2025 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2026 Cadillac Escalade

The latest iteration of this compact crossover takes styling cues from the only Chevy model to outsell it: the Silverado. Its new look comes with new standard tech and safety features, new transmissions, and a new trim bringing something new to the lineup to appeal to the weekend warrior crowd.

Verdict: We wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Equinox remain one of Chevrolet's best sellers. The added value outstrips the price increase in our book, and the makeover is sure to appeal to plenty of compact SUV shoppers.

The standard-wheelbase Escalade seats up to eight passengers across three rows, rides on a body-on-frame platform shared with the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and is powered exclusively by a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. For 2026, the Escalade lineup receives a new base trim and some revised naming (Premium Luxury Platinum becomes Platinum Luxury, Sport Platinum is now Platinum Sport). The mechanicals carry over unchanged from the thoroughly refreshed 2025-model-year version. It competes with the Lincoln Navigator, the BMW X7, the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, the Infiniti QX80, and the Lexus LX.

Verdict: The 2026 Cadillac Escalade remains the default choice in full-size American luxury SUVs with good reason. Its platform limitations are real, but a well-optioned example is genuinely difficult to fault on comfort, technology, or presence. Buyers should budget accordingly for fuel.