2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. Prices started at $25,195 for the base model, with the top-tier Touring trim reaching $35,295. A destination charge of $1,125 was added to the cost, and Subaru offered a range of dealer-installed accessories. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945, including destination. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear liftgate, the test vehicle's price reached $36,014.

The Forester's exterior design was functional but not particularly attractive, especially in the Wilderness trim, which included a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding. Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality over aesthetics, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, featuring physical knobs and buttons for easy navigation. Overall, the Forester felt well-made, but the Wilderness trim's rugged design elements were not universally appealing.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade stood out with its imposing size, towering nearly six-and-a-half feet above the ground and requiring up to 19 feet of length to park. The standard Escalade was already massive, but the Escalade ESV added an extra 15 inches, primarily extending the wheelbase. The Escalade's design was meant to make a statement, appealing to pop musicians, overzealous parents, wannabe federal agents, and boaters with large families. The vehicle's athletic and trim appearance was achieved through thin LED taillights, headlights, and running lights, which visually narrowed its girth. The Sport Platinum trim further enhanced its look by darkening the chrome bits on the grille, bumpers, windows, and sills.

Inside, the Escalade's first row exuded luxury with a 38-inch curved array of screens across the dashboard, seven choices of wood trim, and an array of leather combinations. However, the allure faded in the second and third rows, where parts from cheaper GM vehicles were evident. The seats, while visually appealing, lacked support and comfort. The Escalade's interior was most luxurious in the driver's space, leaving the other seats wanting more. Cadillac acknowledged this shortcoming and aimed to improve with future models like the 2023 Lyriq.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. All Foresters featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Wilderness model's CVT design provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated the Forester Wilderness at 26 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 25.9 mpg.

The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and included SI-Drive for a more lively response. Subaru's dual-function X-Mode system, standard on most Foresters, offered various settings for different surfaces and improved speed management during hill descents. The Wilderness trim's re-tuned suspension, longer springs, and shocks raised the ground clearance to 9.2 inches, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The Forester excelled in various environments, including off-road courses and forest roads, but lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The V8 was suitable for gentle cruising, with a combined fuel economy of 16 mpg for the standard length with optional four-wheel drive (4WD). The Escalade's 10-speed automatic transmission performed adequately, but the powertrain felt heavy in passing situations. The Escalade-V addressed acceleration issues with a supercharged Corvette V8, producing 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. The V-Series also featured appropriately sized front brakes with six-piston Brembo calipers.

Cadillac offered an optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, which provided smooth torque delivery and better fuel economy at 22 mpg combined with 4WD. The Escalade's 4WD system was more rudimentary compared to conventional SUVs, requiring manual engagement for low-traction surfaces. The Escalade's magnetic dampers and air suspension (optional on Sport Platinum and Premium Luxury Platinum trims) reduced body roll and improved maneuverability. However, wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds, making the Escalade feel more like an open-bed pickup truck than a luxury SUV.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality, offering easy entry and exit due to its tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery in the Wilderness trim was water-resistant, and the vehicle included all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable material on the rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester provided high comfort levels in both front and back seats, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents.

Storage space was decent, with various bins, bottle holders, and seatback pockets. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the 60/40-split rear seat down increased the capacity to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof), making the Forester one of the roomiest compact SUVs.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted the most space-efficient interior among large SUVs, with 25 cubic feet behind the third row, 73 cubic feet behind the second row, and 121 cubic feet with both rows down. The Escalade ESV offered even more space, maxing out at 143 cubic feet. The independent rear suspension provided generous headroom and legroom in every row, accommodating six adults comfortably. The controls were user-friendly, with a smart and fast infotainment system.

An optional front console refrigerator had two temperature settings, and power-retractable side steps aided access. The air suspension could lower the vehicle for easier loading and unloading, and the tailgate featured a separate glass window. However, the second-row seats were not powered like the third row, which was a minor drawback.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The test vehicle's navigation system was helpful, but a breadcrumb function would have been beneficial. The PIN Code Access feature allowed keyless entry for outdoor activities.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a span of OLED screens across the dash, providing sharp and clear displays. A front camera displayed a high-resolution feed of the road, overlaying directional arrows and street names. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option, offered the best hands-free highway driving system, using infrared eye-tracking cameras to ensure driver attention. The Escalade also included night vision with pedestrian detection, a 36-speaker AKG audio system, massaging front seats, and a rear-seat entertainment system with streaming capabilities.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, offering twice the field of vision and smoother operation. The system included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was expected to retain its "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection in a frontal crash test and rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a Safety Alert seat, rear parking sensors, and a rear seat reminder. Optional features included reverse emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Super Cruise.