Compare the2023 Ford ExpeditionVS 2023 Cadillac Escalade

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

Safety

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The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Escalade doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Expedition has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 Premium/Platinum/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Expedition has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the Escalade’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Expedition’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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Expedition and the Escalade 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 and around view monitors.

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

	Expedition	Escalade
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	152/161 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	47%
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	272 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	271/178 lbs.	333/811 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 Ford Expedition is safer than the Cadillac Escalade:

	Expedition	Escalade
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	25
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	111 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	88
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	239
Hip Force	569 lbs.	764 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Expedition is .4% to 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Escalade.

Warranty

There are over 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Expedition’s warranty.

Reliability

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

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 Expedition’s reliability 12 points higher than the Escalade.

Engine

The Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8. The Expedition Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8. The Expedition Timberline/Stealth Performance’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 more horsepower (440 vs. 420) and 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
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
		Timberline 3.5 turbo V6	15 city/19 hwy
Escalade
	RWD	6.2 OHV V8	14 city/19 hwy
	AWD	6.2 OHV V8	14 city/18 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Expedition	Escalade
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.5 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Expedition’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escalade (285/45R22 vs. 275/50R22).

The Expedition’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escalade’s 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Escalade doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Escalade (122.5 inches vs. 120.9 inches).

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Escalade Sport 4WD pulls only .60 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Escalade Sport 4WD (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 30.1 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a 1.8 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade (9.8 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Expedition Timberline’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the Escalade Air Suspension (10.6 vs. 10 inches).

Chassis

The Ford Expedition may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 400 pounds less than the Cadillac Escalade.

The Expedition Timberline/Limited/King Ranch/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Escalade doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Expedition has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Escalade (171.9 vs. 168.4).

The Expedition has .5 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, .2 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.2 inches more third row legroom, 2 inches more third row hip room and 1.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Escalade.

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

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Expedition easier. The Expedition’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 34.7 inches, while the Escalade’s liftover is 37 inches.

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

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac Escalade is limited to 8200 pounds. The Expedition offers up to a 9300 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Expedition’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Escalade doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Expedition owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Expedition will cost $650 less than the Escalade over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Expedition is less expensive to operate than the Escalade because it costs $182 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Expedition than the Escalade, including $214 less for a water pump, $760 less for a muffler, $60 less for front brake pads, $96 less for a starter, $221 less for fuel injection, $234 less for a fuel pump, $624 less for front struts, $272 less for a timing belt/chain and $662 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Expedition will be $24119 to $24890 less than for the Cadillac Escalade.

Recommendations

The Ford Expedition/Expedition Max outsold the Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV by 54% during 2022.