2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade was a commanding presence on the road, towering nearly six-and-a-half feet above the ground and stretching up to 19 feet in length. It was a motorized cargo container with three rows of leather seats and an array of advanced technology. The Escalade ESV variant extended the wheelbase by 15 inches, offering even more space. Despite its massive size, the Escalade managed to look athletic and trim, thanks to design elements like thin LED lights and darkened chrome bits on the Sport Platinum trim. The interior was luxurious in the first row, featuring a 38-inch curved screen and high-quality wood trim, but the allure faded in the back rows, where cheaper GM parts were evident.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleek design, balancing SUV size with luxury-car style. It featured Genesis' signature split headlights and a large shield-like grille, but with a more streamlined profile than its larger sibling, the GV80. The GV70's interior was distinctive, with quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof. The dashboard had a rounded cross-section, and the climate controls were housed in an elliptical pod. The GV70's design was both stylish and functional, offering a unique take on luxury that set it apart from competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for towing up to 8,200 pounds. However, its acceleration felt heavy, and the 10-speed automatic transmission was not particularly sporty. The Escalade-V variant addressed this with a supercharged V8 producing 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque, but it seemed excessive for most needs. An optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 offered better fuel economy at 22 mpg combined. The Escalade's magnetic dampers and air suspension provided a smooth ride, though wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, while a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 offered 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors with a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost Mode providing 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning was less sporty than rivals like the BMW X3. The ride was comfortable but not exceptional, with the suspension crashing over bumps rather than gliding over them.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted an incredibly spacious interior, with 25 cubic feet of cargo space 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 interior was designed for ease of use, with simple controls and a smart infotainment system. Features like a front console refrigerator and power-retractable side steps added convenience, though the second-row seats were not powered.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than some rivals but more front-seat legroom. It provided 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 56.9 cubic feet with them down. The Electrified GV70's interior space was only slightly reduced due to the battery pack. The stylish interior design came at the cost of small-item storage, but features like automatic side bolsters in Sport mode added a touch of luxury.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured a massive span of OLED screens across the dash, providing sharp and clear displays. The Super Cruise system offered hands-free highway driving, using infrared eye-tracking cameras to ensure driver attention. The Escalade also included night vision with pedestrian detection, a 36-speaker AKG audio system, and a rear-seat entertainment system with streaming capabilities.

The 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system was simpler but effective, with a 14.5-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The system was intuitive, with a rotary controller that felt high-quality. Genesis also included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and a digital key for smartphone access.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade received four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. It included standard safety features like forward automatic emergency braking and a Safety Alert seat, with optional features like reverse emergency braking and Super Cruise.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 earned the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award for both gasoline and Electrified models. The NHTSA gave the gasoline GV70 four-star frontal and rollover ratings, with a five-star overall rating for the 2023 model. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and Highway Driving Assist, with an available Highway Driving Assist 2 system offering automated lane changes.