2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport shared a striking resemblance with the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat, and featured distinct styling. Honda's design updates aimed to give the Passport a more rugged appearance, particularly with the new TrailSport trim, which was intended to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. Despite its off-road-inspired looks, the TrailSport was more about aesthetics than actual capability, although it did offer some off-pavement prowess with its 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and traction management modes.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade was a behemoth of an SUV, towering nearly two metres above the ground and stretching up to six metres in length. It was designed for show, with its massive size and luxurious features. The Escalade's design cleverly masked its bulk with thin LED lights and darkened chrome accents, giving it a more athletic appearance. The interior was opulent, featuring a 38-inch curved screen across the dashboard and a variety of leather and wood trim options. However, some elements, like the seats and certain controls, were shared with less expensive GM vehicles, which detracted from the overall luxury experience. Despite this, the Escalade's spacious interior and advanced technology made it a standout in the luxury SUV segment.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The V6 was smooth and responsive, offering a satisfying driving experience with a combined fuel economy of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres. The Passport's i-VTM4 AWD system provided mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport excelled on paved roads with its firm ride and agile handling, its off-road capabilities were limited, and the brakes could become less confident on mountain descents.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a standard 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD in Canada. The V8 was suitable for towing up to 3,629 kilograms but felt heavy during acceleration. The Escalade-V variant addressed this with a supercharged V8 producing 682 horsepower, while an optional 3.0-litre Duramax turbodiesel V6 offered better fuel economy at 10.5 L/100 km. The Escalade's 4WD system was more rudimentary, requiring manual engagement for low-traction surfaces. However, its magnetic ride control dampers and optional air suspension provided a smooth and controlled ride, despite some wind noise at highway speeds.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with large doors and a low step-in height. The interior featured comfortable seats with leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The TrailSport trim added heated rear seats, while the Touring trim included ventilated front seats. The Passport's spacious second row provided ample room for passengers, and the large windows created an open and airy feel. The SUV boasted generous storage options, including a massive centre console and ample cargo space, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seat and 2,854 litres with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade excelled in interior space, offering 722 litres behind the third row, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,426 litres with both rows down. The Escalade ESV variant provided even more room, with a maximum of 4,044 litres. The independent rear suspension allowed for generous headroom and legroom in all rows, accommodating six adults comfortably. The Escalade's controls were intuitive, with a smart touchscreen interface and multiple gauge layouts. Optional features included a front console refrigerator, power-retractable side steps, and an air suspension for easier loading and unloading.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The TrailSport trim added satellite radio, while the Touring trim included a navigation system, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and HondaLink connected services. The system was functional but lacked advanced features, and the navigation system was clunky compared to using Apple CarPlay or Siri. Wireless smartphone charging was standard on all but the base Sport trim.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted a cutting-edge OLED screen setup across the dash, providing sharp and clear visuals. The front camera displayed a high-resolution feed with navigation overlays, enhancing the driver's field of view. Standard features included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The optional Super Cruise system offered hands-free highway driving with advanced eye-tracking technology. The Escalade also featured night vision with pedestrian detection and a 36-speaker AKG audio system, providing an immersive audio experience.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some elements of Honda Sensing were less refined, with intrusive lane-departure warnings and lane-centring assist. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories, except for a four-star rating for front passenger protection in a frontal collision and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with a lower rating for front-passenger protection in a frontal crash and a three-star rating for rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert seat, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera. Optional features included reverse emergency braking, night vision, and Super Cruise. The Escalade's safety systems were generally effective, though reverse emergency braking occasionally activated erroneously.