2023 Lexus GX vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a robust first impression with its unapologetically massive size. Featuring an exaggerated grille, LED daytime running lights, and striking taillights reminiscent of vintage Cadillac tailfins, the Escalade's design showcased its bulk without reservation. The towering hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights gave the front end a diesel locomotive-esque appearance. Unlike past models, the 2022 Escalade boasted a distinct design, stepping away from the shadow of its GM full-size SUV siblings. Despite its 22-inch wheels, the car's vast sheetmetal made these wheels appear relatively small. Cadillac's "sport" and "luxury" trims offered various exterior finishes, adding to the vehicle's imposing personality.

The Escalade rode on a body-on-frame chassis sharing its bones with Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, aligning with a trend that did not deter luxury SUV buyers. Internally, it featured leather, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, although its interior lacked a cohesive design theme and included some cheap-looking plastic parts. Compared to the Lincoln Navigator, the Escalade's interior seemed less distinct and luxurious.

The 2023 Lexus GX, with its large spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance, also demanded visual attention. Its design included massive headlights that framed the GX’s front, giving a formidable look. The 2023 GX Black Line Special Edition offered unique paint colors like Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and Nori Green Pearl. However, the GX's overall dimensions, including its 109.8-inch wheelbase, made it seem compact contrasted with its front-heavy design. Big, flared fenders added to its tough, off-road-ready look. Unlike the bulkier designs of its Toyota cousins, the GX leaned towards a sleeker stance, with a hood design aiding easier placement during technical driving.

Inside, the GX faced criticism for excessive plastic despite its luxury badge. Practical touches included heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and fine leather upholstery, but it catered to more functional rather than a lavish interior experience.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrains: a 6.2-liter gasoline V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an optional Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD). The performance highlight was the Escalade-V model featuring a whopping 682 horsepower from a supercharged V8 engine.

We reviewed the diesel variant, pleasantly surprised by its performance despite a horsepower deficit. The diesel's low torque peak of 1,500 RPM made it impressive for stop-and-go driving, although confidence in stopping was less inspiring due to a hardened brake pedal. The gasoline variant offered an 8,200-pound maximum towing capacity, slightly edging out the diesel's 8,100-pound capacity. Despite the independent rear suspension, the ride felt unsettled, with constant pitching exacerbated by its body-on-frame design and 22-inch wheels, making it less comfortable compared to unibody luxury SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

The 2023 Lexus GX was powered by a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. This power was routed through a six-speed automatic transmission. While the GX’s V8 didn’t top the performance charts, the linear power delivery and sound were satisfying. Despite its lower tow rating of 6,500 pounds, the GX was competitive among three-row crossovers but lagged behind in fuel efficiency, offering just 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The GX’s handling betrayed its age, rolling through corners but feeling predictable and manageable. Despite not having a recent generational update, Lexus improved the GX’s driving dynamics, providing good road communication and strong brakes. The GX boasted a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and a capable 4WD system, making it user-friendly for off-road conditions with technological aids like downhill assist and hill-start assist.

The 2022 Escalade benefited from GM’s full-size SUV platform, sharing its structure with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. This alignment translated into a cavernous cabin, with the standard Escalade measuring 211.9 inches in length and the extended ESV version hitting 227 inches. Offering the most first-row and third-row legroom among its peers, the Escalade made a compelling case for space. It boasted up to 109.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, outclassing competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

Despite its spaciousness, the Escalade had some functionality missteps. The raised center console lacked ample storage, and the 12-way power-adjustable front seats felt more akin to those in its GM cousins. However, Cadillac did emphasize user-friendly elements such as dedicated buttons for seat heating/ventilation and large sun visors.

Lexus's GX catered well in terms of small item storage, featuring a deep center console bin, handy phone space, and side-by-side cupholders. USB-A ports were a drawback given the proliferation of USB-C. The GX retained hard physical buttons for various controls, which some users might prefer over touchscreen interfaces.

The second row provided comfort with legroom and headroom, while the third row was cramped and best reserved for emergencies. Accessing the trunk required muscle, given the side-hinged design, and it only offered a narrow 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, which expanded to 46.7 cubic feet with the seats down, and a maximum of 64.7 cubic feet, falling short compared to most SUVs.

The Escalade’s tech centerpiece was its 38-inch curved OLED display, seamlessly integrating three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The design effectively blended into the dashboard, avoiding the look of an extraneous tablet. Icons on the touchscreen were well-arranged, though the carousel for changing radio stations and the rotary controller were less intuitive.

A 360-degree camera system took advantage of the OLED’s high resolution, aiding the driver with multiple viewpoints, and the rearview camera mirror reduced blind spots. The Escalade also had cutting-edge features like night vision and augmented reality navigation, alongside a head-up display. However, the 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system was hard to tune for an optimal experience.

In contrast, the 2023 GX’s technology felt outdated despite recent revamps. The 10.3-inch touchscreen improved the interface, now integrating Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Lexus Enform Remote, a remote-start system, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo were notable additions. However, the infotainment system, while improved, lagged in responsiveness and graphical quality compared to rivals.

Off-road capability was where the GX excelled technologically, with features like a two-speed transfer case, low range, and a locking center differential. Additional off-road tech included a multi-terrain monitor, downhill and hill-start assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, ensuring the GX adapted appropriately to varying terrains.

The 2022 Escalade came standard with an exhaustive list of driver-assist tech: adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, front and rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Trailer blind-spot monitoring was available on higher trims. The stand-out feature was Cadillac’s Super Cruise, a sophisticated hands-free driving system that ensured safety through pre-mapped highways and a dedicated driver-facing camera to monitor attention.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX, while benefiting from Toyota’s strong emphasis on safety, lacked testing by NHTSA and IIHS due to its older structure. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. While missing advanced features like lane-tracing assist, the GX still provided a solid set of driver aids keeping it relevant in safety applications despite its aged foundation.