s bowtie badge. Instead, there’s a full-width crossbar that proudly displays the brand’s name. A High Country trim opts for a classier look that does incorporate the bowtie and is a better fit with its range-topping position.
The Silverado HD has less to boast about under the hood. There’s a new 6.6L gas V8 making 401 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque, but the Duramax turbodiesel V8 is carried over from last year with 445 hp and 910 lb-ft.
However, the diesel comes standard with a new 10-speed automatic transmission that Chevy says lends the truck a 52 percent increase in towing capacity. Trucks fitted with the new gasser get a tow rating 18 percent better than last year’s model.
Chevy says the new 10-speed has the industry’s first integrated power take-off (PTO), which the driver can engage from inside the cabin to power a variety of accessories.
The 2020 Silverado HD is the first heavy-duty Chev that does not share its cargo box with light-duty models. It also doesn’t get the carbon-fibre box or Multi-Pro tailgate available in its corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra.
The Silverado HD will be offered in five trims – Work Truck, Custom, LT, LTZ, and High Country – when it reaches showrooms toward the end of June. We expect Chevrolet to announce pricing and detailed feature lists closer to the truck’s launch.
GMC Sierra Elevation
Also new to GM’s truck lineup this month is an Elevation trim package for the GMC Sierra 1500 pickup.
The GMC Sierra Elevation is largely an appearance package that brings black wheels and a monochromatic exterior scheme that includes a body-colour grille with gloss black accents. There are also LED fog lights, a dial-operated traction select system and passive keyless entry with push-button engine start.
Elevation trim slots between SLE and SLT variants, and comes standard with Sierra’s 2.7L turbo four-cylinder engine (310 hp/348 lb-ft of torque) and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
GMC Sierra 1500 Elevation is priced at $51,200.
End of the Line for the Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen isn’t adding any new vehicles to its showrooms in June, but the German brand is about to end production of its iconic Beetle hatchback and convertible.
For its send-off, VW scaled back the Beetle’s packages to a high-value Wolfsburg trim that was new for 2019 and a Dune version carried over from 2018. For about $24,500, the Wolfsburg is a decent value with 17-inch wheels, passive keyless entry, blind spot detection, and rain-sensing wipers. But the Beetle is a nostalgia exercise in more ways than one: it’s otherwise pretty basic and can’t be had with driver assists like collision detection, automatic braking, and lane-departure warning.
You may also like
