2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

Toyota introduced the RAV4 to North America in 1996 as a compact alternative to the large SUVs dominating the market. Young buyers quickly embraced the RAV4, which stood for "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-Wheel Drive." This model inspired a wave of similar car-based SUVs, including the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Hyundai Tucson, collectively known as "cute-utes." Despite the dismissive nickname, the RAV4 and its competitors thrived. Over five generations, the RAV4 grew in size and sophistication, evolving from a cute-ute to a mature crossover SUV and a sales leader in the United States. The 2022 RAV4, a continuation of the 2019 redesign, often topped the SUV sales charts.

The 2022 RAV4's exterior design blended with the current crossover vehicle aesthetic, with angular wheel arches and crisp lines contrasting with organic body-side bends. Its expressive headlights, snub-nosed grille, and grinning lower fascia openings created a playful yet aggressive look. Inside, the RAV4 featured a layered dash with contrasting textures and colors, anchored by a straightforward center stack. A touchscreen interface was positioned for minimal driver distraction. Distinctive design cues, such as a circuit-board-inspired geometric pattern, tied the cabin together, and the Adventure-trim test vehicle boasted 19-inch matte gray alloy wheels.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade stood nearly six-and-a-half feet tall and required 18 to 19 feet of length to park. It was a motorized cargo container with three rows of leather seats and more computers than a command center. The Escalade ESV was 15 inches longer than the standard version, with most of the extra length in the wheelbase. The Escalade, along with its Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL siblings, was designed for show. It was popular among pop musicians, overzealous parents, wannabe federal agents, and boaters with big families. Cadillac's tagline for the Escalade, "Never stop arriving," reflected its imposing presence.

Despite its size, the latest Escalade looked relatively athletic and trim. Cadillac achieved this by pairing thin LED taillights, headlights, and running lights that visually narrowed the vehicle's girth. The Sport Platinum trim darkened the chrome bits on the grille, bumpers, windows, and sills, helping to mask the Escalade's mass. The Escalade's side profile featured horizontal leading lines and front-end contours for some semblance of aerodynamics. The Escalade's six trims all came with 22-inch wheels and three-foot-high taillights that played an elaborate lighting sequence when unlocking the vehicle. The interior featured a curved, leather-edged array of screens spanning 38 inches across the dashboard, with seven choices of wood trim and various leather combinations. However, some parts, like the heated seat controls and shifter, were shared with cheaper GM vehicles, detracting from the overall luxury experience.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered three powertrains. The gasoline-only model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with Toyota direct injection and variable valve timing, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an option. Fuel economy for FWD models was 27-28 mpg city/35 mpg highway/30 mpg combined, while AWD models achieved 25-27 mpg city/32-34 mpg highway/28-30 mpg combined.

The RAV4 Hybrid used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, producing 217 combined net horsepower. It featured an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) and AWD. The RAV4 Hybrid's EPA fuel economy rating was 41 mpg city/38 mpg highway/40 mpg combined. The RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid was the most powerful, with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gas engine, an 18.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and 302 horsepower. It had standard AWD and an eCVT setup, with EPA ratings of 40 mpg city/36 mpg highway/38 mpg combined and up to 42 miles on electricity alone.

Our test vehicle, a gasoline Adventure AWD model, delivered smooth and immediate power without turbo lag. The eight-speed transmission provided familiar sensations and quick kickdowns during demanding acceleration. The RAV4's car-like handling, MacPherson struts in the front, multi-link suspension in the rear, and stabilizer bars at both ends contributed to its popularity. AWD models featured Multi-Terrain Select tuning and dynamic torque vectoring for improved handling.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. It achieved a combined 16 mpg with optional four-wheel drive (4WD). The V8 was suitable for gentle cruising and towing up to 8,200 pounds on the rear-wheel drive (RWD) model. However, in passing situations, the Escalade felt heavy. The 10-speed automatic transmission responded well, but the powertrain struggled in Sport mode.

The Escalade-V addressed acceleration issues with a supercharged Corvette V8, producing 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. It featured appropriately sized front brakes with six-piston Brembo calipers. Cadillac also offered a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, achieving a combined 22 mpg with 4WD. The Escalade's 4WD system was rudimentary, with a center differential that locked torque 50:50 front to rear. The magnetic dampers and air suspension (optional on Sport Platinum and Premium Luxury Platinum trims) improved maneuverability and ride quality, though wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, classified as a small SUV by the EPA, offered 37.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. It had a payload capacity of 1,050-1,230 pounds, depending on configuration. Towing capacity varied by model, with LE, XLE, XLE Premium, and Limited grades towing up to 1,500 pounds, Adventure and TRD Off-Road models towing up to 3,500 pounds, RAV4 Hybrid models towing up to 1,750 pounds, and RAV4 Prime models towing up to 2,500 pounds.

Inside, the RAV4 was roomy and comfortable for four passengers, with the ability to carry five in a pinch. The front row offered ample legroom, hip room, shoulder room, and headroom. The cabin featured numerous cupholders, bottle holders, a roomy glove compartment, and covered storage beneath the center armrest. The middle seating position in the second-row split-folding bench seat was less desirable but not uncomfortable.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted the most space-efficient interior of any large SUV, 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, with 41 cubic feet behind the third row, 94 cubic feet behind the second row, and 143 cubic feet with both rows down. The independent rear suspension provided generous headroom and legroom in every row, including the third row.

The Escalade's controls were user-friendly, with a main menu appearing as a carousel of icons and a mini touchscreen for gauge layouts. An optional front console refrigerator had two temperature settings, and power-retractable side steps aided access. The air suspension could lower the truck for easier loading and unloading, and the tailgate had a separate glass window for pets. However, the second-row seats were not powered like the third row.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, six-speaker audio, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Wi-Fi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and streaming audio were standard. XLE models and above upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, while Premium Audio setups on Limited models and the RAV4 Prime XSE included an 11-speaker JBL audio system and navigation.

The RAV4 Prime showcased advanced technology, with five USB ports, two 12-volt/120-watt auxiliary power outlets, an available 120-volt/1,500-watt AC power outlet, and blue ambient illumination. The top trim level also offered a Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging pad, a bird’s-eye view camera system, and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a span of OLED screens across the dash, providing sharp and clear displays. A front camera displayed a high-res feed of the road on the instrument panel, overlaying directional arrows and street names. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option, was the best hands-free highway driving system, using infrared eye-tracking cameras to ensure driver attention. The system worked on over 200,000 miles of marked U.S. highways and required no driver intervention except for lane changes.

The Escalade also offered night vision with pedestrian detection, a 36-speaker AKG audio system, massaging front seats, a rear-seat entertainment system, and bright LED headlights. The technology was advanced and user-friendly, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 came with Toyota’s Star Safety System, including enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. It also featured LATCH child-seat anchors, child-guard locks, Safety Connect, and eight airbags. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, standard on all RAV4 models, included a pre-collision system, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, lane-tracing assist, and road sign assist. Higher grades added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assist. The RAV4 received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. It had five stars in other crash tests but lacked IIHS ratings. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, 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.