Compare the2023 Toyota SequoiaVS 2023 Cadillac Escalade

The Toyota Sequoia has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escalade doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sequoia has standard Active Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Escalade doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Sequoia 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 Premium/Platinum/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sequoia 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 Premium/Platinum/Sport has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Sequoia and the Escalade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and available four-wheel drive.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sequoia for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Escalade.

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sequoia’s warranty.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Cadillac is ranked 21st.

The Sequoia’s 3.4 turbo V6 hybrid produces 17 more horsepower (437 vs. 420) and 123 lbs.-ft. more torque (583 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8.

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Sequoia’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Escalade doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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

For better traction, the Sequoia TRD Pro’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escalade (285/65R18 vs. 275/50R22).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sequoia’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Escalade (122 inches vs. 120.9 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Sequoia has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sequoia to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Sequoia is 3.8 inches shorter than the Escalade, making the Sequoia easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sequoia has .9 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more third row hip room than the Escalade.

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

The Sequoia’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.

The Sequoia’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Escalade’s (9120 vs. 8000 pounds).

The Sequoia has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Escalade (1730 vs. 1647 lbs.).

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sequoia to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Escalade doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Sequoia Limited/TRD Pro/Platinum/Capstone has standard front air conditioned seats and the Sequoia Platinum/Capstone also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Escalade doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.