Compare the2023 Ford Expedition MaxVS 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV

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 Max 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 ESV doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Expedition Max has standard Post-Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Escalade ESV doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Expedition Max 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 Expedition Max has a standard rear 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 rear cross-path warning system.

The Expedition Max’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 Expedition Max 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, 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 Max is safer than the Cadillac Escalade ESV:

	Expedition Max	Escalade ESV
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 Max is safer than the Cadillac Escalade ESV:

	Expedition Max	Escalade ESV
	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 Max is .4% to 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Escalade ESV.

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 Max’s warranty.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Expedition Max have 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 Expedition Max’s reliability 12 points higher than the Escalade ESV.

Engine

The Expedition Max’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 460) than the Escalade ESV’s 6.2 V8. The Expedition Max Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 460) than the Escalade ESV’s 6.2 V8. The Expedition Max Stealth’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 ESV’s 6.2 V8.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Expedition Max
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/21 hwy
Escalade ESV
	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 Max’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Escalade ESV:

	Expedition Max	Escalade ESV
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.5 inches

Tires and Wheels

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

The Expedition Max’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 ESV’s 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Expedition Max’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 ESV doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Expedition Max Platinum 4x4 handles at .78 G’s, while the Escalade ESV Sport 4WD pulls only .71 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Expedition Max Platinum 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Escalade ESV Premium Luxury 4WD (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

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

The Expedition Max is 5.1 inches shorter than the Escalade ESV, making the Expedition Max easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Expedition Max 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 ESV doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Expedition Max 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, 2 inches more third row hip room and 1.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Escalade ESV.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Expedition Max’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.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac Escalade ESV is limited to 8000 pounds. The Expedition Max offers up to a 9000 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 Max’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Escalade ESV 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 Max owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Expedition Max will cost $1185 to $3795 less than the Escalade ESV over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Expedition Max will be $23228 to $27244 less than for the Cadillac Escalade ESV.

Recommendations

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