2022 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing size and distinctive design elements. Its front end, reminiscent of a diesel locomotive, featured a tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights. The Escalade's styling was unique among GM's full-size SUVs, emphasizing its bulk with features like a massive grille and LED lights. The vehicle offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with the Escalade Sport featuring darkened trim and a mesh grille. Despite sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM SUVs and trucks, the Escalade maintained its luxury appeal, although its interior design lacked a cohesive theme. While it boasted leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, the interior didn't match the distinctive style of competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2022 Ford Expedition underwent several updates, including exterior styling revisions and enhanced infotainment technology. The front received a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear featured revised taillights and tailgate trim. The Expedition was available in various trims, including the off-road-focused Timberline trim, which added all-terrain tires and suspension modifications. Inside, the Expedition offered a redesigned dashboard with the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, featuring a large touchscreen display. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped seats and a heated steering wheel. The Expedition's cabin provided ample room for passengers and cargo, making it a practical choice for families and long road trips.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain options, both shared with other GM SUVs and trucks. The standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the optional Duramax 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine delivered 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a standard four-wheel-drive (4WD) drivetrain in Canada. The Escalade's diesel engine impressed with its smooth power delivery and lower torque peak, making it suitable for various driving situations. However, the Escalade's ride quality was less refined, with an unsettled feel on the road, despite its independent rear suspension and available air suspension.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The engine was mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The Expedition's powertrain offered impressive towing capabilities, with a maximum capacity of 4,173 kilograms (9,200 pounds) when properly equipped. The twin-turbo V6 delivered an addictive power delivery, although it consumed more fuel when pushed hard. The Expedition's ride quality was generally comfortable, but the sport-tuned suspension of the Stealth Edition Package contributed to a harsher ride on uneven pavement. Despite its size, the Expedition was surprisingly easy to park, thanks to excellent visibility and advanced parking aids.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a spacious cabin. It offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with second-row captain's chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench seat as standard. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, providing 722 litres with all seats in place, 2,064 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 3,426 litres with all rear seats folded. However, the raised centre console limited storage space, and the front seats lacked the luxury feel expected in a high-end vehicle. Cadillac did include dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, enhancing comfort.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered exceptional comfort and space, making it a favourite among full-size SUVs. The interior featured power-adjustable, leather-wrapped seats with heating and ventilation, along with a heated steering wheel. The Expedition's cabin provided ample room for passengers, with second-row captain's chairs offering plenty of legroom and climate controls. The third-row seat was easy to access and offered outstanding leg support, although headroom could be tight for taller passengers. The Expedition's cargo space measured 546 litres behind the third row, with the option to expand to 1,627 litres by folding the third row. The Expedition Max variant offered even more cargo capacity, making it ideal for families with extensive storage needs.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured an elaborate infotainment system with a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens. The system included a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The Escalade's infotainment system was well-integrated into the dashboard, with physical toggles for climate control. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller were less user-friendly. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, enhancing visibility. Additional tech features included a head-up display, night vision, and an augmented-reality navigation system.

The 2022 Ford Expedition introduced the next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system featured a 12-inch touchscreen with physical controls for the stereo and climate system. The optional Sync 4A system offered a larger 15.5-inch touchscreen with a single physical dial for volume adjustment. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Sync 4A added features like wireless smartphone charging and a conversational voice-recognition system. However, the system had some quirks, such as difficulty restarting Apple CarPlay and occasional user-experience flaws. The Expedition also offered an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV and Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 for easier trailer maneuvering.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver-assistance features, including cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trim levels added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and trailer blind-spot monitoring. Super Cruise, a sophisticated hands-free driving system, was available as an option on most trims. Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, using a driver-facing camera for safety. While the system impressed with its smooth responses, it occasionally disengaged unexpectedly. The Escalade lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for this model year.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered a comprehensive suite of safety features through the Ford Co-Pilot360 collections. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, and new features like intersection assist and evasive steering assist. The Platinum trim included Co-Pilot Assist 2.0, which added a surround-view camera system and rear automatic emergency braking. The Expedition also offered BlueCruise hands-free driving technology for approved highways. While the adaptive cruise control performed smoothly, the lane-centring assist had some issues, particularly in heavy traffic.