Compare the2023 Cadillac Escalade ESVVS 2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Escalade ESV are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Escalade ESV 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 Cullinan doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Escalade ESV and the Cullinan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, around view monitors, available all wheel drive, night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the Escalade ESV 2 years longer than Rolls-Royce covers the Cullinan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Cullinan ends after only 4 years.

The Escalade ESV’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Cullinan’s (6 vs. 4 years).

There are almost 15 times as many Cadillac dealers as there are Rolls-Royce dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escalade ESV’s warranty.

The Escalade ESV 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 Cullinan doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Escalade ESV gets better mileage than the Cullinan:

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Escalade ESV’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Cullinan doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Escalade ESV has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For more complete vehicle control the Escalade ESV has Hydro-Matic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. Hydro-Matic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Cadillac Escalade ESV, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Cullinan.

For better traction, the Escalade ESV has larger tires than the Cullinan (275/50R22 vs. 255/50R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escalade ESV has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 21-inch wheels are standard on the Cullinan.

The Cadillac Escalade ESV’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Escalade ESV 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 Cullinan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Escalade ESV has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Cullinan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escalade ESV’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the Cullinan (134.1 inches vs. 129.7 inches).

The Cadillac Escalade ESV may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

For excellent aerodynamics, the Escalade ESV has standard flush composite headlights. The Cullinan has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The front grille of the Escalade ESV (except Diesel) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Cullinan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escalade ESV offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Cullinan can only carry up to 5.

The Escalade ESV has 58.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cullinan (170.4 vs. 112).

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

The Escalade ESV’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Cullinan w/Executive Rear Seats doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The Escalade ESV’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Cullinan’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Escalade ESV’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its tailgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Escalade ESV 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 ESV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Cullinan can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escalade ESV 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 Cullinan doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Escalade ESV has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Escalade ESV’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 Cullinan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Escalade ESV’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 Cullinan’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escalade ESV has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Cullinan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Escalade ESV has standard extendable sun visors. The Cullinan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Escalade ESV has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Escalade ESV is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Cullinan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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

The Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV outsold the Rolls-Royce Cullinan by over 57 to one during the 2021 model year.