Compare the2023 Cadillac EscaladeVS 2022 Ford Expedition

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Expedition doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Escalade has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Expedition doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 Expedition doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Escalade and the Expedition 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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade is safer than the Ford Expedition:

	Escalade	Expedition
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	165
Neck Injury Risk	23%	32%
Neck Stress	312 lbs.	361 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	147 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac Escalade is safer than the Ford Expedition:

	Escalade	Expedition
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	118 lbs.	180 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	27 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	434 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Escalade comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Expedition’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 Ford covers the Expedition. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Expedition ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Escalade’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Expedition’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade first among large premium SUVs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Expedition isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Cadillac 1 place higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 40 more horsepower (420 vs. 380) than the Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6. The Escalade’s 6.2 V8 produces 20 more horsepower (420 vs. 400) than the Expedition Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac Escalade is faster than the Ford Expedition (base engine):

	Escalade	Expedition
Zero to 30 MPH	2.1 sec	2.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.2 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.3 sec	10.7 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.2 sec	3.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.6 MPH	91.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Escalade
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
Expedition
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	17 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/22 hwy
		Timberline 3.5 turbo V6	16 city/19 hwy

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Escalade Sport	Expedition
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.2 inches

The Escalade stops shorter than the Expedition:

	Escalade	Expedition
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Escalade has larger tires than the Expedition (275/50R22 vs. 265/70R18).

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 Expedition Timberline’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Expedition.

The Escalade has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Expedition doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Escalade’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Expedition’s (39.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

Passenger Space

The Escalade has .3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more third row headroom than the Expedition.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Escalade	Expedition
Behind Third Seat	25.5 cubic feet	19.3 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	72.9 cubic feet	57.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121 cubic feet	104.6 cubic feet

Towing

The Escalade’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Expedition’s (8000 vs. 6000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 42% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

The Escalade’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Expedition, and is not available on all models.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Escalade’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Expedition’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Expedition 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 Expedition’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Expedition doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Escalade is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Expedition’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Escalade has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Expedition.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Cadillac Escalade has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Expedition and isn’t available on the Expedition STX.

The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s Adaptive Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition (except STX/XLT)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

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 Expedition is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Escalade second among large premium SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Expedition isn’t in the top three in its category.