2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE, last redesigned in 2020 and facelifted in 2024, maintained a unique identity within the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup. It shared some visual bulk with the GLS, GLC, and GLB models but featured a more rounded profile reminiscent of its predecessors. The GLE's design included squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille and headlights, giving it a wide stance. However, the sharply tapering side glass, windshield, and back window created odd proportions, especially in the GLE Coupe models. While not the most visually appealing in the Mercedes lineup, the GLE's styling adhered to the brand's design language, ensuring it was unmistakably a Benz.

Inside, Mercedes offered a variety of interior colours beyond the typical black, grey, and tan. The U.S. test car featured a Yacht Blue interior, unavailable in Canada, but the GLE's interior still impressed with its upscale feel. Elements like chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system, and 64-colour ambient lighting added to the cabin's luxurious ambiance. The interior felt special, providing a sense of sophistication and comfort.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, the largest and most expensive Cadillac, continued to embody old-school luxury while distinguishing itself from its platform-sharing siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. The updated design featured a new front end, aligning the gasoline Escalade stylistically with Cadillac's EVs. The headlights became large vertical bars with smaller horizontal daytime running lights, while the rear retained tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The introduction of 24-inch wheels enhanced the vehicle's imposing presence.

Cadillac offered the Escalade in standard and long-wheelbase ESV body styles, with various trim levels, including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. The Sport models featured darkened exterior trim and mesh grilles, while the Premium Luxury Platinum models added an illuminated Cadillac crest and grille surround. Inside, Cadillac worked to differentiate the Escalade from its GM counterparts, introducing a screen-centric interior design. The 2025 model replaced the 38-inch OLED curved display with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard. The Escalade's interior offered a range of leather options and curated motifs, providing a luxurious experience for occupants.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a diverse range of powertrain options, including a plug-in hybrid and two AMG variants. The lineup began with the GLE 350, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a mild hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The GLE 450 4Matic boasted a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450e 4Matic combined a turbo-four engine with electric assistance, delivering 381 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, along with an 80-kilometre electric range.

The AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ and AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ performance models rounded out the lineup. The AMG GLE 53 featured an enhanced inline-six powertrain, generating 429 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. The AMG GLE 63 S, with its hand-assembled twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, produced a formidable 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, reducing the 0-100 km/h time to 3.9 seconds. Despite its impressive powertrains, the GLE's overall refinement was notable, though it felt larger than it was, even in AMG spec. Maneuvering in tight spaces proved challenging, and the GLE's handling on backroads was less nimble than some competitors.

For the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac dropped the Duramax turbodiesel inline-six engine, leaving the naturally aspirated gasoline 6.2-litre V8 as the sole option. This engine delivered 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, though it fell short of the Lincoln Navigator's twin-turbo V6. The Escalade-V continued with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, producing 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All Escalade models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power delivery.

In Canada, four-wheel drive was standard on most models, while the Escalade-V received a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. The Escalade's Magnetic Ride Control damping system, combined with optional air suspension, provided a comfortable ride, though it couldn't match the structural rigidity of unibody platforms. The Escalade's V8 power allowed for quick acceleration, but the brakes lacked confidence-inspiring performance. Cadillac offered a Performance Upgrade Package with Brembo six-piston front calipers, a performance air intake, and a cat-back exhaust system for enhanced braking and performance.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, though Mercedes didn't provide specifications for third-row space. The GLE offered competitive headroom in the front, but rivals like the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, and Genesis GV80 provided slightly more legroom. The high seating position provided an SUV-like feel, but outward visibility was limited. The AMG test car's heavily bolstered front seats added a sporty touch but made entry and exit more challenging.

Second-row passengers enjoyed slightly more space than in most competitor SUVs, with headroom comparable to the BMW X5 and additional legroom compared to rivals like the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Lexus RX. The GLE offered 894 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seats, competitive but not class-leading. However, with all seats folded, the GLE provided 1,790 litres of cargo space, the most among its competitors. The GLE's centre console offered reasonable storage for small items, and its maximum towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms (7,700 pounds) matched the Audi Q7.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, available in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, offered ample interior space. The long-wheelbase Escalade ESV extended the wheelbase by 33.5 centimetres, increasing overall length by 383.5 cm. This primarily benefited cargo space and third-row legroom, which grew by 4.3 cm in the ESV. Seating for up to eight was available, or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The Escalade provided generous first-row headroom, slightly more than the BMW X7, while second-row headroom was slightly less than the Bimmer and Range Rover.

The standard-length Escalade offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, 2,064 litres behind the second-row seats, and 3,412 litres behind the front seats, all best-in-segment. ESV models further increased cargo space to 1,175 litres behind the third row, 2,664 litres behind the second row, and 4,043 litres behind the first row. The Escalade's maximum towing capacity of 3,675 kilograms (8,100 pounds) for the standard-wheelbase model was competitive, though it lacked some of the towing features offered by Lincoln.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one serving as a digital instrument cluster and the other as an infotainment touchscreen, creating the impression of a continuous horizontal screen. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with built-in navigation. Multiple access methods, including a centre console touchpad, steering wheel touchpads, and voice recognition, provided flexibility, though they could be confusing.

The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe test car offered additional settings, including six drive modes and adjustable damper firmness, stability control, and exhaust noise. Some GLE models featured an off-road display with a "transparent hood" function for the 360-degree camera system, enhancing off-road capability. The GLE's air suspension could raise the ride height for added ground clearance, making rough terrain more manageable.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional truck-like engineering with a high-tech interface. The new 55-inch door-to-door display incorporated a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. Climate controls were handled by a tablet-like touchscreen below, along with a rotary dial. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available, along with an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision.

Cadillac retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a hard button for vehicle operation. The Escalade's voice recognition wasn't as advanced as BMW or Mercedes systems, but the interface was user-friendly. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers, enhancing rear passenger comfort.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, though some were optional. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, crosswind assist, parking assist, a driver attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. The Pre-Safe system aimed to mitigate collision effects by tightening seatbelts, closing windows, and emitting a sound to protect against hearing loss.

The optional Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control with speed-limit and curve adaptation, stop-and-go functionality, and lane-change assist. It also included evasive steering assist, cross-traffic functionality for automatic emergency braking, and an expanded driver-monitoring system. The GLE received a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, though its front-crash prevention tech received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" ratings.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and Super Cruise offered hands-free driving on mapped roads. Super Cruise had improved since previous tests, though the handoff to manual control in construction zones was abrupt.

Current crash test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of writing.