2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2021 Honda CR-V

Cadillac had showcased numerous impressive concept vehicles in recent years, hinting at design cues that would eventually materialize. The 2021 Cadillac Escalade, influenced by the Escala concept, featured a redesigned front end. However, from the side and rear, the new Escalade retained familiar styling elements, including standard 22-inch wheels, crisp creases, and tall OLED taillights. The base model started at $76,195, with higher trims like the Premium Luxury and Sport offering more features and luxury, reaching up to $99,995 for the Platinum trim. Our test vehicle, a Premium Luxury trim with four-wheel drive, came with a host of features and a sticker price of $102,310.

The interior of the Escalade was a significant upgrade over its predecessors. While the base Luxury trim offered black leatherette and a single wood trim choice, higher trims provided standard leather with various perforation and quilting patterns. Platinum models boasted semi-aniline premium leather, leather-wrapped interior panels, and a simulated suede headliner. Our test vehicle featured Parchment leather with Tamo Ash wood, which looked impressive but showed signs of wear on the light-colored carpets and mats. Despite the six-figure price tag, some plastic elements in the lower dashboard and door panels were hard to overlook.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, on the other hand, had a design that blended in with other compact crossovers. While it had a few distinguishing features like the grille and some chrome accents, it wasn't a vehicle chosen for its exterior looks. The CR-V was available in eight colors, though many were shades of gray, black, or white. Vibrant colors like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic were limited to higher trims. The interior offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. Higher trims featured wood panels and more chrome for an upscale appearance. The CR-V's seats had a modern look with sharp details, but competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling.

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. Most buyers preferred the V8 for its sound and performance, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. The V8 featured direct fuel injection, an automatic engine stop/start system, and Dynamic Fuel Management technology, allowing it to operate on as few as two cylinders to improve fuel economy. Our 4WD test vehicle averaged 15.9 mpg on a 140-mile test loop, close to the EPA's estimate of 16 mpg combined.

The turbo-diesel engine produced 277 horsepower and the same torque as the V8, available sooner in the rev range. This engine was expected to offer better fuel economy, similar to the 27 mpg combined rating in the Chevy Silverado. The Escalade's ride and handling were significantly improved with a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride air suspension. These features provided a smoother ride and better control, especially in Sport mode. The Escalade was also remarkably maneuverable for its size, though the brake pedal could have offered better modulation.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but offered smooth and steady acceleration with its 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It took about 7.8 seconds to reach 60 mph, which was competitive within its class. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided a predictable driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of conventional automatic transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option.

The CR-V's suspension setup included a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, similar to other vehicles in its class. This configuration provided decent handling and ride quality, making the CR-V a reliable choice for everyday driving.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's interior was significantly more spacious and functional than its predecessor. The new independent rear suspension allowed for a lower floor, contributing to increased passenger room and cargo capacity. Front-seat occupants enjoyed standard heated seats, with ventilated and massaging seats available in higher trims. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and offered generous leg support, while the third-row seat was now comfortable for adults, thanks to the lower floor and longer wheelbase.

Cargo capacity was also impressive, 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 42.9, 81.5, and 126.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third, second, and first rows, respectively.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume, slightly more than the Toyota RAV4. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V provided 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Depending on the trim, the tailgate could be manually operated, power-operated, or hands-free. Roof rails were standard only on the top Touring trim, while competitors like Subaru offered them on most trims.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display for instrumentation and infotainment, offering greater pixel density than a 4K television. The 14.2-inch instrumentation screen provided Gauge, Augmented Reality (AR) Camera, and Map displays, though switching between them required navigating through menus on the 16.9-inch infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though we experienced issues with Apple CarPlay. The voice recognition system also had some inaccuracies.

The Escalade's AR navigation system superimposed directional turn arrows onto the camera view, and a 19-speaker AKG premium sound system was standard. The optional 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system provided exceptional audio quality. A full-color head-up display was standard on all but the base trim.

The base 2021 Honda CR-V LX had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim had a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were available throughout the cabin, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade's safety features included forward collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and a Safety Alert Seat. It also had Teen Driver technology, parking assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a rear-seat reminder. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. An optional Driver Assist Tech Package included higher-speed forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, automatic seatbelt tightening, and adaptive cruise control. The Escalade's size and weight provided additional safety in collisions.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which was included on the EX trim and higher.