2022 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a strong first impression with its unapologetically massive size. The front end, adorned with a tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights, mimicked the imposing look of a diesel locomotive. Its grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were designed to match the Escalade’s size, with the taillights evoking the sky-high tailfins of classic Cadillacs. Despite riding on the same body-on-frame architecture as other GM full-size SUVs, the Escalade stood apart in its bold styling.

The Escalade followed Cadillac's trend of offering distinct trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models. The Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featured bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim boasted darkened trim, including a mesh grille. However, the Escalade's 22-inch wheels seemed almost diminutive against its vast expanse of sheet metal.

Inside, the Escalade included luxury touches such as leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof but lacked a cohesive design theme. The inclusion of cheap-looking plastic bits detracted slightly from the overall luxurious feel, and there was no distinctive interior design to match competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Expedition saw a host of updates, including a new grille, headlights, bumper, and rear-end styling revisions. Redesigned wheels featured across the lineup, and the Limited Stealth Edition bore black 22-inch wheels and additional blacked-out trims, giving it a striking appearance.

The Expedition offered various trims, including the off-road-focused Timberline with standard 4WD, all-terrain tires, and suspension modifications. The Stealth Edition Performance Package added red-painted brake calipers to complement its bold exterior.

Inside, the Expedition had a redesigned dashboard hosting the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with a 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen in higher trims. The cabin featured leather-lined seats, soft upholstery, and impressive tech, albeit with some F-150 pickup-grade plastic trims. The spacious interior, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel made the Expedition feel both modern and comfortable.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with two powertrain choices: a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine delivering 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD optional. Notably, the Escalade could have a 682-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8 in the 2023 Escalade-V model.

Our review focused on the diesel version, which, despite its lower horsepower, provided smooth power delivery and excellent low-end torque. However, the Escalade's brake pedal felt overly hard, and its ride was unsettled even with available air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control dampers. The gasoline engine provided a slight towing edge with a maximum capacity of 8,200 pounds.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, offering 380 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque in our test vehicle, or up to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft with the Stealth Edition Performance Package. The V6's power was addictive, and while fuel economy was pegged at 17-19 mpg combined, real-world tests yielded 16.2 mpg. The Expedition excelled in towing, pulling between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds depending on the configuration.

Though thrilling, the twin-turbo V6’s thirst for fuel and the sport-tuned suspension led to a harsh ride on less-than-perfect roads. Larger 22-inch wheels contributed to both handling and ride quality challenges, which adaptive damping suspension could alleviate in higher trims.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade, sharing its body and chassis with GM siblings, measured 211.9 inches (standard) and 227 inches (ESV). This platform allowed for a cavernous cabin, offering significant first-row and third-row legroom. Second-row captain’s chairs were standard, but a 60/40 bench was available. Cargo space was equally impressive with 25.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 63 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all seats down.

However, there were minor functionality issues like limited storage space in the center console, and while front seats were highly adjustable, they lacked expected luxury feel. Cadillac did get essential details right, including seat heating and ventilation buttons and large sun visors.

In comparison, the 2022 Ford Expedition also scored highly in interior comfort and space. Its power running boards facilitated easy access. Our test Limited model came with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom, but toe room was slightly tight. The third-row seat was easily accessible and offered a comfortable cushion, although headroom could be an issue for taller passengers.

The Expedition's cargo capacity was slightly lower than the Escalade, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows down. Opting for the Expedition Max model increased cargo capacity to 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured a standout 38-inch curved OLED display comprising three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch auxiliary display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. The display was intuitively designed, integrated seamlessly into the dashboard, and practical in use. Additional features included a superb 360-degree camera system and the rearview camera mirror.

Yet, Cadillac's infotainment system had a few shortcomings, like the awkward carousel format for radio stations and a rotary controller that seemed an afterthought. The night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system added high-tech flair, although the sound system had tuning challenges.

The 2022 Ford Expedition introduced Ford’s Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. Sync 4 featured a 12-inch touchscreen, while the Sync 4A's optional 15.5-inch screen had a single physical dial for volume control. Both versions offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, natural voice recognition, and a connected navigation system. Higher trims had expanded features, including SiriusXM, wireless charging, and premium Bang & Olufsen sound systems.

Despite the advanced features, there were some quirks in Sync 4A. Issues included difficulty restarting Apple CarPlay and accidental activation of the defroster. Additionally, the digital instrumentation panel’s driver information system could be overrun by seatbelt warnings. An upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV was also available.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trims. Notably, Super Cruise offered advanced hands-free driving on mapped highways, adding a layer of convenience and safety.

The Escalade’s Safety Alert Seat and clear OLED screens were highlights, providing vibration alerts and superior visual assistance during driving. However, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable for this model year.

For the 2022 Ford Expedition, safety features were bundled into Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and intersection assist with evasive steering assist.

Higher trims like King Ranch and Platinum included surround-view camera systems and rear automatic emergency braking, with Active Park Assist 2.0 enabling semi-autonomous parking. The Expedition also offered BlueCruise for hands-free driving on approved highways.

Evaluation revealed the adaptive cruise control's smoothness but found the lane-centering assist occasionally unreliable in heavy traffic and curving roads. The lane-centering assist issued some unnecessary warnings, and its unexpected cancellations could confuse drivers.