Compare the2022 Toyota SequoiaVS 2022 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The Toyota Sequoia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sequoia has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sequoia has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Escalade ESV Premium/Platinum/Sport has a cross-path warning system.

The Sequoia’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sequoia and the Escalade ESV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available four-wheel drive.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sequoia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Escalade ESV.

There are over 41 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sequoia’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Sequoia has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the Escalade ESV.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sequoia’s reliability 36 points higher than the Escalade ESV.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Cadillac is ranked 21st.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Sequoia uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Escalade ESV requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sequoia higher (5 out of 10) than the Cadillac Escalade ESV (3). This means the Sequoia produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Escalade ESV every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Sequoia’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Escalade ESV:

The Sequoia TRD Sport 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Escalade ESV Premium Luxury 4WD pulls only .67 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sequoia TRD Sport 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Escalade ESV Premium Luxury 4WD (27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sequoia’s turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the Escalade ESV’s (38.1 feet vs. 43.3 feet).

The Sequoia is 1 foot, 9.9 inches shorter than the Escalade ESV, making the Sequoia easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sequoia has .8 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row hip room and 2.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Escalade ESV.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sequoia’s middle and third row seats recline. The Escalade ESV’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Sequoia’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Escalade ESV’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Sequoia has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sequoia to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sequoia is less expensive to operate than the Escalade ESV because it costs $464 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sequoia than the Escalade ESV, including $931 less for a muffler, $34 less for front brake pads, $59 less for fuel injection, $434 less for front struts and $1259 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Sequoia, based on reliability, safety and performance.