2023 Volkswagen ID.4 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, evoking the grandeur of classic Cadillacs. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive, emphasizing the vehicle's substantial presence. The Escalade's 22-inch wheels appeared small against its vast sheetmetal, but the overall styling set it apart from other GM full-size SUVs. Different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models added to its appeal, with the Escalade Luxury and Premium Luxury featuring bright exterior trim, while the Escalade Sport boasted darkened trim and a mesh grille.

The Escalade's interior aimed for luxury with leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, but lacked a cohesive design theme. While it offered a spacious cabin and high-end materials, some cheap-looking plastic bits detracted from the overall feel. The Escalade shared its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, which, despite not being the ideal foundation for a luxury vehicle, had not deterred customers. The interior, though luxurious, did not match the distinctive design of competitors like the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 featured subtle styling updates, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design for improved aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors, along with a rear VW logo that lit up, added to its refreshed look. While the ID.4 was easily distinguishable as an EV compared to VW's gasoline models, it lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. However, this was a common trait among many current electric vehicles.

Based on VW's MEB platform, the ID.4 was designed specifically for EVs, offering modularity to support various models. The interior carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, featuring a minimalist design and a sense of quality. The base ID.4 Standard model, despite having a manual driver's seat, did not feel like a significant downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts was standard, contributing to a premium feel.

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 an optional Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and came with standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel-drive (4WD) drivetrains. A 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V performance model with a 682-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8 was also available.

Testing the Escalade diesel revealed smooth power delivery and impressive torque at low RPMs, making it easy to drive in various situations. However, the brake pedal felt very hard, which did not inspire much confidence. The gasoline engine had a slight advantage in towing capacity, with a maximum of 8,200 pounds, compared to the diesel's 8,100 pounds. Despite its independent rear suspension and available air suspension, the Escalade's ride felt unsettled and un-luxurious, especially compared to unibody SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models retained the 82-kWh pack and offered both RWD and AWD options. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt spritely during a short drive, but more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery RWD version. The AWD ID.4 had impressive acceleration but lacked the handling prowess of hot hatchbacks like the VW Golf GTI and Golf R. Regenerative braking was present but did not offer one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV newcomers.

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 ESV version was 227 inches. It provided the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with second-row captain’s chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat as standard. Cargo space was also impressive, 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.

However, the raised center console limited storage space, and the 12-way power adjustable front seats, while luxurious, felt like they could have come from one of the Escalade’s GM cousins. Cadillac did include dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making it more practical than most entry-level EVs. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the most spacious among affordable EVs.

The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with a quoted towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. VW made small changes to the interior for 2023, including a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade featured a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. The display was well-integrated into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit its shape. Physical toggles for climate control and other functions were retained, but the carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller were less user-friendly.

The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the standard 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, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, although the latter was difficult to tune properly.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trim levels. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster also remained standard.

Despite the updates, the user experience of the infotainment system was largely unchanged, with sharp graphics and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were still distracting, lacking physical feedback. The ID.Light system, which changed color based on drive mode and provided navigation cues, was a clever but easily overlooked feature.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came with standard driver-assist features, 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. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trim levels, with trailer blind-spot monitoring on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available as a $2,500 option on most trims.

Super Cruise allowed for hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, using a driver-facing camera to ensure the driver remained attentive. While the system occasionally disengaged for unknown reasons, it provided smooth and natural responses. However, the IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2022 Escalade.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS' highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating, with top scores in all crash tests and high ratings for front crash prevention. The only blemish was an "Average" score for the standard headlights.

The ID.4 came with standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. Emergency Assist 3.0, which automatically pulled the vehicle over if the driver was incapacitated, was also standard. For 2023, the ID.4 added Park Assist Plus automated parking, an automated lane-change feature for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.