2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Ford Bronco

The 2024 Ford Bronco embraced a retro design that harkened back to the 1960s, particularly in its two-door variant, which was more successful in capturing the nostalgic aesthetic than the four-door model. The Sasquatch Package was a notable addition, enhancing the Bronco's rugged appearance with a suspension lift and 35-inch mud-terrain tires, giving it a wide stance and a purposeful look. Without this package, the Bronco's design seemed incomplete, as the standard tires failed to fill the fender flares adequately. The interior of the Bronco was designed with practicality in mind, featuring an 8-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The dashboard, with its BRONCO-stamped panel, paid homage to the original 1960s model, and the vehicle was equipped with user-friendly knobs and buttons for essential controls.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade represented the pinnacle of Cadillac luxury, with its updated design further distinguishing it from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts. The Escalade's exterior featured a new front end with large vertical headlights and tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. Inside, Cadillac focused on creating a high-tech environment, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED curved display with a 55-inch display that spanned the entire dashboard. The Escalade offered a range of interior motifs and luxurious materials, including semi-aniline leather and open-pore wood trim. The Premium Luxury Platinum model, in particular, showcased Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, elevating the Escalade's interior to a level of refinement that belied its shared platform with other GM SUVs.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a range of engine options, starting with a standard turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, an optional turbocharged 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 engine delivered 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, while the Raptor model boasted a turbocharged 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp and 440 lb-ft. The Bronco's towing capacity varied, with the base model capable of towing up to 1,587 kilograms, while the Raptor could handle up to 2,040 kilograms. The Bronco's off-road capabilities were enhanced by its part-time 4WD system, hill start assist, and various G.O.A.T. driving modes. However, its fuel efficiency was a concern, with the Big Bend Sasquatch averaging 13.9 L/100 km during testing.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, relied on a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V model took performance to another level with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine generating 682 hp and 653 lb-ft. All Escalade models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power delivery. The Escalade's towing capacity was impressive, with the standard-wheelbase model capable of towing up to 3,675 kilograms. The vehicle's Magnetic Ride Control damping system and optional air suspension contributed to a comfortable ride, although the Escalade's handling couldn't match that of some luxury competitors.

The 2024 Ford Bronco offered a spacious interior, with the four-door model providing ample room for passengers and cargo. The two-door version had 634 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,509 litres with the rear seats folded. The four-door model offered even more space, with 1,084 litres behind the rear seats and 2,350 litres with the seats down. The Bronco's interior was designed for versatility, with removable roof panels and doors, as well as MOLLE panels for customizable storage solutions.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade excelled in interior space, particularly in its long-wheelbase ESV configuration, which offered 1,175 litres of cargo space behind the third row and 4,043 litres with all seats folded. The standard-wheelbase model also provided generous cargo capacity, with 722 litres behind the rear seats and 3,412 litres with the seats down. The Escalade's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with power liftgate and power-folding seats making it easy to reconfigure the space for passengers or cargo. The vehicle's towing capacity was competitive, although it lacked some of the advanced towing features offered by rivals.

The 2024 Ford Bronco came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. However, the system experienced connectivity issues with Apple CarPlay and inconsistent voice recognition performance. The Bronco Trail App provided access to maps and information for off-roading adventures, enhancing the vehicle's appeal to outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a cutting-edge 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. The vehicle also offered a 19-speaker AKG audio system, with a 36-speaker version available, along with an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. Cadillac's user-friendly interface included standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a rotary dial for climate controls. The Escalade's technology package extended to the rear seats, with the optional Executive Second Row Package providing additional screens and controls for second-row passengers.

The 2024 Ford Bronco was equipped with essential safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. The Mid Package added Ford Co-Pilot360 technologies, such as lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Bronco received favourable crash test ratings from the IIHS, although its headlight performance was rated as Marginal.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a comprehensive suite of driver assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. The vehicle also featured GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system, which had improved since previous tests. However, crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.