2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, available exclusively in Reserve trim in Canada, showcased a sophisticated and streamlined exterior design, hinting at a new direction for Lincoln. Its grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's bifurcated design, featured LED lighting that extended through the grille, illuminating the Lincoln star logo. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was a standout, with a full-width screen as its crown jewel, complemented by high-quality materials like open-pore wood and fine leather. The Jet Appearance Package, available for an additional $3,750, offered two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and 22-inch wheels.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, the largest and most expensive Cadillac, continued to embody old-school luxury while distinguishing itself from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The updated design brought the Escalade closer to Cadillac's EV lineup, with large vertical headlights and tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The Escalade offered various trim levels, including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the screen-centric design with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The interior featured luxurious materials, with options like Renaissance Red leather and open-pore wood trim, and the Premium Luxury Platinum model boasted Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid option, available for an additional $3,500, increased output to 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with a fuel efficiency of 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The hybrid's range exceeded 950 kilometres, making it a practical choice for long drives. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with the adaptive suspension enhancing the driving experience.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V offered a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and efficient power delivery. Four-wheel drive was standard in Canada, with the Escalade-V boasting a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on most trims, but the Escalade's body-on-frame construction limited its handling compared to unibody competitors.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats, with the 24-way Perfect Position seats providing exceptional comfort. Rear passengers enjoyed 1,095 millimetres of legroom, surpassing competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods. Cargo space was generous, with 997 litres behind the second row and 1,947 litres with the seats folded down. The Nautilus seated five, prioritizing cargo space over a third row.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in short and long-wheelbase configurations, offered ample interior space. The long-wheelbase ESV increased third-row legroom and cargo capacity. Seating for up to eight was available, with second-row captain's chairs as an option. The Escalade boasted best-in-segment cargo space, with the ESV offering up to 4,043 litres behind the first row. Towing capacity was competitive, though Cadillac lacked some of the towing features offered by Lincoln.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 48-inch curved display, with customizable sections for weather, audio, and more. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The inclusion of Google Maps and Alexa Built-in enhanced the tech experience, though some controls were distracting to use. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade integrated a 55-inch door-to-door display, combining a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens and additional controls for second-row passengers.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, such as lane-keeping assist, park assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with a subscription model after four years. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though the 2024 model had not yet been rated.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured standard driver assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads, with improvements noted in recent tests. Current crash test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing.