2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade stood as a towering presence, nearly two metres above the ground, with a length that required between five and a half to six metres to park. It was a motorized cargo container, boasting three rows of leather seats and an array of computers. The Escalade ESV extended 38 centimetres longer than the standard version, primarily stretching the wheelbase. This SUV was designed for show, appealing to pop musicians, overzealous parents, wannabe federal agents, or boaters with large families. Its athletic and trim appearance was achieved through thin LED lights and darkened chrome bits on the Sport Platinum trim, masking its mass. The interior featured a luxurious first row with a 38-inch curved screen array and fine wood inlays, though the allure faded with cheaper GM parts in the second and third rows.

The 2023 Ford Escape, in contrast, embraced a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. The 2023 refresh introduced a traditional front end with a Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. As one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's lineup, the Escape offered an array of trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite being the top trim. It sported 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps, giving it an upscale look. Inside, the ST-Line Elite featured diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, but the interior was dominated by plastic, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, suitable for towing up to 3,629 kilograms. However, it felt heavy in passing situations, and the 10-speed automatic transmission was not particularly eager. The Escalade-V variant addressed acceleration issues with a supercharged Corvette V8, delivering 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac also offered a 3.0-litre Duramax turbodiesel V6 with 277 hp, providing better fuel economy at 10.5 L/100 km. The Escalade's 4WD system was rudimentary, with a centre differential locking torque 50:50 front to rear. The magnetic ride control dampers and optional air suspension made the Escalade nimble, though wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2023 Ford Escape differentiated itself with multiple powertrain options. The 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivered 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with AWD. Despite the four-cylinder's output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding twitchy inputs common in the segment.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted an exceptionally space-efficient interior, with 722 litres behind the third row, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,426 litres with both rows down. The Escalade ESV offered even more space, maxing out at 4,044 litres. The independent rear suspension provided generous headroom and legroom in every row. The controls were user-friendly, with a smart and fast interface. An optional front console refrigerator and power-retractable side steps added convenience, though the second-row seats were not powered.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt great to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space was 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the second row folded, falling short of segment leaders like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Passenger space was slightly less than competitors, but the back seat's headroom and front-seat backs' design maximized space for tall passengers.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a span of OLED screens across the dash, providing sharp and clear displays. The front camera displayed a high-res feed with directional arrows and street names. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability were standard. Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, was a standout feature, using infrared eye-tracking cameras for safety. The Escalade also offered night vision with pedestrian detection and a 36-speaker AKG audio system.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch or optional 13.2-inch touchscreen. The larger screen upgraded the cabin's look, and Sync 4 was well-organized with easy navigation. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription. The system was slightly slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert seat, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Reverse emergency braking was optional but had issues with false stops. Night Vision and Super Cruise were also optional.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests. The IIHS did not grant it a Top Safety Pick due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centring technology.