2023 Lincoln Aviator vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its imposing size and distinctive design elements. Its massive grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its bulk, with the taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive. The various styling elements emphasized the vehicle’s size, and even the 22-inch wheels seemed 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 and a mesh grille. Despite sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, the Escalade managed to stand out with its unique design.

Inside, the Escalade aimed for luxury with leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, but it lacked a cohesive design theme. While most materials looked nice, there were still some cheap-looking plastic bits. The interior didn’t have a distinctive design to match the Lincoln Navigator’s midcentury-modern-inspired look. The Escalade’s interior was spacious, but the raised center console didn’t provide much room for storage, and the seats, though adjustable and equipped with massage and lumbar support, felt like they could have come from one of its GM cousins.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator offered a choice of powertrains, starting with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Aviator Grand Touring and Black Label Grand Touring models combined the twin-turbo V6 with a 10-speed hybrid automatic transmission, a 75-kilowatt electric motor, and a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, providing standard AWD. Prices ranged from $53,340 to $89,280, with the top-of-the-line Black Label Grand Touring model costing $91,225. The Aviator was a stylish three-row, midsize SUV with a successful execution of the modern Lincoln face, though the wheel designs on the Black Label Grand Touring were considered too plain.

The Aviator Black Label Grand Touring featured the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence, electric light-touch door handles, and soft-close doors, creating an inviting and effortless experience. Inside, the Black Label Grand Touring was undeniably fancy, with patterned metal trim, gloss black surfaces, chrome accents, and rich caramel-hued leather seats contrasting with the black interior. The materials were mostly high-end, with soft leather and a swanky simulated suede headliner. However, some chrome detailing on the switchgear felt cheap, and the matching-color stitching on the seats and door panels looked like fake plastic seams. The key fob was lightweight and plasticky, making a convincing argument for using the Phone As A Key digital key technology instead.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a $100 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 and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). A 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V performance model with a 682-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8 was also available. The diesel engine, despite its lower horsepower, provided smooth power delivery and a lower torque peak, making it an asset when pulling away from a stop. However, the brake pedal felt very hard and didn’t inspire much confidence.

The Escalade’s gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, slightly more than the diesel’s 8,100 pounds, 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 less comfortable and composed experience compared to unibody SUVs like the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Range Rover. The Escalade also lacked off-road capability, unlike its GM cousins, making it less suitable for reaching remote locations in style.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid, combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor and battery, generating an impressive 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimated 21 miles of electric driving range and 23 mpg combined in hybrid mode. The Aviator offered multiple driving modes, including Pure EV for electric-only driving and Preserve EV to hold the battery charge for later use. During an extended evaluation drive, the Aviator achieved 22.3 miles of electric driving range, with a fuel economy equivalent to 163.4 mpg. Over a total of 94.7 miles, the Aviator averaged 24.3 mpg, demonstrating the technology’s ability to maximize efficiency.

The Aviator Grand Touring had plenty of power and was quick under hard acceleration, but the drivetrain was sometimes unpredictable, with inconsistent responses. The brake pedal also produced inconsistent behavior, common with regenerative braking systems. The Aviator’s Dynamic Handling Package with adaptive-damping Active Glide suspension helped manage the extra weight and provided a flat, predictable cornering stance. However, the Aviator wasn’t particularly fun to drive, with heavy and numb steering. It excelled in providing a quiet, isolating, and smooth-riding experience, making it more suitable for gliding down highways and byways in silence.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, offering a cavernous cabin. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the extended Escalade ESV was 227 inches long. The Escalade provided the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, though the Lincoln Navigator offered more second-row headroom. The Escalade came with standard second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat, with a power-folding 60/40 bench seat available as a no-cost option. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, offering 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.

While the interior was spacious, there were some minor functionality issues, such as the raised center console not providing much storage space. The 12-way power adjustable front seats with massage and lumbar support were temporarily unavailable due to the chip shortage, and the seats themselves felt like they could have come from one of the Escalade’s GM cousins. However, Cadillac got some important details right, including dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation and large sun visors for the vast expanse of side-window glass.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator prioritized comfort with features like a four-zone automatic climate control system, a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and automatic heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The massaging, 30-way Perfect Position front seats were comfortable, though they required some fiddling to find the perfect position. The second-row captain’s chairs were roomy and supportive, with a center console providing storage and rear-passenger controls for the panoramic sunroof’s shade.

However, the Aviator’s third-row seat was not suitable for adults, with limited kneeroom and legroom, and a flat bottom cushion offering no leg support. The power-release second-row captain’s chairs didn’t slide forward much, making access to the third row difficult. The Aviator offered 18.3 cubic feet of cargo room with the third-row seats in use, 41.8 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded flat, and a maximum of 77.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured an elaborate 38-inch curved OLED display, consisting of three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. The display was well-integrated into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit its shape. The Escalade also had physical toggles for climate control and other important functions. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system. However, the infotainment system had some issues, such as the awkward carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller feeling like an afterthought. The Escalade’s OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots from the rear seats or pillars. Additional tech features included a head-up display, night vision, and augmented-reality navigation.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator Black Label Grand Touring came loaded with technology, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, Lincoln Connect connected services, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system. However, it ran Lincoln’s old Sync 3 software, which had issues with voice recognition. The test vehicle also had a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D high-end audio system, wireless charging, and the Phone As A Key digital key system. The digital instrumentation and head-up display were comprehensive and remained visible even with polarized sunglasses. The front and rear parking sensors and surround-view camera system were useful, and the Active Parking Assist 2.0 system could park the Aviator in parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assist tech, 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. The Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring standard on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option on most trims, offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways and used a driver-facing camera to check for distraction. While the system occasionally disengaged for unknown reasons, it provided smooth and natural responses. The IIHS and NHTSA did not publish safety ratings for the 2022 Escalade.

The 2023 Lincoln Aviator offered Co-Pilot360 1.5, Co-Pilot360 1.5 Plus, and Co-Pilot360 2.0 collections of driver aids, with availability and features varying by trim level. The test vehicle had automatic high-beam adaptive-pixel headlights, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a road-sign recognition system, a pedestrian detection system, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic rear braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The lane-keeping system had issues in curves, and the steering wheel controls were unnecessarily complicated. The standard Aviator received a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but the Aviator Grand Touring was not rated.