2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade
Overview | |
MSRP$76,195 | MSRP$32,925 |
Listings222 | Listings640 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews8.2 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.5 out of 10 |
Pros
Cons
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Cons
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2021 Cadillac Escalade Reviews SummaryYouthful aspiration often translates into adult acquisition. When the first Cadillac Escalade went on sale and quickly became an American popular culture icon, the oldest Millennials were just getting their driver’s licenses, and the youngest weren’t born yet. Today, this “digital native” generation raised on rap music is turning 40, moving to the suburbs, and raising families. Plus, it is poised to inherit a reported $68 trillion from Baby Boomers by 2030, the largest wealth transfer in modern history. Despite suffering through the Great Recession and now a global pandemic, will Millennials spend their passed-down windfalls on a six-figure full-size SUV that gets 16 mpg? Some will, and in so doing, they’ll get a mighty impressive and technologically sophisticated, fifth-generation Cadillac on 22s. | |
2021 Ford Explorer Reviews SummaryThere was a time when everybody in America seemingly drove an Explorer. That may be an exaggeration, but not by much. In its first four years of production, Ford sold over a million examples. In 1998, Ford was selling its second-generation Explorer at a rate of nearly 440,000 per year. Whether your family purchased an Explorer or not, this was the nameplate that invented the midsize SUV segment. Fast forward to the 2021 model year and the Explorer is in its sixth generation. It's now a three-row SUV that clocks in at a maximum of 4,700 pounds, with a price tag north of $50,000 for the Explorer Platinum trim level. Long gone are the days when it was the only game in town. Almost every automaker has a competitor. So how does the Explorer shake out for 2021? | |
No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine6.2L 420 hp V8 | Engine2.3L 300 hp I4 |
Drive TrainRWD | Drive TrainRWD |
Seating Capacity8 | Seating Capacity7 |
Horsepower420 hp @ 5600 rpm | Horsepower |
MPG City14 | MPG City21 |
MPG Highway20 | MPG Highway28 |
Engine | |
Engine Name6.2L 420 hp V8 | Engine Name2.3L 300 hp I4 |
Torque460 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm | Torque |
Horsepower420 hp @ 5600 rpm | Horsepower |
DrivetrainRWD | DrivetrainRWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City14 | MPG City21 |
MPG Highway20 | MPG Highway28 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity8 | Seating Capacity7 |
Key Features | |
Navigation SystemStandard | Navigation System |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space25.5 cu ft | Cargo Space18.2 cu ft |
Curb Weight5635 lbs | Curb Weight4345 lbs |
Height76.7 in | Height69.9 in |
Length211.9 in | Length198.8 in |
Width81.1 in | Width89.3 in |
Wheelbase120.9 in | Wheelbase119.1 in |
Maximum Payload1636 lbs | Maximum Payload1425 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity8200 lbs | Maximum Towing Capacity5300 lbs |
Standard Towing Capacity7700 lbs | Standard Towing Capacity |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $76,195 | $32,925 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 8.2 out of 10Read full review | 7.5 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
Cons
| Pros
Cons
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Summary | Youthful aspiration often translates into adult acquisition. When the first Cadillac Escalade went on sale and quickly became an American popular culture icon, the oldest Millennials were just getting their driver’s licenses, and the youngest weren’t born yet. Today, this “digital native” generation raised on rap music is turning 40, moving to the suburbs, and raising families. Plus, it is poised to inherit a reported $68 trillion from Baby Boomers by 2030, the largest wealth transfer in modern history. Despite suffering through the Great Recession and now a global pandemic, will Millennials spend their passed-down windfalls on a six-figure full-size SUV that gets 16 mpg? Some will, and in so doing, they’ll get a mighty impressive and technologically sophisticated, fifth-generation Cadillac on 22s. | There was a time when everybody in America seemingly drove an Explorer. That may be an exaggeration, but not by much. In its first four years of production, Ford sold over a million examples. In 1998, Ford was selling its second-generation Explorer at a rate of nearly 440,000 per year. Whether your family purchased an Explorer or not, this was the nameplate that invented the midsize SUV segment. Fast forward to the 2021 model year and the Explorer is in its sixth generation. It's now a three-row SUV that clocks in at a maximum of 4,700 pounds, with a price tag north of $50,000 for the Explorer Platinum trim level. Long gone are the days when it was the only game in town. Almost every automaker has a competitor. So how does the Explorer shake out for 2021? |
Video | No video found | No video found |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 6.2L 420 hp V8 | 2.3L 300 hp I4 |
Drive Train | RWD | RWD |
Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
Horsepower | 420 hp @ 5600 rpm | |
MPG City | 14 | 21 |
MPG Highway | 20 | 28 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 6.2L 420 hp V8 | 2.3L 300 hp I4 |
Torque | 460 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm | |
Horsepower | 420 hp @ 5600 rpm | |
Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 14 | 21 |
MPG Highway | 20 | 28 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
Key Features | ||
Navigation System | Standard | |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | 5 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 25.5 cu ft | 18.2 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 5635 lbs | 4345 lbs |
Height | 76.7 in | 69.9 in |
Length | 211.9 in | 198.8 in |
Width | 81.1 in | 89.3 in |
Wheelbase | 120.9 in | 119.1 in |
Maximum Payload | 1636 lbs | 1425 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
Maximum Towing Capacity | 8200 lbs | 5300 lbs |
Standard Towing Capacity | 7700 lbs | |
CarGurus highlights
According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is 8.2 out of 10, while the 2021 Ford Explorer scores 7.5 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the Cadillac Escalade emerges as the top choice for consumers seeking luxury, performance, and advanced technology.
Choose the 2021 Ford Explorer if:
- You are looking for a budget-friendly option with good fuel efficiency.
- You value a range of engine options to suit your driving preferences.
- You prioritize passenger space over cargo volume in a vehicle.
Choose the 2021 Cadillac Escalade if:
- You prioritize luxury and style in your vehicle choice.
- You require ample cargo capacity for all your storage needs.
- You appreciate cutting-edge technology and advanced safety features.
CarGurus highlights
According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Cadillac Escalade is 8.2 out of 10, while the 2021 Ford Explorer scores 7.5 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the Cadillac Escalade emerges as the top choice for consumers seeking luxury, performance, and advanced technology.
Choose the 2021 Ford Explorer if:
Shop Now- You are looking for a budget-friendly option with good fuel efficiency.
- You value a range of engine options to suit your driving preferences.
- You prioritize passenger space over cargo volume in a vehicle.
Choose the 2021 Cadillac Escalade if:
Shop Now- You prioritize luxury and style in your vehicle choice.
- You require ample cargo capacity for all your storage needs.
- You appreciate cutting-edge technology and advanced safety features.
By: CarGurus + AI
At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.
