2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, a familiar face in the compact crossover segment since its fifth generation debut in 2017, showcased a design that was both fun and practical. Its exterior, with curvy and car-like lines, bore a strong family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup. The CR-V leaned more towards a station wagon aesthetic than a traditional SUV, making it a modern choice for family transportation. However, the interior told a different story, with a mix of textures and materials that didn’t always harmonize. While the wood-look trim and leather upholstery in higher trims added a touch of luxury, they clashed with the lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were still upgrades of a commodity car.

In contrast, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade drew design inspiration from the Escala concept vehicle, particularly in its front fascia. The rest of the vehicle maintained a familiar look, with crisp creases and tall, vertical OLED taillights. The Escalade sat on standard 22-inch wheels for the first time, adding to its imposing presence. Inside, the Escalade’s cabin was a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a more luxurious and high-tech environment. The Premium Luxury trim, with its Shadow Metallic paint, 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system, and a host of other premium features, showcased Cadillac’s commitment to luxury and performance.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), this powertrain provided a responsive and efficient driving experience. Despite the CVT’s reputation for sluggishness, Honda’s engineers managed to make it feel quick, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor extended to its road manners, offering nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable ride. With a curb weight of just 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model, the CR-V boasted excellent fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 30 mpg combined and AWD models 29 mpg.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade offered a choice between a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine and a no-cost 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine. The V8, with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, provided robust performance, while the turbo-diesel offered 277 horsepower and the same amount of torque. The V8’s Dynamic Fuel Management technology and 10-speed automatic transmission contributed to a combined fuel economy of 16 mpg for the 4WD model. The Escalade’s ride and handling were significantly improved, thanks to a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride suspension. These features ensured a smooth and controlled ride, whether on winding back roads or crumbling city streets.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was as roomy as the class-leading Volkswagen Tiguan, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The CR-V’s seating position and low cowl provided great front visibility. The cargo area was equally impressive, offering 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. The two-position load floor and large door pockets added to the CR-V’s practicality, making it easy to live with and capable of swallowing all your stuff.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade’s redesigned interior offered significant gains in passenger room and comfort, thanks to a new independent rear suspension and longer wheelbase. Front-seat occupants enjoyed heated and ventilated seats, with massaging seats available in Platinum trim. The second-row captain’s chairs were heated and provided generous leg support, while the third-row seat now accommodated adults comfortably. Cargo capacity was also improved, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 63 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The extended-length Escalade ESV offered even more space, with up to 126.6 cubic feet of cargo volume.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger, enhancing its tech offerings slightly.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, was packed with high-tech features, starting with a 38-inch curved OLED display. This display offered greater pixel density than a 4K television and resisted glare. The 14.2-inch instrumentation screen provided Gauge, Augmented Reality (AR) Camera, and Map displays, though switching between them required navigating through menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 19-speaker AKG premium sound system. The optional 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system was sensational, offering separate volume control for front and rear passengers. The Escalade also featured a full-color head-up display and advanced voice recognition technology, though it had some limitations in interpreting commands accurately.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though only the Touring trim’s LED headlights scored well in nighttime visibility tests.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade’s safety features started with its sheer size, weighing a minimum of 5,635 pounds. It came equipped with forward collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and a Safety Alert Seat. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The optional Driver Assist Tech Package included higher-speed forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, automatic seatbelt tightening, and adaptive cruise control. The Escalade also featured Teen Driver technology, a surround-view camera system, and a rear-seat reminder. Later in the model year, Cadillac planned to offer its next-generation Super Cruise technology for hands-free, autonomous driving on limited-access highways.