2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2026 Honda Passport

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade was a testament to Cadillac's commitment to luxury and grandeur. As the largest and most expensive model in the Cadillac lineup, it carried forward the legacy of old-school Cadillac luxury, reminiscent of the Fleetwoods and DeVilles. The updated design for 2025 further distinguished the Escalade from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts, with a new front end that aligned it stylistically with Cadillac's electric vehicles. The vertical headlights and tall taillights paid homage to classic Cadillac designs, while the introduction of 24-inch wheels added to its imposing presence. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the Escalade's high-tech appeal with a 55-inch OLED curved display, replacing the previous 38-inch version, and offered a range of luxurious interior motifs, including Renaissance Red leather and carbon-fibre trim for the Escalade-V.

The 2026 Honda Passport, on the other hand, embraced a rugged SUV aesthetic with its blocky dimensions and long wheelbase. The new design featured a flat hood and blunt nose, with bracket-shaped amber running lights and a standard hood scoop. Its profile, inspired by a backpack, included a blacked-out D-pillar and large rear-quarter window, drawing comparisons to the Land Rover Discovery. The Passport offered practical features like rock sliders and a scratch-resistant roof panel, catering to outdoor enthusiasts. Inside, the Passport focused on simplicity with physical buttons and knobs, and offered four trim levels in Canada. The TrailSport models featured visually appealing cloth and vegan interiors, while the Touring trims boasted higher-quality leather materials.

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. The Escalade-V variant offered a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models featured 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 and ride quality couldn't match the refinement of competitors like the Range Rover or BMW X7.

The 2026 Honda Passport aimed to excel both on and off-road, with improved approach and departure angles, skid plates, and 18-inch wheels for better ride comfort and traction. The i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system was standard, along with seven drive modes, including new Sport, Trail, and Tow modes. The Passport retained a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, now producing 285 hp, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While the engine's power was slightly increased, the focus was on reducing emissions rather than boosting performance. The Passport impressed on off-road circuits, with its V6 engine providing ample power and the steering offering a satisfying weight. However, the all-terrain tires generated noticeable noise on highways.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the latter providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade ESV's extended wheelbase contributed to a significant increase in overall length, enhancing cargo capacity to 1,175 litres behind the third row and 4,043 litres behind the first row. The standard model offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, best-in-segment figures. The Escalade could tow up to 3,675 kilograms, meeting segment expectations, though it lacked some of the towing features offered by competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2026 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering 1,246 litres behind the rear seat and 2,356 litres with the seats folded down, leading the midsize crossover segment. The Passport's five-seater configuration contributed to its spaciousness, and it featured a full-size spare tire stored in the cargo hold. Rear-seat legroom was best-in-class, and the interior included numerous storage cubbies and cup holders. A panoramic moonroof was standard in Canada, and the Touring trims added ventilated front seats for added comfort. Honda planned to offer post-production option packages, including a rear cargo shelf that could double as a table.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional truck-like engineering with a futuristic high-tech interface. The new 55-inch display spanned the dashboard, 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, along with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, wireless device chargers, and massage seats for second-row passengers.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also standard, along with a wireless phone charger. The Passport's touchscreen was user-friendly, with bright colours and easy navigation. Additional tech features included a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB-C charging ports, and a 10.2-inch digital driver information display. Touring trims offered a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and the TrailWatch camera system for enhanced visibility.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, 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. However, crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.

The 2026 Honda Passport included Honda Safety Sense, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. The Passport was equipped with eight airbags for added safety. Previous-generation crash test results were less than stellar, and updated ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were awaited.