Cadillac Escalade vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Sport was a commanding presence on the road, with its substantial dimensions of 5,383 millimetres in length and 1,948 mm in height. It was available in Sport and Luxury trims, with the Sport version featuring a blacked-out exterior that included dark window surrounds, black roof rails, and a mesh grille, giving it a more aggressive look compared to its chrome-heavy Luxury counterpart. The Deep Sea Metallic paint and 24-inch seven-spoke wheels with Pearl Nickel and High Gloss Black inserts added to its striking appearance. Inside, the Sheer Grey and Jet Black semi-aniline leather with faceted quilting provided a premium feel, while the 55-inch curved display across the dashboard was a standout feature, offering a screen-centric experience that masked its truck-platform origins.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, particularly in its Platinum Hybrid Max trim, was a more understated yet practical choice. Its design drew inspiration from the popular RAV4, resulting in a larger version with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior focused on functionality, with a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery in the Portobello colour scheme, adding a touch of luxury. The climate system was user-friendly, with large knobs for temperature adjustments, although the infotainment interface had some drawbacks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob. Despite these minor issues, the Grand Highlander offered a comfortable and spacious cabin, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade was powered by a robust 6.2-litre V8 engine, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, it came standard with four-wheel drive, providing solid performance for a vehicle of its size. The Escalade's fuel efficiency was reasonable for its class, achieving 14.3 litres per 100 kilometres on a 500-kilometre road trip, slightly better than the estimated 15.0 L/100 km combined. The adaptive air suspension contributed to a smooth ride, absorbing road imperfections with ease, although the standard brakes could have been more authoritative under hard stops.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on a balance of performance and efficiency. Its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, combined with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, produced 362 horsepower. The six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning typical of CVTs, providing a more engaging driving experience. The Hybrid Max achieved a fuel economy of 8.8 L/100 km combined, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a mixed driving route and 10.1 L/100 km on mountainous terrain. The ride quality was soft and isolating, although handling was secure only up to a modest point, with early tire squeal and understeer when pushed hard.

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade offered impressive cargo space, with 722 litres behind the third row, 2,064 litres with the third row folded, and 3,412 litres with both rear rows down. It could seat up to eight passengers, with generous second-row legroom of 1,060 mm, although the third row was tight for adults with 886 mm of legroom. The Escalade's towing capacity was 3,580 kilograms, competitive but slightly behind the Lincoln Navigator. Power-retractable side steps were standard, aiding entry and exit.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating across all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The second-row captain's chairs allowed for easy access to the third row, which was reasonably comfortable for adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and 2,761 litres with the second row down, nearly matching the Sienna minivan's capacity.

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade's interior was dominated by a 55-inch curved display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, a 35-inch central infotainment touchscreen, and a 20-inch front passenger screen. The system was responsive and logically organized, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The Platinum Sport trim featured a 34-speaker AKG audio system, delivering impressive sound quality. Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway driving system, was standard, offering effective driver assistance on compatible highways. However, the voice recognition system lagged behind European rivals.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. The system was easy to use, although the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously was a drawback. The Platinum trim included a colour head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system, which exceeded expectations in sound quality. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the overall user experience.

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance technologies, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The Teen Driver system allowed parents to set speed alerts and review driving reports. The Escalade received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, although its size posed blind spot challenges.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a range of standard safety features, including lane keep assist and Proactive Driving Assist. While the safety tech operated with accuracy, the PDA system was found to be irritating in some situations. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.