2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover lineup. Its tall stance was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it a more athletic appearance compared to the traditional Range Rover. The large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, although from certain angles, the Sport appeared somewhat tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some other luxury SUVs. The SV Edition Two trim, which was the highest-performance model, featured unique elements like 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood with an exposed patch. Inside, the minimalist aesthetic was highlighted by red leather upholstery, sport seats with illuminated inserts, and a smooth dashboard interrupted only by a touchscreen and a few controls.

In contrast, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade embodied old-school Cadillac luxury with its updated design, further distinguishing itself from its Chevrolet and GMC siblings. The new front end brought the gasoline Escalade closer in style to Cadillac's EVs, with large vertical headlights and tall taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase versions, with the latter providing more cargo space and third-row legroom. Inside, Cadillac focused on hiding its shared platform with other GM SUVs, featuring a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard and offering a screen-centric interior design. The Premium Luxury Platinum trim impressed with its Whisper Beige upholstery and wood trim, showcasing a level of finish unexpected from a mainstream automaker.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrains, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid variant increased output to 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim offered a more powerful plug-in hybrid with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, while a BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 was available, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two pushed the V8 to 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover ever. It could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and had a top speed of 290 km/h. The Sport's air suspension and four-wheel steering contributed to its agile handling, while the Terrain Response system and off-road capabilities remained strong.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped its diesel option, leaving only the 6.2-litre V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and the Escalade-V's supercharged V8 with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, with 4WD standard in Canada. The Escalade-V had a performance-oriented AWD system. Magnetic Ride Control damping was standard on most trims, but the Escalade's body-on-frame construction limited its handling compared to unibody competitors. The V8 provided strong acceleration, but the brakes lacked confidence unless upgraded with the Performance Upgrade Package. The Escalade's towing capacity was competitive, but it lacked some of the towing features offered by rivals like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a two-row, five-seat configuration. Front-seat headroom was comparable to other midsize luxury SUVs, but legroom was slightly less than some competitors. The sloping roof didn't significantly impact rear-seat headroom, and reclining rear seats were standard. Cargo space was 835 litres behind the second row and 1,860 litres with seats folded, less than most rivals. The Sport's towing capacity was 3,500 kg for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 3,000 kg.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in standard and long-wheelbase versions, offered seating for up to eight or seven with captain's chairs. The ESV model provided more cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade had the most first-row headroom in its class, but second and third-row headroom was less than some competitors. Cargo space was best-in-segment, with 722 litres behind the rear seats and up to 4,043 litres in the ESV. Towing capacity was 3,675 kg for the standard model and 3,628 kg for the ESV, competitive within the segment.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design had functional drawbacks, with most controls requiring touchscreen interaction. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, and the SV Edition Two offered "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger screen. 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 screens and controls for rear passengers, enhancing comfort and entertainment.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided visibility, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system. GM-specific features included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat and Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system. Super Cruise had improved since previous tests, but crash test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available.