Cadillac Escalade vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade, on the other hand, was the epitome of Cadillac luxury, with a design that set it apart from its Chevrolet and GMC counterparts. The updated front end brought it closer to Cadillac's EVs, with large vertical headlights and tall taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillacs. Available in standard and long-wheelbase configurations, it offered a range of trims, including the performance-focused Escalade-V. Inside, Cadillac focused on hiding its shared platform with other GM SUVs, featuring a 55-inch display across the dashboard. The Escalade offered a luxurious interior with options like semi-aniline leather and curated motifs. Despite its truck-like engineering, it provided a high-tech interface, making it a blend of old-school luxury and modern technology.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, produced 362 combined net horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was known for its solid brakes and adequate acceleration, though its steering feel was somewhat numb. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade dropped the Duramax turbodiesel option, leaving the naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Escalade-V continued with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. All models featured a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balance of low and high ratios for efficient driving. RWD was standard, with 4WD optional on most models, and the Escalade-V had a performance-oriented AWD system. The Escalade offered Magnetic Ride Control damping and optional air suspension, though it couldn't match the handling of some luxury competitors. V8 power provided quick acceleration, but the brakes lacked confidence, with an optional Performance Upgrade Package available for enhanced braking.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring 201.4 inches long with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This extra length translated to a spacious interior, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults, even in the third row.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade was available in short and long-wheelbase configurations, with the ESV model offering increased cargo space and third-row legroom. It provided seating for up to eight or seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The Escalade boasted the most first-row headroom in its class, though second and third-row headroom was less competitive. The standard-length model offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 121 cubic feet behind the front seats. ESV models further increased cargo space, making it a leader in its segment. The Escalade had a maximum towing capacity of 8,100 pounds, with the ESV rated at 8,000 pounds.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. It offered an intelligent assistant via a connected-services subscription, responding to voice commands for tasks like adjusting temperature and changing radio stations. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims came with an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced sound experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with additional subscription options for enhanced functionality.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade combined traditional engineering with a high-tech interface, featuring a 55-inch door-to-door display. It included a digital instrument cluster, central infotainment touchscreen, and front-passenger touchscreen, along with a tablet-like control screen. A 19-speaker AKG audio system was standard, with a 36-speaker version available. The Escalade retained standalone wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with easy-to-use icons for various functions. The optional Executive Second Row Package added 12.6-inch screens, dual wireless device chargers, and upgraded seats with massage and headrest speakers.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, offering four following-distance settings.

The 2025 Cadillac Escalade featured standard driver-assist technologies like 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. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided warnings through vibrations, and Super Cruise offered hands-free driving on mapped roads. Current crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication.