2025 Volkswagen Atlas 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 platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The most notable exterior change was the new front end, which brought the gasoline Escalade stylistically closer to Cadillac's electric vehicles. The headlights were redesigned as large vertical bars, complemented by smaller horizontal daytime running lights. At the rear, the Escalade retained its tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins, and for the first time, 24-inch wheels were available, enhancing its imposing presence.

Inside, Cadillac made significant efforts to differentiate the Escalade from other GM full-size SUVs. The interior featured a screen-centric design, with a new 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED curved display. The Escalade offered various trim levels, with the Premium Luxury Platinum models adding an illuminated Cadillac crest and grille surround. The interior materials ranged from Inteluxe synthetic leather in base models to real leather in higher trims, with curated interior motifs available. The Premium Luxury Platinum test car impressed with its Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, showcasing a level of finish unexpected from a mainstream automaker.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas was offered in four trim levels in Canada: Comfortline, Peak Edition, Highline, and Execline. The Atlas Peak Edition had an off-road-ready appearance, while the Execline was the sportiest with the most standard equipment. A five-passenger version, the Atlas Cross Sport, was also available, featuring a more rakish design. The Atlas Execline, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, showcased a chiseled, muscular, and upscale appearance, with polished aluminum detailing, front and rear light bars, and 21-inch wheels.

Inside, the Atlas continued its premium look with diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood, creating a warm and inviting environment. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience. However, the Atlas largely resisted touch-sensing controls, except for temperature and stereo volume, which were touch-sensitive. While these controls weren't particularly satisfying to use, the overall interior design and features provided a comfortable and functional space for passengers.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine option, leaving only the naturally aspirated gasoline 6.2-litre V8 engine. This engine produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, which was less than the Lincoln Navigator's gasoline twin-turbo V6. The Escalade-V, however, continued with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, delivering an impressive 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All Escalade models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low ratios for acceleration and high ratios for efficient highway cruising. 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 Magnetic Ride Control damping system, standard on all but the base Luxury grade, used magnetic damper fluid for quicker adjustments. Despite this, the Escalade's ride quality couldn't match the polish of a Range Rover or Mercedes-Benz GLS, nor the on-road handling of a BMW X7. The V8 engine provided quick acceleration and a pleasing sound, but the brakes lacked confidence. Cadillac offered a Performance Upgrade Package with Brembo six-piston front calipers, a performance air intake, and a cat-back exhaust system, which was a recommended option.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas replaced its previous engine options with a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine promised better fuel economy than the retired V6, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW's 4Motion AWD system. Initially, the engine seemed underpowered for the Atlas's size, but it proved refined and satisfying for daily driving tasks. The engine's maximum torque curve between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm provided adequate performance, especially in Sport mode.

During testing, the Atlas returned 15.2 litres per 100 kilometres in urban conditions and 12.3 L/100 km over a 110+ kilometre route. The official ratings for the Execline trim were 12.8 L/100 km city and 11.3 L/100 km combined. However, the ride quality was disappointing, with the suspension feeling brittle over road imperfections and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Despite this, the Atlas's handling was predictable on mountain roads, with the brakes resisting rumble, vibration, and fade under duress.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade was available in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the latter, the Escalade ESV, offering 33.5 centimetres more length between the wheels. This primarily benefited cargo space and third-row legroom, which increased by 4.3 cm in the ESV. The Escalade provided ample space inside, with best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom. The standard-length model offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 2,064 litres behind the second-row seats, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats. ESV models further stretched cargo space to 1,175 litres behind the third row, 2,664 litres behind the second row, and 4,043 litres behind the first row.

The Escalade's towing capacity was 3,675 kilograms for the standard-wheelbase model and 3,628 kilograms for the ESV. While it could tow as much as a Range Rover or Lexus LX, it lacked the towing features offered by Lincoln. The Escalade's interior was versatile, with power liftgate and power-folding seats making it easy to reconfigure for passengers or cargo.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a comfortable third-row seat and a cavernous cargo area. The Execline model's front seats were heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing comfort and support. Outward visibility was excellent, aided by large side mirrors and a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat comfortably accommodated three adults, with ample leg-, foot-, and headroom. The third-row seat was easily accessible, with generous clearance and adequate leg support.

Storage space was commendable in all three rows, with practical and well-finished compartments. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,571 litres with the third row folded, and 2,735 litres with the second row down. While the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia offered slightly more cargo space, the Atlas's third-row seating was more appealing.

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. 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 device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used VW Group's MIB3 operating system, accessible through a 12-inch touchscreen display. While it lacked traditional stereo and climate controls, it offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Atlas's native digital voice assistant was unreliable, but smartphone integration platforms provided a better experience. The Execline's Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound quality, but the MIB3 system's user experience was not intuitive, with glitches and a lack of traditional controls.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came with 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 offered hands-free driving on mapped roads. However, crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured IQ.Drive, which included Front Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. Volkswagen Canada provided an eight-year subscription to Car-Net Safe & Secure services. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick," though updated ratings for 2025 were unavailable.