2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged yet customizable aesthetic, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance in design. Despite the Defender 90 appearing stubby and the 130 carrying excessive visual mass, all models maintained an appealingly robust look. Buyers had numerous customization options, allowing for a personalized touch. The base prices in Canada ranged from $79,050 for a basic 90 model to $160,720 for a 130 V8, inclusive of destination charges and luxury tax. The Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $198,460. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured black exterior elements, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology, priced at $125,500. It included options like the Towing Pack and Cold Climate Pack, bringing the total to just over $130,000. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its colour clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on quality materials and a purposeful design.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, the largest and most expensive Cadillac, continued to embody old-school luxury with its updated design. The new front end brought the gasoline Escalade closer in style to the Escalade IQ and other Cadillac EVs, featuring large vertical headlights and smaller horizontal daytime running lights. The rear retained tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins, and 24-inch wheels were available for the first time. The Escalade offered standard and long-wheelbase ESV body styles, with various trim levels including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac worked to differentiate the Escalade from its GM siblings, introducing a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The interior featured real leather upholstery, with semi-aniline leather available, and curated interior motifs. Our Premium Luxury Platinum test car showcased Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, highlighting Cadillac's attention to detail. Despite sharing a platform with other GM SUVs, the Escalade's interior design and materials elevated its luxury status.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender test vehicle featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, one of four powertrain options, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Coupled with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, it provided robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 3,720 kilograms. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. Standard features included an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes. The Defender excelled off-road, with a 29-centimetre ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 90 centimetres. However, on-road performance was less inspiring, with a heavy curb weight and slow steering. The observed fuel economy was 14.5 L/100 km, slightly above the expected 13.0 L/100 km.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving the 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged V8 producing 682 hp. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth power delivery. In Canada, 4WD was standard, with the Escalade-V offering a performance-oriented AWD system. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on most models, but the Escalade's body-on-frame construction limited its handling capabilities. The V8 provided strong acceleration, but the brakes lacked confidence. An optional Performance Upgrade Package included Brembo brakes and a performance exhaust system.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. Visibility was excellent, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row enhanced the open feel. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and ventilated, with a four-zone climate control option. The third-row seat was roomy and comfortable, with a side-hinged cargo door providing access to 433 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,520 litres with seats folded.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in standard and long-wheelbase ESV configurations, offered ample interior space. The ESV provided additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The standard model offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 3,412 litres with seats folded. The Escalade's towing capacity was 3,675 kilograms, slightly less than some competitors. The interior featured power liftgate and power-folding seats for easy reconfiguration.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system's response and accuracy had improved, providing a more intuitive user experience. The Defender also included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster and infotainment 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 user-friendly interface. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender included driver aids such as automatic high beam headlights, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The lane keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally misjudged lane departures. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations. Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system, had improved but still required manual control in certain situations. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of writing.