Compare the2022 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2022 Buick Enclave

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Enclave doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Cadillac Escalade are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escalade offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Enclave doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

An active infrared night vision system optional on the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera and near-infrared lights to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Enclave doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Cadillac Escalade weighs 950 to 1464 pounds more than the Buick Enclave. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Escalade comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Enclave. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Enclave ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Escalade’s 6 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Enclave runs out after 100,000 miles.

The Escalade has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Enclave doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Escalade has a standard 220-amp alternator (250-amp - Escalade Diesel). The Enclave’s 170-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Escalade has a standard 800-amp battery (900 Diesel). The Enclave’s 730-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 110 more horsepower (420 vs. 310) and 194 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

The Escalade’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 194 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Buick Enclave:

On the EPA test cycle the Escalade gets better mileage than the Enclave:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escalade V8’s fuel efficiency. The Enclave doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escalade has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank (24 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escalade has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank (24 vs. 21.7 gallons).

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Cadillac Escalade, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Enclave.

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

The Escalade stops much shorter than the Enclave:

For better traction, the Escalade has larger tires than the Enclave (275/50R22 vs. 255/65R18).

The Escalade’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s standard 65 series tires. The Escalade’s tires are lower profile than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Enclave. The Enclave’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Escalade has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Enclave; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Escalade has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Enclave doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escalade is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Enclave.

For greater off-road capability the Escalade has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Escalade to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Escalade Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.5 inches higher than on the Enclave (10 vs. 7.5 inches).

The Escalade offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Escalade has 11.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Enclave (168.4 vs. 157.3).

The Escalade has 3.3 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room, 3 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, .9 inches more third row hip room and 5.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

The Escalade’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Escalade’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Escalade. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (8000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Escalade 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Escalade can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Enclave can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escalade uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the Escalade is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Enclave. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Buick. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 24% lower rating, Buick is ranked 13th.

The Escalade’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Enclave does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The Escalade has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Enclave doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Escalade’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Escalade owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Escalade with a number “5” insurance rate while the Enclave is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Escalade is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because typical repairs cost much less on the Escalade than the Enclave, including $287 less for a water pump, $76 less for front brake pads, $95 less for a starter and $56 less for fuel injection.