2023 Ford Escape vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing presence. It was not just another large SUV; it embraced its size with a distinctive design. The oversized grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were proportioned to match the Escalade's massive frame, with the taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive more than a traditional car. The styling elements combined to create a unique look that set the Escalade apart from other GM full-size SUVs, emphasizing its bulk. The 22-inch wheels on the test model appeared small against the vast expanse of sheet metal. The Escalade offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims featuring bright exterior trim and wheels, while the Sport trim had darkened trim, including a mesh grille. Despite sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, the Escalade maintained its luxury appeal, similar to the Lincoln Navigator. Inside, the Escalade featured leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, but lacked a cohesive interior design theme, with some materials appearing cheap.

The 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from the blocky exterior of its predecessors. A 2023 refresh replaced the cartoonish grille with a more traditional front end, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. The Escape offered various trim levels, with the ST-Line Elite being the top trim tested. Despite not being an off-road-ready SUV, the Escape was not unattractive. The test vehicle featured 19-inch wheels, body-color mirror caps, and wheel-arch cladding, giving it a sleek design. The Escape's interior boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, which looked good but felt hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable and softly padded, making the Escape suitable for long drives. The 10-way power adjustable driver's seat was easy to adjust for a preferred position. However, the interior was dominated by plastic, with some areas looking better than others. The center console had a nice textured appearance, but most plastic felt scratchy and poorly reinforced, giving an impression of cost-cutting.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain options, both shared with other GM SUVs and trucks. The standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Alternatively, a Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine was available for a $100 option, delivering 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and offered standard rear-wheel drive or optional four-wheel drive. A 2023 Escalade-V performance model featured a 682-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8. The test model was equipped with the diesel engine, which, despite its lower horsepower compared to the V8, provided smooth power delivery and was effective in all driving situations. The diesel's lower torque peak of 1,500 rpm was advantageous for acceleration from a stop. However, the brake pedal felt hard and uninspiring. The gasoline engine had a slight towing advantage, with a maximum capacity of 8,200 pounds, 100 pounds more than the diesel, but still short of the Lincoln Navigator's 8,700 pounds. The Escalade's ride was unsettled, with its body-on-frame construction and 22-inch wheels contributing to a lack of comfort and composure compared to unibody SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. The Escalade lacked off-road capability, unlike its GM cousins, and was not suitable for rugged terrains.

The 2023 Ford Escape stood out with multiple powertrain options. Besides hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, it offered a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be configured with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. This engine provided better acceleration and performance in high-speed situations. However, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and a transmission lacking performance tuning. The absence of paddle shifters and an electronic rotary controller limited manual gear control. The Escape's brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the soft suspension was beneficial on rough roads. The steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors' electric steering systems.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade, a high-end version of GM full-size SUVs, shared its body shell and chassis with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, while the extended Escalade ESV was akin to the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches in length, with the ESV extending to 227 inches. This platform sharing resulted in a spacious cabin, offering the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, although the Lincoln Navigator provided more second-row headroom. Standard features included second-row captain's chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat, with an optional power-folding second-row bench seat. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, with 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded, surpassing the Navigator. However, the raised center console offered limited storage space, and the 12-way power adjustable front seats, though equipped with massage and lumbar support, felt similar to those in GM cousins. Cadillac included dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable interior with soft and supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel, though plain in appearance, was comfortable to hold. The front-door armrests were well-positioned, aligning with the center console's armrest, and the front-seat cupholders were conveniently arranged. The test vehicle featured a head-up display, easily adjustable for drivers of varying heights. However, the Escape fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders, offering up to 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. It was comparable to the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5 but lagged behind the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota RAV4. While adequate for daily use, the Escape might feel cramped during larger moves. Passenger space was also slightly less than competitors, with limited rear-seat legroom, though the back seat offered good headroom. The front-seat backs were softly padded and deeply scalloped, maximizing space for tall passengers in the rear.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured an elaborate infotainment display, with a 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 screen for trip-computer functions. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity. Cadillac integrated the display into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit the screen's shape, providing a functional and aesthetically pleasing interface. Physical toggles for climate control and other functions were retained. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward, and the rotary controller seemed like an afterthought. The infotainment system lacked natural language voice recognition found in BMW and Mercedes SUVs. The Escalade's OLED screens offered excellent resolution for the standard 360-degree camera system, with camera views available in both the instrument cluster and central touchscreen. The rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots from rear seats or pillars. Additional tech features included a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation. A 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system was standard, though tuning was challenging, with headrest-mounted speakers distorting sound for front-seat occupants.

The 2023 Ford Escape, equipped with Sync 4, impressed with its tech features. Lower trims had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, while higher trims, including the ST-Line Elite and Platinum, featured a 13.2-inch screen. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's appearance and was well-organized, with tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth pairing. The native navigation system was visually appealing, resembling Google Maps. A static "Home" button facilitated easy navigation between applications. However, Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement on the far-right side was inconvenient. Despite these minor issues, the feature set, layout, and ease of use of Sync 4 were impressive.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Many warnings were communicated through Cadillac's vibrating Safety Alert Seat. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option on most trims, offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, using a driver-facing camera for safety. While the system occasionally disengaged unexpectedly, it provided smooth and natural responses. However, the Escalade lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA for this model year.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal- and side-crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS did not award it a Top Safety Pick designation, citing a Marginal score in the updated side-impact test, though it received "Good" scores in other tests. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Co-Pilot360 2.0, an optional upgrade, added adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and lane-centering technology for semi-autonomous driving, along with a surround-view camera view.