2023 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made an audacious first impression. Not just massive, it stood unapologetically colossal with a grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights proportioned to match its grand size. The taillights even faintly echoed the iconic sky-high tailfins of classic Cadillacs. The imposing front end, featuring a tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights, resembled something more akin to a diesel locomotive than a car. Styling elements were thoughtfully combined to make the Escalade distinct from other GM SUVs, stressing its bulk. Even the 22-inch wheels on our test vehicle seemed dwarfed by the sheer expanse of sheetmetal.

Adhering to Cadillac's trend, the Escalade offered both "sport" and "luxury" trims. The Luxury and Premium Luxury versions showcased bright exterior trims and wheels, while the Sport model featured darkened trim and a mesh grille for a more aggressive stance.

Built on the same body-on-frame platform as other GM full-size SUVs and trucks like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban or the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, the Escalade may not have seemed like the ideal base for a luxury vehicle. Still, it never seemed to bother its customers and was similar in approach to the Lincoln Navigator.

Inside, the Escalade ticked many boxes for luxury elements such as leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, yet lacked a cohesive design theme. While generally adorned with high-quality materials, the interior still had its share of cheap plastic bits.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, despite entering its 12th model year without a redesign, remained a familiar yet attractive face. Dodge avoided the faux ruggedness seen in other brands, opting for cleaner, almost car-like styling. The Durango sidestepped the trend of oversized grilles, instead featuring slim styling with forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake. Its distinctive "racetrack" taillights at the rear added character. The performance-oriented SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat versions received subtle unique styling cues like a Viper-like hood with functional air inlets and heat extractors, unique wheels, and a modified front fascia with a chin splitter. Elements from these models, such as the Blacktop Package, were available for other trims, allowing a Durango GT to adopt a Hellcat-like look. Dodge also introduced new colors like Frostbite, Night Moves, Red Oxide, and Triple Nickel for 2023.

Inside, the Durango didn't quite match the exterior's distinct styling but still offered a welcoming cabin. Materials varied by trim, with higher trims like the Durango Citadel featuring Nappa leather upholstery and heated front and second-row seats. The SRT Hellcat went bold with red leather upholstery.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with two powertrain options shared with other GM SUVs and trucks. The standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. An optional $100 upgrade offered the Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine delivering 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were available with RWD or optional 4WD. A high-performance Cadillac Escalade-V boasted a 682-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8.

Testing the diesel Escalade revealed that, despite a lower horsepower than the V8, it effortlessly propelled the vehicle with smooth power delivery and a torque peak of 1,500 rpm. However, braking was less confidence-inspiring due to a hard brake pedal.

The gasoline engine offered a slight towing advantage with a maximum capacity of 8,200 pounds (100 pounds more than the diesel) but still lagged behind the Lincoln Navigator's 8,700-pound towing capacity. Daily driving exposed an unsettled ride, even with independent rear suspension, air suspension, and Magnetic Ride Control dampers. The Escalade's body-on-frame construction and 22-inch wheels contributed to a less comfortable ride compared to unibody SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered an array of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 on SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, producing 293 horsepower (295 horsepower with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. RWD was standard, with optional AWD available.

The performance spectrum ramped up with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Durango R/T and optional on the Citadel.

The SRT 392 featured a 6.4-liter naturally-aspirated Hemi V8, producing 475 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The Durango SRT Hellcat, with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, produced a staggering 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque, managing a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

The Hellcat model we tested delivered the expected performance thrills, despite its three-row configuration. The Durango's size dulled none of the acceleration impacts, making for an exhilarating experience. On highways, it remained quiet except for deliberately retained supercharger whine and exhaust rumble. The adaptive-damping suspension, performance tires, and Brembo brakes gave it a manageable, confident feel.

A 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available on higher trims, enriching the audio experience.

The 2022 Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon (standard), and the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL (extended Escalade ESV). The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches, while the ESV was 227 inches long.

This platform provided a spacious cabin with the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, although second-row headroom was outdone by the Lincoln Navigator. Standard second-row captain's chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row seat offered versatility, with an optional power-folding second-row bench.

Cargo space excelled at 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 63.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with both rear rows down, besting the Navigator. Despite its roomy interior, the raised center console limited storage space for loose items.

The 2023 Durango offered seven-seat and six-seat configurations, with two front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench standard on SXT, GT, and R/T models. Higher trims like the Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat featured second-row captain's chairs (optional on GT and R/T).

Interior space was competitive with other midsize SUVs, closely matching the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Palisade/Kia Telluride, and Toyota Highlander. However, the Durango's cargo space lagged, offering 17.2 cubic feet with all seats up, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row.

Small-item storage was well thought out, with a large wireless charging pad and strategically placed USB ports. However, a power liftgate was available, but there was no option for a power-folding third row.

Towing prowess varied by powertrain, with V6 models capable of 6,200 pounds and V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2022 Escalade impressed with a 38-inch curved OLED display integrating three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. Embedding the display into the dashboard harmoniously, Cadillac ensured functional, visually appealing integration. Physical climate control and other essential toggles were retained.

Some usability issues were noted, like the awkward carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller feeling tacked on. The infotainment system lacked the natural language voice recognition found in BMW and Mercedes.

A strong point was the OLED screens' resolution, aiding the standard 360-degree camera system and rearview camera mirror. Tech features like a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation were also available. The 19-speaker AKG audio system was harder to tune, with front headrest-mounted speakers distorting sound quality.

The 2023 Durango varied its tech by trim. SXT and GT trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while the Citadel and SRT trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless integration and Uconnect 5 system.

The 2022 Escalade came equipped with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning, with notifications through Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat.

Premium Luxury trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with higher trims offering trailer blind-spot monitoring. Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system costing $2,500 (not available on the base model), offered advanced highway driving capabilities using pre-mapped highways and a driver-monitoring camera.

Super Cruise's performance was smooth and reliable, with fewer accidental deactivations due to its hands-free nature. However, no crash-test ratings were available from the IIHS or NHTSA for 2022.

The NHTSA awarded the 2023 Durango a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test, and four stars in the frontal crash test. RWD models got a four-star rollover rating, while AWD ones received three stars.

Driver-assist features varied, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard across all trims. Forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking were standard only on the Citadel and an option for other trims, with no availability on the base SXT.