Compare the2023 Porsche CayenneVS 2023 Cadillac Escalade

The Porsche Cayenne 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 Cayenne has a standard Multi-collision Brake System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Escalade 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Cayenne. But it costs extra on the Escalade.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Cayenne uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Escalade uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Cayenne 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, rearview cameras, available night vision systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Cayenne’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the Escalade’s (12 vs. 6 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Cayenne 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 Cayenne’s reliability 20 points higher than 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated lower.

The Cayenne S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6 produces 14 more horsepower (434 vs. 420) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8. The Cayenne GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 33 more horsepower (453 vs. 420) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8. The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 35 more horsepower (455 vs. 420) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8. The Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 250 more horsepower (670 vs. 420) and 203 lbs.-ft. more torque (663 vs. 460) than the Escalade’s 6.2 V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Porsche Cayenne turbo V6 is faster than the Cadillac Escalade:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running on electricity gets better mileage than the Escalade:

On the EPA test cycle the Cayenne running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Escalade:

The Cayenne can travel with zero emissions for 15 to 17 miles (dependent on model). The Escalade can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

The Cayenne’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Escalade doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Escalade doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The Escalade doesn’t offer air brakes.

The Cayenne stops much shorter than the Escalade:

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escalade (F:285/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 275/50R22).

The Cayenne’s optional 285/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escalade’s 50 series tires.

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Escalade doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Escalade.

The Cayenne handles at .96 G’s, while the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD pulls only .67 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cayenne Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 6.2 seconds quicker than the Escalade Sport 4WD (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 30.1 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne w/Rear Wheel Steering’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Escalade’s (35.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Porsche Cayenne may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 1050 pounds less than the Cadillac Escalade.

The Cayenne is 1 foot, 6.2 inches shorter than the Escalade, making the Cayenne easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cayenne is 11.2 inches shorter in height than the Escalade, making the Cayenne much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the Cayenne’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Escalade uses body-on-frame design instead.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Cayenne is quieter than the Escalade Sport Platinum 4WD:

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume than the Escalade with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 25.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Cayenne easier. The Cayenne’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31 inches, while the Escalade’s liftover is 37 inches.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Cayenne offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Escalade doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Escalade doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Escalade doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Escalade Premium/Platinum/Sport’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Cadillac Escalade isn't recommended.