2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2025 Cadillac Escalade

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody the essence of old-school Cadillac luxury, having evolved significantly since its debut in 1999. The updated design further distinguished it from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts, with a new front end that aligned it stylistically with Cadillac's electric vehicles. The Escalade's exterior featured large vertical headlights and tall taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins, complemented by the availability of 24-inch wheels. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the Escalade's high-tech appeal with a 55-inch OLED curved display spanning the dashboard, offering a screen-centric interior design. The interior materials ranged from synthetic leather in base models to real leather in higher trims, with curated motifs adding a touch of sophistication.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h F Sport Black Line, presented a more understated exterior design. Despite its $90,000 price tag, the RX Hybrid's appearance was unremarkable, save for its exclusive paint job and orange brake calipers. The RX Hybrid lineup included three models, each offering different powertrains and fuel efficiency. The RX 350h was the most efficient, while the RX 500h delivered more power and sportier performance. Inside, the RX Hybrid boasted a contemporary interior with quality materials and ambient lighting. However, the ergonomics of the controls varied, with some being intuitive and others less so. The RX Hybrid's interior focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space, with ample room for passengers and thoughtful storage solutions.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine, producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V variant featured a supercharged version of the same engine, delivering an impressive 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models were equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low and high ratios for efficient driving. In Canada, most models came with standard four-wheel drive, while the Escalade-V had a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. Despite its power, the Escalade's handling was not as refined as some competitors, and its brakes lacked confidence-inspiring performance. The optional Performance Upgrade Package, including Brembo brakes, was recommended for those seeking enhanced stopping power.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid lineup offered a range of powertrains, with the RX 350h being the least powerful but most efficient, producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. The RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 304 hp and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The RX 500h, with its turbocharged 2.4-litre engine, produced 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time of 6.2 seconds. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension and Lexus's Direct4 AWD system, enhancing its performance capabilities. However, the RX 500h's fuel efficiency was lower than expected, and its drivetrain occasionally hesitated in city driving. While the RX 500h excelled in straight-line acceleration, its dynamic capabilities were hindered by a lack of communication between the road and the driver.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the latter providing increased cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade's interior was spacious, with seating for up to eight passengers or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The standard-length model boasted best-in-segment cargo space, with 722 litres behind the rear seats, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats. The ESV model further expanded cargo capacity, making it a practical choice for those needing ample storage. The Escalade's towing capacity met segment expectations, although it lacked some of the towing features offered by competitors.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space, with a roomy interior and comfortable seating. The RX 500h's front seats, while snug due to enhanced bolstering, were less comfortable on long drives. The rear seats, however, offered ample room and comfort, with optional power-reclining, heated, and ventilated features. The RX Hybrid provided 838 litres of cargo space, with hooks for grocery bags and a small storage area under the load floor. Folding down the second row increased cargo volume to 1,308 litres, though it was less than some midsize SUVs. The RX Hybrid's interior storage was practical, but some areas lacked lining, potentially causing noise and vibration.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional engineering with a high-tech interface, featuring a 55-inch door-to-door display that integrated a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. Additional tech included a 19-speaker AKG audio system, with an optional 36-speaker version, and features like an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added luxury features for rear passengers, including 12.6-inch screens and massage seats.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of high-tech features, including digital key functionality, a camera-based digital rearview mirror, and a hands-free power liftgate. The RX 500h featured a 14-inch touchscreen display with a modern Lexus Interface infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included a conversational digital voice assistant and cloud-based navigation. However, the steering wheel controls were distracting and challenging to use while driving. The RX Hybrid's optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided excellent sound quality, though the steering wheel controls made adjusting settings difficult.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and the Super Cruise hands-free driving system allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads. However, the system's handoff to manual control was abrupt. Crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification and emergency assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 included advanced driver assistance systems like forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist monitored forward progress and used braking or steering input to maintain safe distances. The RX Hybrid earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS rated it poorly in a frontal-impact test. The RX Hybrid's lane-change assist and Traffic Jam Assist features had quirks, and the steering wheel controls for adaptive cruise control settings were frustrating to use.