2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Hyundai Palisade

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its bold and unmistakable design, which was a refreshing departure from the rugged styling cues often seen in other SUVs. The 2023 refresh had given it a more angular and technical look, replacing the previous chubby-cheeked face. This design choice sparked mixed reactions, but many appreciated the balanced forms and upscale appearance that made it seem like a bargain at its sticker price. Inside, even the base trim level offered a clean, modern, and upscale feel, with premium leather and metal speaker grilles in the higher trims. However, some metallic-surface control markings were difficult to read during the day. The Palisade was packed with thoughtful details, such as USB charging ports in the front seatbacks, smartphone storage pockets, and accessible drink holders for children.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade embodied old-school Cadillac luxury with its updated design, further distinguishing it from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts. The new front end brought the gasoline Escalade closer to Cadillac's EVs, with large vertical headlights and tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. The Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase body styles, with various trim levels, including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac worked to hide its shared platform with other GM SUVs, featuring a screen-centric interior design with a 55-inch OLED curved display. The Escalade's interior was luxurious, with real leather upholstery and curated interior motifs. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim impressed with its Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, making it hard to believe it shared anything with a Chevy.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. It had a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms and averaged 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite its age, the Palisade's driving dynamics held up well, with a firm ride at lower speeds and a softer ride on highways. The powertrain was satisfying, offering plenty of power and smooth operation, although it wasn't the most fuel-efficient, recording 13.9 L/100 km in city driving. The steering and suspension provided a reasonable feel for the road, and the brakes were well-calibrated.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving only the 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth shifts and efficient highway cruising. In Canada, four-wheel drive was standard, with the Escalade-V having a performance-oriented AWD system. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on most trims, but the Escalade's heavy body-on-frame construction limited its handling compared to rivals like the Range Rover or BMW X7. The V8 provided quick acceleration and a pleasing sound, but the brakes lacked confidence, with Brembo calipers available as part of a performance package.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade offered three rows of seats, with a seven-passenger configuration featuring second-row captain's chairs in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The interior was comfortable, with Nappa leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver's seat. Heated seats were standard in the first two rows, and the second-row captain's chairs provided good support and legroom. The third row was suitable for adults with some adjustments, and storage space was generous, with a Smart Liftgate for easy access. Cargo space measured 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the seats folded.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came in standard and long-wheelbase configurations, with the ESV offering more cargo space and third-row legroom. It provided ample space inside, with best-in-class first-row headroom and legroom. The standard model offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 3,412 litres with the seats folded. The ESV further increased cargo capacity, making it more spacious than the Lincoln Navigator L. The Escalade's towing capacity was 3,675 kilograms, meeting segment expectations, but it lacked some towing features offered by competitors.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology was functional but starting to show its age compared to newer models. It featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other features included Bluetooth support, wireless charging, SiriusXM, navigation, and Bluelink+ connected services. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Harman Kardon audio system delivered commendable sound. The Palisade also offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display with blind spot warnings.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional engineering with a high-tech interface, featuring a 55-inch door-to-door display with digital instrumentation, infotainment, and passenger touchscreens. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with easy-to-use icons and a rotary dial for controls. The optional Executive Second Row Package added screens, wireless chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers, enhancing passenger comfort.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Highway Driving Assist system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist for hands-on highway driving. The Palisade also offered an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and advanced parking assist features. It earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024 but received a Poor rating in a new frontal-impact test for 2025. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included 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. The system had improved since previous tests, but the handoff to manual control was abrupt. Current crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of writing.