2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern aesthetic, reminiscent of the sleek design language seen in the Envista. Its front end featured slim daytime running lights, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, giving it a sharp and upscale appearance. While the side profile was somewhat generic, the Enclave's overall design was more refined and less cluttered than its predecessor. The vehicle's exterior was complemented by standard 20-inch wheels on the base and Sport Touring trims, with the Avenir trim boasting 22-inch wheels in a distinctive "Avenir Pearl Nickel" finish. Inside, the Enclave offered a premium feel with a floating centre console and a large curved display, echoing the futuristic design trends of electric vehicles. The Sport Touring trim featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing the interior's luxurious ambiance. A panoramic power sunroof was standard on the Avenir trim and optional on lower trims in Canada.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody Cadillac's legacy of luxury, with its updated design further distinguishing it from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The new front end brought the Escalade closer in style to Cadillac's electric vehicles, featuring large vertical headlights and horizontal daytime running lights. The rear maintained its iconic tall, vertical taillights, reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase ESV body styles, with a range of trims including Luxury, Premium Luxury, Sport, and the high-performance Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the Escalade's tech-forward interior with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED display. The interior featured a mix of synthetic and real leather upholstery, with curated motifs available for a personalized touch. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim impressed with its Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, showcasing Cadillac's commitment to luxury.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Enclave's fuel efficiency was rated at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.9 on the highway, and 11.2 combined. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped. Buick offered two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, standard in Canada, to reduce road and engine noise. The Enclave's driving dynamics were typical of a large three-row vehicle, with loose steering at slower speeds, but this was not a significant drawback for its target market.

For the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine as the sole choice, producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. All models came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and efficient gear shifts. In Canada, four-wheel drive was standard on most models, with the Escalade-V featuring a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. The Escalade's towing capacity was competitive, with the standard-wheelbase model rated at 3,675 kilograms. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on all but the base Luxury trim, enhancing ride quality, though the Escalade's handling couldn't match that of some luxury competitors.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered a spacious interior with eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, accommodating up to seven passengers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and ventilated front seats. Tri-zone climate control allowed passengers to manage their own temperature settings. The Enclave featured a one-touch power feature for folding and sliding second-row seats, with power-folding third-row seats available on higher trims. Cargo space was generous, with 648 litres behind the third row, 1,617 litres with the third row folded, and 2,761 litres with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase ESV configurations, with the latter providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. Seating for up to eight was available, or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The Escalade boasted ample interior space, with best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom. Cargo capacity was impressive, with the standard model offering 722 litres behind the third row, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats. ESV models further increased cargo space, making the Escalade a leader in its segment. The Escalade's towing capacity was competitive, though it lacked some of the towing features offered by rivals.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured a 30-inch curved display integrating the infotainment system and digital gauge cluster. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system exclusive to the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The Enclave offered wired charging with two USB ports in each row, ensuring connectivity for all passengers.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade showcased a 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central 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, dual wireless chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers, enhancing rear passenger comfort.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with seven selectable camera views was standard, with an option to increase to nine views. Adaptive cruise control was standard, and Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driving technology, was available on all trims. The Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favourable ratings.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered standard driver assist features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Escalade also featured GM's Safety Alert Seat and Super Cruise, allowing for hands-free driving on mapped roads. Current crash test ratings were not available at the time of writing.