2023 Ford Escape vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing size and distinctive design elements. Its massive grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its grand dimensions, reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, gave the Escalade a locomotive-like appearance, setting it apart from other GM full-size SUVs. The Escalade offered different styling cues for its "sport" and "luxury" models, with the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featuring bright exterior trim, while the Sport trim boasted darkened accents. 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, with a mix of leather, wood, and plastic materials.

The 2023 Ford Escape, in contrast, embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky aesthetics of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh introduced a more traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. As one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, the Escape offered a range of trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite showcasing 19-inch wheels and a sleek design. Inside, the Escape featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The interior was comfortable, with supportive seats and a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat. However, the abundance of plastic materials detracted from the overall upscale feel.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain options, both shared with other GM SUVs and trucks. The standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the optional Duramax 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine produced 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a standard four-wheel-drive system in Canada. The Escalade diesel impressed with its smooth power delivery and low torque peak, although its hard brake pedal was less confidence-inspiring. The gasoline engine had a slight towing advantage, with a maximum capacity of 3,629 kilograms, but the Escalade's ride felt unsettled, lacking the comfort and composure of its luxury SUV rivals.

The 2023 Ford Escape differentiated itself with multiple powertrain options. The base 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, it lacked the performance tuning of a genuine performance crossover. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

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, with 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 seats, while adjustable, felt similar to those in other GM vehicles. Cadillac did include dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, enhancing functionality.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space was competitive, with up to 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded. However, it fell short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was adequate, with slightly less rear-seat legroom than some competitors, but the back seat offered good headroom and soft padding on the front-seat backs.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured an elaborate 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens. It 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, Bluetooth connectivity, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The display blended seamlessly into the dashboard, with icons arranged for functionality. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward, and the rotary controller felt like an afterthought. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and it offered advanced features like night vision and augmented-reality navigation.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look and offered a well-organized interface with tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. The system was easy to navigate, with a static "Home" button for quick access. While Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, its feature set and layout were impressive. The Escape offered a standard six-speaker sound system, with a Bang & Olufsen system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver-assistance technology, including cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims, with Super Cruise available as an option. Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, using a driver-facing camera for safety. While the system occasionally disengaged unexpectedly, it offered smooth and natural responses. However, the Escalade lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for this model year.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal- and side-crash tests. The IIHS awarded it "Good" ratings in most tests, though it received a "Marginal" score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0, available as an upgrade, added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology for semi-autonomous driving.