2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Cadillac Escalade

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade showcased a design heavily influenced by the Escala concept vehicle, particularly evident in its front fascia. However, from the side and rear, the Escalade retained a familiar look with crisp creases and tall, vertical OLED taillights. It sat on standard 22-inch wheels for the first time in its history. The base model started at $76,195, with higher trims like the Premium Luxury and Sport offering more features and luxury, reaching up to $99,995 for the Platinum trim. Our test vehicle, a Premium Luxury trim with four-wheel drive, came with a host of features, including a 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system and a $102,310 sticker price.

Inside, the Escalade's cabin was a significant upgrade from its predecessor. While the base Luxury trim offered black leatherette and a single wood trim choice, higher trims provided standard leather with various perforation and quilting patterns. Platinum models featured semi-aniline premium leather, leather-wrapped interior panels, and a simulated suede headliner. Our test vehicle had Parchment leather over a Jet Black base with Tamo Ash wood, which looked impressive but showed signs of wear on the light-colored carpets and mats. Despite the six-figure price tag, some plastic elements in the lower dashboard and door panels were hard to overlook.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, available in base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims, started at $25,195 and topped out at $35,295 for the Touring model. Our test vehicle, a Wilderness trim, was priced at $33,945, including destination, and came with options like a navigation system and a Harman Kardon premium sound system, bringing the total to $36,014. The Forester Wilderness featured a rugged look with a suspension lift, higher ride height, and massive protective cladding, giving it a raccoon-on-wheels appearance.

Inside, the Forester emphasized function over form, with a cabin that combined hard plastic and soft surfaces. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was easy to use, though the three display screens could be less than ideal. The Wilderness trim included copper-colored stitching and accents, adding a touch of style. The Forester's interior was well-made, with comfortable seating and a practical layout. However, the Wilderness's cladding and matte-black hood decal were not immediately appealing.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade offered a choice between a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine and a 3.0-liter 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 and delivered impressive acceleration. The V8 also featured Dynamic Fuel Management technology, allowing it to operate on as few as two cylinders to improve fuel economy. Our 4WD test vehicle averaged 15.9 mpg on a 140-mile test loop, slightly below the EPA's combined estimate of 16 mpg.

The turbo-diesel engine, making 277 horsepower and the same torque as the V8, offered better fuel economy, though official estimates were not available. The Escalade's ride and handling were significantly improved, thanks to a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride air suspension. These features provided a smooth and controlled ride, with minimal body motions. The Escalade excelled on freeways, offering a quiet and comfortable ride, though the brake pedal could have offered better modulation.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. All Foresters came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Wilderness model featured a CVT design that provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply and doubled the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA estimated the Forester Wilderness's fuel economy at 26 mpg in combined driving, and our test vehicle averaged 25.9 mpg.

The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive, which put the powertrain into Sport mode for more lively response. The Wilderness trim included Subaru's dual-function X-Mode system, which offered improved off-road capabilities. The re-tuned suspension and longer springs and shocks provided a smooth ride and improved ground clearance. The Forester excelled in various driving environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's new independent rear suspension design allowed for a larger and more useful cabin. The longer wheelbase and overall vehicle length contributed to significant gains in passenger room and comfort, as well as cargo capacity. Front-seat occupants enjoyed heated and ventilated seats, with massaging seats available in Platinum trim. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and offered improved leg support, while the third-row seat provided ample legroom and comfort for adults.

Cargo capacity was also impressive, with 25.5 cubic feet of space behind the third-row seat, 63 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The extended-length Escalade ESV offered even more cargo space, with 42.9, 81.5, and 126.6 cubic feet of volume behind the third, second, and first rows of seats, respectively.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit and a practical interior. The StarTex upholstery in the Wilderness trim was water-resistant, and the SUV included all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable material on the rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, making it suitable for a three-person roof tent.

Comfort levels were high in both the front and back seats, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents and quick-charge ports for passengers. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the 60/40-split rear seat down provided 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof), making the Forester one of the roomiest compact SUVs.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved-glass display with OLED instrumentation and infotainment screens, offering greater pixel density than a 4K television. The 14.2-inch instrumentation screen provided Gauge, Augmented Reality (AR) Camera, and Map displays, though switching between them required navigating through menus on the 16.9-inch infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though Apple CarPlay had connectivity issues during our test.

The Escalade's voice recognition technology struggled with some commands, and drivers could not change climate system settings using voice commands. The AR navigation system superimposed directional turn arrows onto the camera view, and a 19-speaker AKG premium sound system was standard. The optional 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system provided sensational audio quality. A full-color head-up display was standard for all but the Luxury trim level.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading.

The test vehicle's Harman Kardon audio system produced clear, rich sound, though the navigation system lacked a breadcrumb function. The voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The PIN Code Access feature allowed owners to leave the key fob in the SUV and use a PIN code to re-enter the vehicle, making it ideal for outdoor activities.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's safety started with its sheer size, weighing a minimum of 5,635 pounds. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, front and rear pedestrian detection, and a Safety Alert Seat. Teen Driver parental report card technology, front and rear parking assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a rear-seat reminder were also standard. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance systems. The optional Driver Assist Tech Package included higher-speed forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, automatic seatbelt tightening, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, which offered twice the field of vision of the previous system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Touring trim included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology that monitored for drowsiness and distraction. The 2022 Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was expected to retain the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick+" rating.