2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Nissan Armada

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody the essence of old-school Cadillac luxury, standing as the largest and most expensive model in the lineup, aside from the limited-production Celestiq EV. Its updated design further distinguished it from its Chevrolet and GMC siblings, 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 massive 24-inch wheels. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the Escalade's high-tech appeal with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED screen. The interior offered a range of luxurious materials and curated motifs, with the Premium Luxury Platinum trim showcasing Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, elevating the Escalade's status as a luxury SUV.

The 2025 Nissan Armada, on the other hand, presented a bold and imposing design with a high beltline and a large grille that set it apart from its predecessor. The new C-shaped LED lighting signature added a modern touch, while the PRO-4X trim featured rugged elements like a skid plate and unique front fascia. The Armada's side profile exuded a business-like appearance, with a parallel beltline and distinctive D-pillar accents. Inside, the Armada offered a comfortable and premium cabin, with the Platinum Reserve trim showcasing luxurious touches like tan leather and quilting. The Armada's interior space was enhanced with features like Nissan's "Zero Gravity" seats and a push-button transmission, providing a sense of luxury and practicality.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade was powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. While the diesel option was dropped, the V8 remained a solid performer, though it fell short of the Lincoln Navigator's twin-turbo V6 in terms of power. The Escalade-V variant boasted a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, producing an impressive 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. All Escalade models featured 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 offering a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. Despite its power, the Escalade's handling and ride quality couldn't match the refinement of competitors like the Range Rover or BMW X7, though it offered impressive towing capabilities.

The 2025 Nissan Armada introduced a new powertrain with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, inspired by the high-performance GT-R. This engine produced 425 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, surpassing its predecessor. The Armada's nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the old seven-speed, and Nissan's Intelligent Four-Wheel Drive was standard in Canada. The PRO-4X trim featured off-road enhancements like an electronic locking rear differential and adaptive electronic air suspension, providing impressive ground clearance and approach angles. The Armada's towing capacity reached 3,855 kilograms, with features like trailer sway control and trailer blind-spot warning. On-road, the Armada's electric power steering offered a sense of engagement, while the adaptive air suspension provided comfort both on and off-road.

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 ESV's extended wheelbase added 33.5 centimetres, resulting in a total length increase of 383.5 centimetres. This translated to 1,175 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 2,664 litres behind the second row, and 4,043 litres behind the first row. The standard-length model offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 2,064 litres behind the second row, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats. The Escalade's towing capacity reached 3,675 kilograms for the standard model and 3,628 kilograms for the ESV. While it offered ample space and towing capabilities, it lacked some of the towing features found in competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured a redesigned interior with a push-button transmission, freeing up centre console space for a wireless charging pad. The Armada's "Zero Gravity" seats provided comfort, though they felt a bit deep. The Platinum Reserve trim offered luxurious touches like front-row seat cooling and second-row seat heating. The Armada's third-row seats folded flatter for increased cargo space, with 577 litres behind the third row, 1,594 litres behind the second row, and 2,750 litres behind the front row. While the Armada's cargo space fell short of some American rivals, it surpassed the Toyota Sequoia. The Armada's headroom and legroom were generally competitive, with improvements in third-row legroom benefiting passengers.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a high-tech interface with a 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. Climate controls were managed by a tablet-like touchscreen, and a rotary dial provided additional control. The Escalade offered a 19-speaker AKG audio system as standard, with a 36-speaker version available. Other tech features included an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. Cadillac retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless chargers, and massage seats, enhancing rear passenger comfort.

The 2025 Nissan Armada came standard with two large screens, with the SL trim featuring 12.3-inch displays and higher trims offering 14.3-inch screens. The screens were housed side by side in a flat display unit, providing clear visibility from the driver's seat. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with six USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. Google Built-In was available, offering native Google Maps integration. The Platinum Reserve trim included a head-up display. In Canada, all Armada models featured a 12-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio System, providing an impressive audio experience.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on mapped roads. While Super Cruise had improved, the handoff to manual control remained abrupt. Crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.

The 2025 Nissan Armada featured Nissan's ProPILOT Assist suite, with ProPILOT Assist 1.1 standard on most trims, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-centring steering assistance. The Platinum Reserve trim included ProPILOT Assist 2.1, providing hands-free highway driving assist. While the system required occasional driver input, it offered smooth adjustments to curves and lane changes. Nissan Safety Shield 360 included features like traffic-sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Armada's surround-view camera and 3D Around View Monitor enhanced visibility, with the Invisible Hood View providing a feed of the terrain below the engine bay.