2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing presence. Its massive size was unapologetically highlighted by a large grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive, setting it apart from other GM full-size SUVs. The Escalade offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featuring bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim had darkened trim, including 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 lacked a cohesive design theme, with a mix of leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a modernist and reductive design philosophy, focusing on clean and simple lines. While it didn't cater to those seeking flashy luxury, it exuded understated elegance with options like Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels. Our test vehicle, in Eiger Grey with silver wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, looked sophisticated. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, combined with aluminum and shiny black trim, created an atmosphere of understated luxury. The Range Rover Sport offered various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. It featured premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights, along with excellent aerodynamics. The interior boasted a luxurious, high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery.

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 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a standard four-wheel-drive (4WD) drivetrain in Canada. The Escalade-V performance model, available in 2023, featured a 682-hp 6.2-litre supercharged V8. During testing, the diesel engine impressed with smooth power delivery and a lower torque peak, making it ideal for city driving. However, the Escalade's ride felt unsettled, even with independent rear suspension and optional air suspension. Its towing capacity reached 3,629 kilograms (8,000 pounds) with the gasoline engine, slightly less than the Lincoln Navigator. Off-road capability was limited compared to rivals like the Range Rover.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was standard in the Autobiography trim, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One featured a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, accelerating to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds). The SUV's fuel efficiency averaged 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres. The Range Rover Sport excelled off-road, with advanced suspension and technology, but its on-road performance fell short of sport-tuned rivals. It felt tall and heavy, with steering lacking involvement, and Dynamic mode introduced drivetrain lash and clunking.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, offering a spacious cabin. The standard version measured 5,382 mm, while the extended Escalade ESV was 5,766 mm long. It provided 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. Cargo space was impressive, 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 lacked storage space, and the front seats felt similar to those in GM cousins. Cadillac included dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit. The front seats featured Windsor leather, 20-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, with a massage feature available. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. Storage space was decent, with a deep bin under the centre armrest and a second bin under the cupholder tray. The cargo area offered 903 litres, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare lived under the cargo floor, and Land Rover provided a contraption to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens: 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. Physical toggles for climate control were retained. 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 the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots. Additional tech included a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation. The 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system was standard but challenging to tune.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. The Pivi Pro infotainment platform aimed to learn user habits but proved confusing and frustrating. The automatic driver exit assist feature was difficult to disable, and the native digital assistant struggled with voice commands. Alexa integration required logging into an Amazon account. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included but challenging to access.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assistance features such as 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. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available on most trims, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. It used a driver-facing camera for safety and provided smooth, natural responses. However, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable for this model year.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist struggled on highway curves and with wonky lane lines, requiring driver intervention.