2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Mazda CX-30

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 was designed to ensure it stood out as a crossover rather than a car, with its lower body heavily clad in charcoal-coloured plastic. While some might have found this excessive, the overall design was appealing, featuring short overhangs, a long hood, and a rakish roofline. The interior of the CX-30 was a standout, offering a level of style and refinement that rivalled entry-level luxury SUVs. The gauges were clear, the infotainment screen was seamlessly integrated into the dashboard, and the dual-zone climate controls were elegantly designed.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade embodied old-school Cadillac luxury with its updated design, further distinguishing itself from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts. The most significant exterior change was a new front end that aligned the gasoline Escalade stylistically with Cadillac's EVs. The Escalade featured large vertical headlights and tall taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. Inside, Cadillac worked to conceal its shared platform with other GM SUVs, introducing a 55-inch OLED curved display that spanned the dashboard, enhancing the high-tech feel of the interior.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30, equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivered 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. Despite these impressive figures, the power delivery was smooth and gradual, creating a sensation akin to surfing. The six-speed automatic transmission shifted flawlessly, and the standard all-wheel-drive system ensured power was distributed to all four wheels. However, the turbocharged engine's fuel economy was less than stellar, with observed consumption at 13.3 L/100 km on a mountainous route. The CX-30 was nimble and fun to drive, offering excellent visibility and a smooth ride at highway speeds.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, dropped its diesel engine option, leaving only the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V model boasted a supercharged V8 with 682 horsepower. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low and high ratios for efficient cruising. While the Escalade's V8 offered quick acceleration, its brakes were less confidence-inspiring. The Escalade's ride quality was impressive for a body-on-frame vehicle, but it lacked the handling polish of some luxury competitors.

Inside the 2024 Mazda CX-30, quality materials and logical controls were the norm. The interior was stylish, with gloss black trim, metallic accents, and exposed stitching. However, the back seat was cramped, and cargo space was limited to 572 litres behind the rear seats, expandable to 1,280 litres with the seats folded. The CX-30's high seating position made entry and exit easy, and the power-adjustable driver's seat ensured comfort.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered ample space, with both short and long-wheelbase configurations. The long-wheelbase ESV model provided additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade's interior was spacious, with best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom. Cargo capacity was generous, with the standard model offering 722 litres behind the rear seats, expandable to 3,412 litres with the seats folded. The ESV model further increased cargo space, making it a practical choice for those needing extra room.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 featured a new 10.25-inch infotainment display on GT and Suna trims, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the screen's placement far from the driver and passenger was a drawback. Mazda's infotainment system relied on a combination of controls, but its voice recognition system was not as intuitive as it could be. The CX-30 also included a two-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services and new USB-C ports for connectivity.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade embraced high-tech features with its 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating 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, and its voice recognition system, while not as advanced as some competitors, was functional. The optional Executive Second Row Package added luxury features for rear passengers, including screens and massage seats.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 came equipped with a suite of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive headlights and a surround-view camera system. The CX-30 received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, ensuring peace of mind for drivers.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was also available, offering improved functionality. However, crash test ratings for the 2025 model were not available at the time of writing.