2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade showcased a design evolution influenced by the Escala concept, particularly evident in its front fascia. However, from the side and rear, it retained a familiar aesthetic, featuring crisp creases and tall OLED taillights. The Escalade sat on standard 22-inch wheels, marking a first in its history. Pricing for the Escalade Luxury started at just over $90,000 Canadian, with the Premium Luxury and Sport trims priced at $99,898. The Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims were available for $118,398, with an additional $3,500 for the extended-length Escalade ESV. The test vehicle, a Premium Luxury trim, included features like a 36-speaker AKG sound system and a Driver Assist Tech Package, bringing its price to $119,988. The Escalade's interior offered various leather and wood trim options, with the Premium Luxury model featuring Parchment leather and Tamo Ash wood. Despite its high price, some interior materials, like the plastic lower dashboard, were less impressive.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, while often compared to a minivan, offered a practical SUV alternative with a starting price of $39,498 Canadian. The Traverse received a light restyle for 2022, with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs. The RS trim, positioned above the LS, LT, and True North models, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse's design was praised for its restrained styling, with crisp lines and tasteful details. The RS test vehicle, priced at $52,997, included a Dual SkyScape Sunroof. Inside, the Traverse RS featured black leather upholstery with contrast stitching and gloss black trim. While the materials were a mix of hard plastics and metallic accents, the interior layout was logical and user-friendly. The Traverse's stereo controls and climate knobs were particularly appreciated for their ease of use.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade offered a choice between a standard 6.2-litre V8 engine and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine. The V8, producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering impressive acceleration. The V8 featured direct fuel injection, an automatic stop/start system, and Dynamic Fuel Management technology for improved efficiency. The test vehicle achieved a fuel consumption of 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The turbo-diesel engine, with 277 horsepower and the same torque as the V8, offered a combined fuel consumption of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres. The Escalade's ride and handling were enhanced by a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride suspension. These features provided a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body motions. The Escalade excelled on highways, offering a quiet and comfortable experience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a single engine option: a 3.6-litre V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse's tow rating was 2,268 kilograms, with a Tow/Haul mode for towing tasks. The V6 engine, while slightly noisy under acceleration, provided adequate power for the Traverse's size. The test vehicle achieved a fuel consumption of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, absorbing smaller road imperfections. However, it required caution over speed humps and drainage dips to avoid scraping the front air dam. On highways, the Traverse exhibited more road and wind noise than desired but remained suitable for family road trips. In mountainous areas, the Traverse demonstrated athleticism, with the V6 drivetrain, Active Return Assist steering, and Duralife brakes performing well. The suspension limited body roll, providing a flat cornering attitude.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's interior benefited from a new independent rear suspension, allowing for a lower floor and increased interior volume. Front-seat occupants enjoyed standard heated seats, with ventilated and massaging seats available in higher trims. The second-row featured heated captain's chairs, with a three-person bench seat option. The third-row seat offered significant improvements in legroom and comfort, accommodating adults comfortably. Cargo capacity was generous, with 722 litres behind the third row, 2,064 litres with the third row folded, and 3,426 litres with both rear rows folded. The extended-length Escalade ESV provided even more cargo space, with 1,214, 2,307, and 4,044 litres behind the third, second, and first rows, respectively.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse RS featured standard power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row captain's chairs offered a wide pass-through for easy third-row access. The Smart Slide function allowed the second-row seats to tilt and slide forward, even with a child safety seat installed. The third-row seat accommodated adults, though not as comfortably as some competitors. Cargo space was ample, with 651 litres behind the third row, 1,637 litres with the third row folded, and 2,781 litres with both rear rows folded. The Traverse also offered hidden storage compartments, including one behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display for instrumentation and infotainment, offering high pixel density and vibrant colours. The system included a 14.2-inch instrumentation screen with Gauge, AR Camera, and Map displays, though switching between them required navigating through menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but Apple CarPlay experienced connectivity issues during testing. The Escalade's voice recognition technology struggled with some commands, and climate settings couldn't be adjusted via voice. The AR navigation system superimposed directional arrows onto the camera view, and a 19-speaker AKG sound system was standard. The optional 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system provided exceptional audio quality. A head-up display was standard on all but the Luxury trim.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LS model, with an 8-inch display on higher trims. The system supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen was available with navigation, SiriusXM 360L, and additional in-vehicle apps. A Bose seven-speaker sound system was standard on RS trim and above. The Traverse's voice recognition system performed well, accurately responding to commands. The digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system enhanced visibility, while the rear cross-traffic alert system aided parking.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. A Safety Alert Seat buzzed the driver when hazards were detected. The Escalade also featured Teen Driver technology, parking assist sensors, a surround-view camera, and a rear-seat reminder. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The optional Driver Assist Tech Package included higher-speed forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Escalade's safety systems generally performed well, though there were a couple of false alarms during testing. The upcoming Super Cruise technology promised hands-free driving on limited-access highways.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the LS trim added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims featured adaptive cruise control, high-speed emergency braking, and rear pedestrian alert. The Traverse's safety systems generally operated accurately, though more advanced driving aids were not available. The IIHS rated the Traverse Good in most categories but noted some areas for improvement.