2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade bore the refined influences of Cadillac's recent concept vehicles, most notably the Escala. With its standard 22-inch wheels, crisp creases along its flanks, and familiar rear styling featuring tall vertical OLED taillights, the new Escalade presented a modern yet classic look. Pricing started at $76,195 for a black-on-black model with leatherette upholstery and rear-wheel drive. It proved more enticing with trims like Premium Luxury at $82,995 and Sport at $85,995, both available at $99,995 with a Platinum upgrade.

On the other hand, the 2021 Buick Enclave managed to reconnect with its past while keeping up with modern consumer preferences. Positioned as the largest Buick SUV, the Enclave came in trims like Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir, with prices ranging from just over $41,000 to under $55,000. The Avenir trim stood out with a distinctive grille pattern, polished 20-inch wheels, and luxurious interior features. Inside, it boasted a minimalist design with upscale leather but fell short with faux wood trims.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade offered a choice between a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine generating 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine producing 277 horsepower. The V8, capable of propelling the substantial SUV with ease, came paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The test vehicle, equipped with four-wheel drive and a plethora of upgrades, returned an average of 15.9 mpg on a 140-mile test loop.

Conversely, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a singular 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,800 rpm. This engine, coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission, allowed the Enclave to drive more like a smaller SUV despite its considerable size. The FWD test vehicle included an Avenir Technology Package and achieved 21.2 mpg on the same test loop, offering a decent balance of performance and fuel efficiency.

The revamped 2021 Cadillac Escalade’s spacious and functional interior was a standout. Thanks to the longer wheelbase and independent rear suspension, the Escalade offered substantial room and comfort for all passengers, including adults in the third-row seats. Cargo capacity was another highlight, with 25.5, 63, and 109.1 cubic feet behind the third, second, and first rows respectively. The extended-length ESV model provided even more volume - up to 126.6 cubic feet.

In comparison, the 2021 Buick Enclave boasted generous interior space, with comfortable seating for six or seven passengers. Its third-row seat, while not as roomy as some competitors, was quite practical. The Enclave provided 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 97.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the second row down. Despite its size, the Enclave maintained a quiet and serene cabin thanks to Buick's signature QuietTuning and standard Active Noise Cancellation.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade was a frontrunner in high-tech offerings. It featured an impressive 38-inch OLED curved-glass display with industry-leading pixel density and a sophisticated AR navigation system. While certain user interface aspects needed improvement, features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, a 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system, and a head-up display ensured a compelling tech experience.

Buick's 2021 Enclave, while adequate, lagged behind in technological advancements. It offered an 8-inch touchscreen with responsive inputs and basic features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, it significantly lacked in areas like screen size, smart home integration, and premium audio components, featuring only a 10-speaker Bose sound system. A standout was the rear camera mirror providing a live video feed for safer driving.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade came well-equipped with safety features right from the base model. Standard safety measures included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, front and rear pedestrian detection, a Safety Alert Seat, and a surround-view camera system. Higher trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, rear emergency braking, and more. However, some false alarms in the collision warning system during tests indicated room for improvement.

Safety was a concern with the 2021 Buick Enclave, given the luxury segment it aimed for. While basic trims missed several safety features, higher trims came equipped with the Driver Confidence Plus Package, adding essential features like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features like adaptive cruise control and enhanced emergency braking were only available on the top-tier Avenir trim. The Enclave scored well in crash tests but missed higher safety ratings due to subpar headlight performance.