2025 Cadillac Escalade vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out in a dwindling segment of wagons in the United States, embracing crossover trends with its rugged design elements like chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its Crimson Red Pearl paint paired beautifully with the black leather interior, though earthy tones were deemed more fitting for its adventurous spirit. Subaru's focus on off-road capabilities paid off, as the Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, became top sellers by appealing to a niche yet loyal customer base. The 2025 model saw no major changes, but the Limited trim gained features like a power moonroof and Subaru’s DriverFocus tech. The Touring XT trim offered Nappa leather and ventilated front seats, enhancing the interior's comfort and functionality.

The Outback's interior was thoughtfully designed, with minimal use of chrome and glossy black plastic, maintaining a rugged yet refined aesthetic. The dashboard featured easy-to-read gauges flanking a digital display with essential information. The vehicle's practicality was evident in its wagon shape, offering easy entry and exit, a low roof for convenient loading, and a spacious cargo area. Despite its lower roofline, the Outback provided ample passenger space, surpassing many crossovers in total passenger volume. The vehicle's versatility was further highlighted by its towing capacity, which increased with the turbocharged engine option.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, meanwhile, continued to embody Cadillac luxury, evolving from its 1999 debut to become a symbol of opulence. The 2025 redesign brought the Escalade closer to Cadillac's EV lineup, with a new front end featuring vertical headlights and large 24-inch wheels. The Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase ESV models, with various trim levels including the performance-oriented Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac masked its shared platform with other GM SUVs by introducing a 55-inch OLED display spanning the dashboard, enhancing the high-tech feel. The interior boasted real leather upholstery, curated motifs, and a Whisper Beige finish in the Premium Luxury Platinum trim.

The Escalade's spacious interior accommodated up to eight passengers, with the ESV model providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. Despite its size, the Escalade's ride quality was impressive, though it lacked the handling finesse of some European rivals. The V8 engine delivered robust performance, but the brakes left room for improvement. Cadillac's technology suite included a 19-speaker AKG audio system, with a 36-speaker upgrade available, and features like an augmented-reality head-up display and night vision. The Escalade's tech was user-friendly, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though some functions relied on touchscreens rather than physical controls.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's signature Boxer engine, available in two forms: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 260 hp. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine offered better acceleration, making the XT model a recommended choice for those seeking more power. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode system enhanced its off-road capabilities, with the Wilderness model offering even more ground clearance and additional off-road settings. On the road, the Outback provided a smooth and comfortable ride, with light steering and powerful brakes, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, dropped its diesel option, leaving only the 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower. The Escalade-V featured a supercharged version of this engine, delivering 682 hp. All models came with a 10-speed automatic transmission, ensuring smooth and efficient power delivery. The Escalade offered RWD as standard, with 4WD optional, and the Escalade-V had a performance-oriented AWD system. While the Escalade's ride quality was commendable, it couldn't match the handling of some luxury rivals. The brakes were a weak point, though an optional Performance Upgrade Package with Brembo calipers was available.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality, with easy entry and exit, a low roof for loading, and a spacious cargo area. It offered 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with it folded. The Outback's passenger volume was larger than many crossovers, with ample front headroom and legroom. The vehicle's towing capacity increased to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine, adding to its versatility.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade offered both standard and long-wheelbase configurations, with the ESV model providing additional cargo space and third-row legroom. The standard model offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, while the ESV model stretched this to 41.5 cubic feet. The Escalade's towing capacity was 8,100 pounds for the standard model and 8,000 pounds for the ESV. Despite its size, the Escalade provided ample space for passengers and cargo, with features like a power liftgate and power-folding seats for added convenience.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially upon startup. The Harman Kardon audio system performed well, though frequent Starlink disturbances limited audio to the rear speakers. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, with a CD player and USB ports for older devices.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured a 55-inch display spanning the dashboard, incorporating a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker upgrade available. The Escalade retained wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a hard button for vehicle operation. The tech suite included an augmented-reality head-up display, night vision, and an optional Executive Second Row Package with additional screens and controls.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. GM-specific features included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat and Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system. Current crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication.