2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Lexus GX

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade continued to embody the essence of old-school Cadillac luxury, standing as the largest and most expensive model in the lineup, aside from the low-volume Celestiq EV. Since its debut in 1999, the Escalade had effectively replaced the Fleetwoods and DeVilles, and the 2025 redesign further distinguished it from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts. The most notable exterior update was the new front end, aligning the gasoline Escalade stylistically with Cadillac's EVs, featuring large vertical headlights and horizontal daytime running lights. The rear maintained its tall, vertical taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The introduction of 24-inch wheels added to its imposing presence. Inside, Cadillac enhanced the Escalade's high-tech appeal with a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, replacing the previous 38-inch OLED curved display. The interior offered a luxurious experience with options like Renaissance Red leather and open-pore wood trim, making it hard to believe it shared a platform with other GM SUVs.

The 2025 Lexus GX underwent a complete redesign, presenting a strikingly different appearance from its predecessor. The new model drew inspiration from boxy, old-school Land Rover designs, featuring a bold front with LED headlights and a large grille. The GX 550 Overtrail+ test vehicle showcased 33-inch tires on matte grey 18-inch wheels, rock rails, and a distinctive Earth brown color. Inside, the GX exuded luxury with a clean and elegant design, quality switchgear, and chic dashboard and console layouts. The seats offered ample headroom and were upholstered in stitched black and tan faux leather with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The GX provided excellent visibility, thanks to its tall windows and elevated ride height, making it a comfortable and capable choice for both on-road and off-road adventures.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine, producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, while the Escalade-V featured a supercharged version with 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power delivery. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive optional, except for the Escalade-V, which had a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system. The Escalade's Magnetic Ride Control damping system provided a comfortable ride, but its handling couldn't match that of luxury competitors like the BMW X7. The brakes, while adequate, could be upgraded with the Performance Upgrade Package for enhanced stopping power.

The 2025 Lexus GX was powered by a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 engine, delivering 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a full-time four-wheel drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The GX accelerated from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, a second faster than its V8 predecessor. Despite its weight, the GX felt agile and responsive, with ample power for highway merges. The fuel economy was rated at 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined, though real-world testing yielded slightly lower figures. The GX excelled in off-road conditions, with features like a locking center differential and downhill assist control, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, with the latter providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The Escalade ESV boasted 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 94.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and 142.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The standard model offered 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 121 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Escalade's towing capacity reached 8,100 pounds for the standard model and 8,000 pounds for the ESV. While spacious, the Escalade faced competition from other full-size SUVs in terms of interior dimensions and towing features.

The 2025 Lexus GX provided generous interior space, with headroom ranging from 39 to 41 inches in the front and around 43 inches in the back. Legroom measured 41 inches in the front and nearly 37 inches in the second row. The GX's cargo space was impressive, with 10.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 40.2 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 76.9 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Overtrail trim, without a third row, offered 90.5 cubic feet of space. The GX's towing capacity reached 9,063 pounds, making it a capable choice for hauling gear. Despite its size, the GX was easy to maneuver and park, offering peace of mind in urban environments.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a 55-inch door-to-door display, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a hard button for vehicle operation. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2025 Lexus GX boasted a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with haptic feedback and smooth operation. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were standard. The Mark Levinson Premium Audio system, an optional upgrade, provided good audio quality. The GX offered multiple USB-C ports for connectivity and charging, with the Overtrail trims featuring fewer ports but ample storage space.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade came equipped with standard driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-zone steering assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree camera system. The Escalade also featured GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system, which had improved performance but still required manual control in certain situations. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Lexus GX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, road sign assist, lane-departure alert, automatic high-beams, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. The Overtrail+ trim added pedestrian detection. The GX featured a 360-degree camera system and trail-viewing cameras for enhanced visibility. Crash-test ratings were not available, but the GX was equipped with 10 airbags for occupant protection.